An Introduction to the German Australian Business Association (GABA)

The inaugural meeting of GABA was held on Tuesday the 14th of December 1982 at the Crest Hotel in Brisbane. As Dr. John Moses from the Queensland University pointed out at the meeting, an idea for a similar association once formed as far back as 1888 unfortunately failed to progress further than April 1889. The ‘GABA-Fathers’, however, were determined that this time GABA should remain and contribute to the German and Australian communities. Messrs. Emil Nasarenko, Mr. Jürgen Wittenberg and Harold Bleyer were these founding drivers to build an association fostering business co-operation in Queensland. GABA was always considered to be a non-political and non-profit organisation with a social face, “bringing people together and hopefully for them to become a good new friend”, as it was formulated in the beginning. The association was to establish a ‘good reputation’ with the German community in Brisbane and contribute towards community service, support the German Saturday School, the Goethe Institute and the German-Australian Student Exchange Program. All members were to be provided with updates on economic data, business information circulars and had the opportunity to participate in meetings with guest speakers and bi-annual business platform discussions. It was thought to seek close links with the German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Sydney and other German Government institutions. GABA tried to establish a business-data information service for the benefit of its members, relevant for the area of South East Queensland. It was envisaged that the German language was an important factor in the bi-lateral dealings between the countries of Germany and Australia.

GABA’s strong links with the Queensland Government were to enable GABA to foster reciprocal trade opportunities with the German State Governments and support small business start-ups and provide advice to migrants. Historically GABA remained true to these fundamental ideas of the founding fathers and fulfils this role still today on our super fast information highway on the internet. There is no substitute for a good network and advice provided from experience on a personal level, available through personal contacts and networks available through the GABA Committee and its members’ base.

GABA’s Objectives and Role

The initial ‘objects’ for which the Association was established were composed as follows:

1. To provide information, trade opportunities and trade contacts for or between persons and corporations in Australia and Germany
2. To foster reciprocal trade between Australia and Germany
3. To support efforts to stimulate, promote, foster and encourage business, social and cultural contact between the two countries
4. To do all such other things as, in the opinion of the management committee of the German Australian Business Association Incorporated, are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them
5. The Association shall achieve these aims by meetings, discussion groups, lectures, trade displays, social functions and all other similar types of activities.

The recent update of the constitution in 2010 enhanced the founders’ wishes to continue being a link in the German and Australian communities in South East Queensland and clarified GABA’s role and objectives in today’s environment, as detailed below.

Objectives one, two and four unchanged, the following added and clarified:

• To support efforts to stimulate, promote and encourage business opportunities and growth, to enhance social and cultural contacts between its members and the Australian/Queensland and German communities to the benefit of all,
• The Association shall achieve these aims by meetings and networking activities, discussion groups, lectures, trade displays, social functions and all other similar types of activities among its members and invited guests.
• The regional focus of GABA is the State of Queensland and in particular the South-Eastern corner of the state and the greater Brisbane region.

In the 1983 newsletter of June 20th, GABA’s president and co-founder Emil Nasarenko thanked the ex Deputy Premier of Queensland and Minister for Commerce and Industry the Hon. W. Gunn for his address to the GABA members at one of its functions held in May that year. Bill Gunn mentioned the significant trade between Germany and Australia which could only grow and increase due to Queensland being a low tax state and its high proportionate population increase in the years to come. He outlined the state’s industry policy and incentives for business to settle in Queensland and take advantage of the benefits flowing from such decisions like the set-up of the Small Business Development Corporations Act. The address, as an example, by one of the top governmental representatives, highlights the importance GABA allocated to functions and networking opportunities for its members. This theme has remained throughout GABA’s progress.

One of the services GABA provided was the assistance of trade and commerce support for small business, for instance with the establishment of credit facilities, import administration support, and generally the ability of finding contacts between German exporters and Queensland business. Detlef Sulzer, GABA’s president until 1989, highlighted the requirement for professional assistance rather than the voluntary support freely given by GABA’s committee members. Due to cost pressures this service unfortunately did not commence and until today the GABA committee members provide this service on a voluntary basis. The co-operation between the Swiss-Australian and Queensland Chambers of Commerce grew at that time to the benefit of all their members with GABA.

On the social side, GABA organised various Gala Balls, like the ‘Grand Ball’ in the Brisbane Club in September 1989 and continues today with their traditional mid-year functions and Christmas celebrations, with great opportunities to meet, support and network.

The German Consulate General in Sydney, responsible also for Queensland, and the Embassy in Canberra always provided support and interest in GABA through their many representatives, consuls, consul-generals and ambassadors being delegated to Australia. The Honorary Consul for Germany, currently Mr. Detlef Sulzer was not only GABA’s past president but also continues to support GABA as a corporate member.

Historical Notes and Highlights

1983
GABA was incorporated as the German Australian Business Association with the Queensland Government, Office of Fair Trading (as known today).

1984
GABA participates in the ‘German Pioneer Week’, a celebratory annual event organised to highlight the first German settlers in Nundah, their influence and contributions to Queensland. An event organised by the first GABA president Mr. Emil Nasarenko, consisting among other festivities and commemorative events of German Dance Groups, a German beer-fest, floral tributes presented at the German Pioneer Monument in Nundah, GABA  dinner, Brisbane City Hall receptions, fashion parades, children’s fun parades and Oktoberfest with the German Club.

1985
GABA organizes and accompanies Queensland trade delegation to Germany with Deputy Premier of Queensland (Mr. W. Gunn) to establish industry and trade contacts in Bavaria, meeting with Bavarian State President Mr. Franz-Josef Strauss.
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Mrs. Sallyanne Atkinson becomes patron of GABA.
GABA Gala Ball at the Sheraton on Nov. 29th.

1986
Bi-Centennial Committee established with GABA participating, to organise the 200 years of Australia’s federation and the upcoming Expo ’88 organisation of the local German contribution.
GABA participates in the ‘Queensland to Germany Youth Work Exchange Program’ in association with the Arthur Philip German-Australian Foundation, an initiative and scholarship program for young people to gain enhanced work skills and achieve cultural awareness between the countries, a program co-sponsored by the Queensland Government.

1987
Dr. Karl Heinz Berninger, the Consul General of Germany addresses GABA on ‘the economic situation in today’s Germany’ and at another function Mr. Graeme Atkinson of Westpac spoke to GABA members about ‘Australian banks’ presence in Europe’. President Sulzer also introduces an address by Dr. Lando Lotter from the German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Sydney about the relationship between the chamber and GABA.
GABA Ball in the Hilton in November and GABA committee busy in initial supporting efforts for the Brisbane World Expo 88.

1988
Brisbane World Expo ’88, theme: ‘Leisure in the Age of Technology’. GABA members meetings were held at the German Pavilion. GABA entertains international guests and prominent Brisbane business leaders at the Expo, which typically conclude in the Festhaus, where GABA holds a ‘Stammtisch’.

1989
Sir Leo Hielscher, Undersecretary with the Treasury Department, Queensland and a prominent figure and chairman on many boards addresses GABA with the topic of “What should Germany know about Queensland”.
GABA and Siemens Ltd. organise a concert in the Performing Arts Centre on the occasion of the visit of the Young Dortmund Symphony Orchestra with Professor Roland Pröll, with many invited dignitaries of the Brisbane business and governmental circles participating.

1990
Swiss Ambassador Dr. Hugentobler and Swiss Consul Walter Brunner address joint GABA, Swiss Chamber of Commerce function at the City Rowers Club on the Brisbane River.
Representatives of almost all the German organisations in Brisbane: GABA, SAGSE, German Honorary Consul and Protocol chief, German Radio 4EB representative, German Goethe Society and German Club, meet to welcome the new Consul General Dr. Gescher at joint function and discuss very topical development in the newly united Germany.

1992
German Ambassador Dr. F. Keil, Consul General Dr. Gescher and Honorary Consul Chris Featherstone visit Brisbane’s Kenmore State High School on the occasion of the founding of the German Immersion School Program, fostering an annual student exchange program with German families.

1993
GABA organise a visit of Queensland Premier Wayne Goss to Bavaria to sign a Memorandum of Understanding of a Queensland-Bavarian Governmental Partnership. GABA Committee members accompany the Premier.
The 11th Anniversary of the German Pioneer Week festivities are supported with evening functions by GABA.

1995
The German Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and GABA re-establish  initial contacts for close co-operation and representation of GACIC in Brisbane, which finally happen in 2000.

1996
Young German Parliamentarians from the German Bundestag visit Queensland, GABA organised itineraries and dinner with Queensland governmental representatives and visits of Queensland’s selected industrial facilities.

1998
GABA organise and facilitate ‘German Week’ with participation of Queensland government representatives, Brisbane City Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs. A week of presentations, seminars and entertainment, initiated and managed by GABA president Jürgen Wittenberg.

2000
German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce establish office in Brisbane under the leadership of GABA’s past president John Kahlert. From 2000 through 2003, the GABA activities and the chamber activities are largely amalgamated and typically all functions and events co-ordinated.
GABA supports ‘Australia/Germany Partnership 2000 Action Plan’.

2004
GACIC withdraws support for separate office in Queensland due to cost pressures, GABA re-establishes own office and operation.
Special meeting called to discuss future role of GABA, i.e. facilitation of business and trade networking platform, heath & welfare support for German Community, coordination of social and cultural activities and German language and education support program.

2005
Dr. M. Lutz, German Ambassador visits GABA at a Round Table luncheon function in the Brisbane Club with Honorary Consul for Germany Mr. D. Sulzer and other prominent guests from the Brisbane community.

2006
GABA Hosts function about ‘Queensland Business and German/European Products’ at Tattersall’s Club with a prominent guest speaker from Suncorp, addressing important process developments in business, such as HR policy grooming and presentation skills.

2007
GABA establishes new administrative format. and up-date of GABA website.
GABA supports Queensland/North-Rhine Westphalia ‘Clean Coal Technology and Renewable Energy Initiative’ by German delegation visiting Queensland.

2008
GABA celebrates its 25 years of existence with a special GALA dinner at Queensland Parliament House in April, supported by Brisbane dignities and business leaders.

2009
GABA hosts a joint function with GACIC and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) on ‘Local Strength in a Global Recession” featuring N. Ferris of CCIQ and Wendi Levy of Tourism QLD, explaining the success story of ‘The Best Job in the World’ campaign and its lessons for today’s business.
Australia’s leading Law firm Clayton Utz invites GABA members to a special presentation on ‘The New Industrial Legislation – Key Differences and Consequences’, presented by Hedy Cray in May. Michael Klug, the managing partner of the Brisbane organisation explained business and services of Clayton Utz.
GABA members enjoyed the presentation of one of the world’s biggest transport and logistics companies DB Schenker at their Brisbane headquarters and warehouse. Schenker presented an insight in today’s modern worldwide logistics.

2010
A joint seminar and networking function in February invited GABA members to a topic of ‘Leadership in Difficult Times’, presented in a most relevant talk by Telstra’s Anton Jones.
The Annual General Meeting of GABA held in March, saw a new constitution presented and approved by the members. The work is a comprehensive update of the initial constitution, in line with the QLD Governmental rules as per the relevant procedures.

GABA and its Future

GABA will continue to play a role as originally envisaged by its founding fathers and provide value for its members by engaging with prominent and contemporary guest speakers at networking functions. In addition GABA will facilitate support and advisory services for German speaking new small business initiatives seeking support locating to Queensland. As an affiliated member with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Queensland, GABA can facilitate and support all business aspects for small business, German delegations and trade/industry initiatives.

GABA will continue to hold its high profile networking functions, an example is the next event in August 2010 with Executive Coach Heiner Karst on the topic of ‘YOUR Attitude and Leadership Finesse’, another function where GABA stays true to its motto and objectives.

This event will be followed up by GABA’s traditional mid year dinner in August, keep watching the  “Events Calendar” on GABA’s website: www@gaba.org.au.

Juergen Hoppe
GABA Secretary

Brisbane, July 2010