UTS v GERRARD [2001] NSWSC 368

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : UTS v GERRARD [2001] NSWSC 368 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2200/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/04/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 7 May 2001

PARTIES : University of Technology Sydney - Plaintiff Jessica Gerrard (and the persons whose names appear in Schedule 1 to Summons) - First toTwenty seventh Defendants JUDGMENT OF : Barrett J

Mr R.J. Weber - Plaintiff COUNSEL : Mr A.D. Lang - 1-3, 5, 6, 8-14, 17-19, 21-23, 25-27 Defendants Fourth and Twentieth Defendants in person SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison - Plaintiff Slater & Gordon - Defendants CATCHWORDS : VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION - Whether election of council valid - Whether University has standing in relation to controversy concerning constitution of students' association - Justiciability of such controversy - Construction of provisions concerning termination of office after subsequent election of officers - Whether several persons may occupy one office - Whether Court will sanction single trustee where instrument requires several trustees - Principles upon which Court will appoint receiver of trust property in jeopardy - Need for other avenues of resolution to be further pursued first. LEGISLATION CITED : University of Technology, Sydney Act 1989 Conveyancing Act 1919 Forster v Jododex Pty Ltd (1972) 127 CLR 421 Ibeneweka v Egbuna [1964] 1 WLR 219 at 225 Clarke v Australian Labor Party [1999] SASC 365 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia Bank Ltd [1999] NSWSC 828 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358 Baldwin v Everingham [1993] QdR 10 Woodward v Sarsons (1875) LR 10 CP 743 Chanter v Blackwood (1904) 1 CLR 39 Ryan v South Sydney Junior Rugby League Club Ltd (1974) 3 ACLR 486 CASES CITED : Rivers v Bondi Junction-Waverley RSL Sub-Branch Ltd (1986) 5 NSWLR 362 Re Khan [1947] QWN 41 Ditcher v Denison (1857) 11 Moore PC 325 Lonsdale v Beckett (1850) DeG & Sm 73 Re Ellison's Trust (1856) 2 Jur NS 62 Yunghanns v Candoora No 19 Pty Ltd (No 2) [2000] VSC 300 Martyniuk v King [2000] VSC 319 National Australia Bank Ltd v Bond Brewing Holdings Ltd [1991] 1 VR 259 National Australia Bank Ltd v Bond Brewing Holdings Ltd (1990) 169 CLR 271 Cardile v LED Buildings Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 380 DECISION : 1. Declare that at the election of the University of Technology Sydney Students' Association held in 2000, no persons were validly elected to the Student Representative Council of that Association; 2. Order that the Cross-Claim be dismissed; 3. Order that the remainder of the claims in the Amended Summons be stood over to 9.30 am on Monday, 14 May 2001 before Barrett J