The Order in Australia is governed by The United Grand Chapter of Australia (UGCA) with assistance from Governing (Supervisory) entities such as Grand Chapters and District Grand Committees at either a local or state level.
The term of office for the majority of all Chapters, Grand Chapters and District Grand Committees is 12 months with the exception of The UGCA and the DG Committee of Tasmania which has a 2-year term.
A Chapter has 18 Office-bearers with the Chief Office-bearer being the Worthy Matron. Grand Chapters and The UGCA have additional Office-bearers to share the administrative duties within their responsibility.
At Governing levels, Office-bearers with the same duties exist in addition to a few Administrative Assistants. The addition of a prefix depicts their responsibility eg:
The United Grand Chapter of Australia is represented by 22 Worthy Grand Office-bearers who are assisted by various administrative officers and valued Emeritus Worthy Grand Office-bearers. The term of office is 2 years with the Biennial Sessions held in June each year, and within in the State of the incoming Most Worthy Grand Matron.
The Grand Representative program is designed to promote and foster fraternal international relationships between members. Representatives are appointed by Most Worthy Grand Matron to a particular overseas jurisdiction who in turn, appoint a member from their Grand Chapter. Together these members form a lasting friendship – sharing their ideas and experiences of their respective OES journeys.
Any member of the Order in Australia can apply to become a Grand Representative by completing details of their OES history on an application form (available in the Members only area) and lodging it with the Worthy Grand Secretary.
The Present and Past Grand Representatives Association of Australia was formed in 1988 and its aims, and objectives are “to promote, develop and foster a continuing interest of those who have been appointed as Grand Representatives by exchange of ideas beneficial to Grand Representatives in particular and the Order of the Eastern Star in general”.
Grand Representatives can apply to join this association for a small fee paid each biennium by completing an application form (available from the members only area). This entitles them to attend Association meetings and luncheons that are organised from time to time. Membership forms and minutes of recent meetings are available from the Members only area.
