Members terms & conditions
Subscriptions
The Society’s financial year commences on 1 October each year. Under the Rules of the Society, (Rule 16a) the subscription payable by a member in respect of each year shall be payable on or before 31 October of that year. If the annual subscription is not paid by 30 November of that year, the Member concerned shall not be entitled to attend or vote at the ensuing Annual General Meeting.
If the Annual or three-year subscription is not paid by the last day of the ensuing Sydney Royal Easter Show, the membership shall be classified as lapsed.
Membership Cards
Below are the RAS Rules of the Society for membership cards. (Rule 17)
- Upon payment of Annual or three-year subscriptions, every Member shall receive a non-transferable membership ticket for use by that Member and no other person.
- A membership card, day pass or other ticket of admission shall be produced upon demand and if required surrendered to any authorised person.
- Every person having in his/her possession a membership card, day pass or other ticket of admission to which he/she is not entitled, shall upon demand be surrendered to any authorised person.
- If any such persons fail or refuse to comply, he/she may be expelled from the Showground or from any part thereof.
- No person shall be or remain in any part of the Showground set aside for the use of Members unless such person is in lawful possession of, and can produce on demand made by any authorised person, a membership ticket or day pass.
Please keep your cards in a safe place. Your cards are your responsibility.
It is unfortunate that a percentage of mail goes astray through Australia Post. However the number of requests received to replace “lost” cards has reached an unacceptable level. It is the member’s responsibility to notify the RAS Membership Department if cards have not arrived within an acceptable time period – they will be replaced free of charge. We will charge a reissue fee for “lost” cards. Please adhere to the following guidelines.
Lapsed membership
A rejoining fee will be charged to a Lapsed member, who fails to pay their subscription after the last day of the Show, at the beginning of the following renewal year. City and Country member rejoining fee is $65. Youth rejoining fee is $25.
After two years of lapsed membership, a member’s record will be deleted from membership database. It will revert to a non-member status. A non-member must pay the full joining fee if they wish to join the Society again. Once deleted the ex-member must pay the full joining fee if they wish to rejoin the Society. No previous membership history will be recorded.
Longstanding membership
According to the Rules of the Society, Longstanding membership is recognised as:
- a Member who has been a member for at least 40 consecutive years;
- a Member who has attained 70 years of age and who has been a member for at least 25 consecutive years.
It is important that birth dates are recorded on Members’ files. Without birth dates it is not possible to determine eligibility for some longstanding memberships.
Longstanding membership entitles the Member to a 20% discount off the relevant membership type subscription i.e. City or Country, and a complimentary guest card.
Claiming Country membership
The RAS has two clearly defined types of full membership: City and Country. When a person joins the RAS, the application form stipulates the qualifications to meet each member type. The new member is thereby agreeing to abide by the Rules of the Society, by providing correct personal information. This also applies to the Renewal form.
- If you live in the Greater Sydney Metropolitan area, you must be listed as a City member. It is unacceptable to claim a Country address belonging to a friend or relative etc.
- If you live in the City, but have agricultural holdings and are able to claim as a Primary Producer through taxation; only then are you eligible to apply for Country membership. The Primary Producer status document must be supplied each year you renew.
- Country membership is based within the following postcodes, which are outside the Greater Sydney Metropolitan area : 0000-0950; 2250-2554; 2575-2739; 2787-9999.
- Members who submit incorrect information will be required to pay the difference in membership fees and will be transferred to the correct member type. Proof of place of residence will be required i.e. driver’s license.
- If the difference in membership fees is not paid the membership will be suspended until payment is received.
Click here to read about general Member information including Categories and Fees, Membership Benefits, Membership Facilities, Reciprocal Rights, and Conditions.