General Timeline

After joining the Board in 2011, Lois Jones served as President of RWA’s Board from 2019-2025. Read the statement regarding her departure on the RWA website here.

Candessa Ashbury joined the RWA Board in 2016, and was appointed Vice President in 2019. She has taken on the acting President role in the wake of Lois Jones’ resignation. Read the statement on the RWA website here.

Former RWA Funeral Fund Manager, Henrietta de Sa has officially been appointed CEO, after taking on the acting CEO role in the wake of Margaret Thomas’ departure. Read the statement on the RWA website here.

On 13 April, 2024 Retirees WA published a general notice in the West Australian Classifieds section, advising the intention to remove the currently appointed auditor for the organisation (Pascoe) and appoint a new auditor at a General Meeting to be held on 20 June, 2024.

RWA CEO Margaret Thomas, and Board President Lois Jones, have authorised a mortgage over the RWA-owned property Lighthouse Estate Village located at Bluff Point in Geraldton.  The mortgage is held by Samson Homes, a company owned by Frank Pinner (Margaret Thomas’ husband).  Samson Homes is the designated developer-builder for the Lighthouse Estate Retirement Village.

An investment property in Willetton, owned by Retirees WA, is sold during the 2013-14 financial year.

Some time during 2011, Shane Bradley (son-in-law of Margaret Thomas, CEO) commences employment at Retirees WA as the Property Manager to all villages.

Some time during 2005, the sales management of lease-for-life contracts in Retirees WA villages is outsourced to a newly established business trading as ‘RWA Housing‘.  RWA Housing is owned and operated by Over 55s Lifestyle Villages Pty Ltd – the directors of this company are Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas) and Roger Nicholls.

By the 2006 AGM, Retirees WA headquarters has relocated to Unit 2 / 915 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park, with a 5 year lease at just under $52,000/year. From 2010 onwards, this rent commitment is raised to around $110,000/year.

The premises is owned by Over 55 Lifestyle Villages Pty Ltd, and at this time holds a $4.4M loan from RWA, as well as operating RWA Housing as the exclusive sales Manager for RWA.  The company is owned by Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas).

An article titled “Retirees in dark over loans” is published in the West Australian.  The article highlights concerns over the $1.8M loan from the Retirees WA Funeral Fund to a company owned by Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas), used for the purchase of a property in East Victoria Park which Retirees WA now leases office space in.

The article also highlights concerns from the RWA Finance Committee Members that Roger Nicholls is in control of the organisation and decisions are being made outside of the committee and outside of constitutional due process.

An article titled “Deals with ex-MP start revolt” is published in the West Australian.  The article reports that Retirees WA Finance Committee Members were demanding to know the details of $3.4M of loans and investments the RWA Funeral Fund had paid to private company ventures of Roger Nicholls and Frank Pinner (husband of Margaret Thomas).

The Members were especially concerned that such substantial investment had been made at the same time RWA reported cash-flow problems, being forced to sell their CDB headquarters and make staff redundant.

Roger Nicholls ceases working as an employee at Retirees WA Inc some time during 2005.  He continues in an ‘honorary liaison consultant’ capacity.

Roger Nicholls stepped down as Patron of Retirees WA, apparently as

“in his own assessment – he did not ‘have the status’ that was fitting for an organisation that had ‘stepped up in the public arena’ and deserved ‘somebody who has the stature that would replicate or reflect the position of the organisation in the community’s eyes’.”

An article titled “Former minister angers greys” is published in the West Australian.  The article reports that Members of Retirees WA voted to dismiss Roger Nicholls from his consultant role at the organisation, due to conflict of interest concerns and inappropriate sponsorship deals he had entered into on RWA’s behalf.

Roger Nicholls’ contract is renewed by the Board the same month, ignoring the 35:10 vote of no confidence.

The Australian Pensioners’ League is relaunched in March 2002 as Retirees WA Inc, with the constitution redeveloped and the organisation restructured to include Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer roles.  These paid staff roles are appointed by the Board, and are required to report to the Board regarding the general day-to-day operations and finances of the organisation.

Patricia Teague passes away, aged 75. At this time, Patricia is the longest-serving president of the APL.

Vice-presidents Eileen Browning and Thelma White jointly take on role of acting General President of the APL.

With the help of Theo Kannis, the APL invests $1.55M in a new building for their premises, purchasing and relocating to 159 Adelaide Terrace, Perth.

The building is substantially renovated by the organisation, and ceremonially reopened in September 1986 by Sir Charles Court. The building was formally designated “The Russell Centre”, named for the long-standing Finance Manager for the League, Dora Russell.

Theo Kannis is made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his efforts towards the welfare of pensioners in Australia, Canada, and the UK.

Due to outgrowing the space at 275 Stirling Street, Perth, the Australian Pensioners’ League invests in the neighbouring property at 273 Stirling Street, expanding its headquarters across both premises.

Theo Kannis is awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List in January 1971. Mr. Kannis was awarded this in recognition for his significant contribution to the Australian Pensioners’ League, in the years since his initial association with the APL in 1962.

The Murlali Lodge, a frail aged home, is opened by the APL.

The APL’s Funeral and Benevolent Funds are amalgamated, with rules changed so that only Funeral Fund subscribes can now benefit from the benevolent fund.

Some time during 1956, an Amelioration fund is established by the APL to support members in need, providing groceries and firewood.

On 22 August 1954, the James T. Pollard Convalescent Home for Women Pensioners is opened, at 19 Market Street, Guildford.

The Australian Pensioners’ League launches a monthly newspaper titled “The Pensioners’ News”.

After Charles Iffla’s departure from the organisation, John Manning is appointed General President of the Australian Pensioners’ League.

The APL’s Funeral Fund is established, with the support of JL Watkins & Sons (later AJ Purslowe & Co).

A group of elderly gentlemen form the Fremantle Branch of what would become the Australian Pensioners’ League.