LONG-serving Benalla Auto Club president Bruce Robertson is bracing for a challenge for his position tonight as the organisation enters a new era after the shock recent death of Winton Raceway chief executive Mick Ronke.
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In a circular to members ahead of the club’s annual meeting tonight, Mr Robertson said he wanted to stay on, but feared he would be the subject of a coup.
Up until Mr Ronke’s death in late April, he and Mr Robertson were co-directors of Winton Motor Raceway Pty Ltd.
But at the first club committee since Mr Ronke’s death a decision was made to appoint executive officers to manage Winton and Wakefield Park Raceway at Goulburn which was bought by the Benalla Auto Club in 2007.
Heather Wallace and Don Bartlett have been elected to both the Winton and Wakefield management teams and the late Mr Ronke’s two sons, Adam and Matthew, are on the Winton and Wakefield management teams respectively.
At a BAC meeting in May, Ms Wallace was elected secretary.
But no decision has been made on the late Mr Ronke’s chief executive position to date.
The club’s annual meeting was scheduled for May, but was postponed as Mr Robertson and Mr Ronke had not completed their annual reports and audited accounts had not been approved.
Four committee members are to be elected at the annual meeting tonight, along with office bearers including the president.
Mr Robertson, a Wangaratta pharmacist, could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but in his circular to members, he sought their support to stay on as president.
“I do not want to be the CEO, but for members to ignore my 25 years of experience as a committee member and president, in what is a very torrid time, both economically for the nation, and certainly within the industry, would be counter-productive at this time,” he wrote.
“I am utterly un-conflicted in my role on committee, compared to others, and indeed employees of the businesses (Winton and Wakefield) who currently sit on the committee.
“I am committed to seeking out those sections of the businesses and club processes that are not best practice and correcting them.
“That will rattle some windows, but it is the right thing to do.”
The V8 Supercar round at Winton is one of the biggest sporting events in regional Victoria and is due to be held again next month.
