I agree with Whale. The EC might have been well aware that you had flagged an intention to do something but, perhaps, from their point of view, you had not actually done anything yet. IE In spite of some discussion around the idea, you had not produced a motion (perhaps along with a background statement explaining what it is about and why you think it is a good idea). If they are not in favour of your idea, they might have been relieved when no motion from you eventuated, even though you knew the AGM was due soon. They might not have felt any need to prompt you if you they knew that you knew that the meeting had to be a month either side of the middle of May, and it was indeed called for 6th May which is only a week before the middle of May.
In the ACT there is a mechanism by which an owner can call a general meeting. Perhaps NSW has something similar (others can advise on that) and perhaps you could use that provision if the incoming EC won’t call a meeting later, just for your proposal.
So, you might not need to wait for a year to put your idea. It might be better to raise it for discussion under ‘Other business’ at the AGM if there is such an agenda item and then plan to make sure you have the numbers and then request a general meeting later.
For most owners, I would guess, they don’t yet know about your proposal so perhaps it is better to talk to enough of the other 35 owners to be reasonably confident that you can call a meeting and have support from people who understand your proposal (whatever it might be!).