With a
feeling of considerable sadness I have to inform my many friends and associates
in APCCA that the time has come for me to announce my departure from this
wonderful organisation. Even though the 22nd APCCA in Thailand in 2001 voted
unanimously for Dr Neil Morgan and me to continue in our roles for a further
three years, it seems appropriate for me to leave before then.
Now that a permanent secretariat has been established in Hong Kong and Singapore, many of the routine tasks which I have handled over the past 15 years no longer require my input. Also, I am absolutely confident that some of the more demanding tasks (such as preparing the annual Discussion Guide and the Draft Report of each conference) will be handled very effectively by Dr Morgan, with the support of his wife, Irene Morgan, and the permanent secretariat.
My wife, Julie, and I have greatly appreciated the opportunities provided to us by APCCA to visit many beautiful countries in the Asia and Pacific region, and we have also thoroughly enjoyed the generous hospitality offered by the conference hosts. We will treasure our memories of these events for many years to come.
I must add that I have always found the discussions of correctional issues, and the visits to correctional institutions, to be extremely interesting and informative. I have no doubt that APCCA has made an important contribution to the development of modern and professional correctional services in the region, and I am also sure that this will continue in the years to come.
I would be very happy to provide any further assistance or advice that might help APCCA or its individual participants if that is needed. Meanwhile, I wish good luck and good fortune in the future to all in APCCA, and I look forward to learning of further APCCA successes through the reports of conferences and this newsletter.