Backstage Incorporated’s annual general meeting saw a shifting of positions for the first time in many years.

Long-serving president Michelle Nicholls has stepped back to a lesser role to concentrate on her role as director of the calisthenics division of the Mount Gambier Eisteddfod and Natalia Chalinor has stepped into the position.

Other officers elected were Michelle Nicholls to vice president, Maxine Chalinor as secretary, Ruth Hansard as treasurer and committee members Christina Schultz, Tony Chalinor, Susie Massie and Robyn Hillyer.

Backstage members are currently all working busily on their main project, the running of the Mount Gambier Eisteddfod.

Adjudicators have been contracted for several division with those confirmed as Peter Wallace for Dance, Marianne Rigby Choral and Vocal, Merry Dickins Speech and Drama and Dr Kenji Fujimura for Music.

A special award was presented at the meeting, with the Mrs Hansard receiving the Ivan and Bernice McCormick Memorial Award for outstanding service to Backstage Incorporated in general.

The award was named to honour two popular Backstage members who contributed greatly.

Several Backstage members have just returned from Mildura where they attended the AGM and bi-annual conference of the Association of Eisteddfod Societies of Australia.

Mount Gambier delegate Maxine Chalinor was returned to the position of secretary for the 19th year and Natalia Chalinor was voted in as treasurer.

One of the main topics of discussion at the conference was the lack of volunteers with three more eisteddfod societies folding in 2022 due to lack of helpers.