The History of the ATEM Ghosts

Vis Exhausta Periculosissima
(The most dangerous force is a spent force)

The idea of The Ghosts was born during the momentous years of 1997-1999 in Jim McLauchlan's Presidency when he commissioned Maree Conway, the author of the first History of AITEA, to chair a reformist movement called "The AITEA 2000 Writers Group".  I was privileged to be invited to join the group half way through its life.  In mid-1998 it was suggested that AITEA ought to create an organisation where the previous members could go and retain a point of cohesion with the organisation, and where they could continue to be more or less useful.

The idea was accepted.  There was a short period of struggle between the people who wanted to call it the 'AITEA Alumni Group' and those who wanted to introduce a more spiritual element by calling them 'The Ghosts'.  The struggle ended when it was pointed out that Alumnus is the Latin word for a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  It is the way that a University describes its new-born graduates.  It was agreed that it was not appropriate to use that term to describe a group of people whose average age would settle at around 70: people who had one foot on the cusp of beyond.

In 1999 AITEA adopted a Constitution and a new name: ATEM.  At the same time it created the ATEM Ghosts as a Chapter of the ATEM Council.  A few years later the Chapter was renamed the Emeritus Chapter, but its members are still known affectionately as the ATEM Ghosts.  Emeritus, by the way, is a Latin word which means an honourably discharged member of the Roman Legion, or in other words an old soldier.

Colin Plowman was the second President of AITEA from 1978-82 and a man with much gravitas.  He agreed to become the first Convenor of Ghosts, a post he held with distinction from 1999 to September 2008.

The Ghosts assist ATEM in many ways, either as straight volunteers in many projects or as contractors to ATEM.  Because we are all drawing down from our superannuation we can afford to work very cheaply.

The Ghosts eventually reached the point of being the second largest donor to the ATEM Foundation.  The largest was the $50,000 donation from the Victorian Branch, led at that time by Gerard Toohey.  In April 2008 the ATEM Council resolved that the position of Convenor of Ghosts should be a position which should be contested triennially.

The ATEM President, Tom Gregg, called for expressions of interest and the position was conferred upon Giles Pickford in September 2008.  He took over from Colin Plowman, the first Convenor, who had served with distinction since 1999.

The Ghosts have only two major foci: the annual lunch which is legendary, and philanthropic support for the ATEM Foundation, to which we had donated over $15,929 by January 2011.

The lunches are always held during the TEM Conferences. 

The record of the lunches is shown below.  Each one deserves its own history which exists in the ornately gold-lettered mock-leather bound volume called "The Chronicles of the ATEM Ghosts".  The Chronicles are tabled at each lunch where the Minutes of the previous lunch are neither confirmed nor denied.  It is only in these Minutes where you will find the sometimes scandalous accounts of what happened at the various lunches - such as the incredible events at the Adelaide Oval of 2003.  If you are interested, book a seat at the next one.

The lunches are notable for the best wines in Australia and New Zealand.  Penfold's Hermitage Grange headed the wine list every year until 2009 when it finally surrendered to Henschke's Hill of Grace.  The food is also excellent and the conversation is superb.  Each lunch has a local Host and the Guest of Honour is always the Regional Chair of ATEM.

                        Record of the ATEM Ghosts' Lunches

The Proceeds of the Ghosts' Lunches are donated to the ATEM Foundation.

Our motto tells our story Vis Exhausta Periculosissima.  We are a force to be reckoned with because we have plenty of spare time and nothing to lose.

Giles Pickford

Convenor of Ghosts                                                      January 2011