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HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • AUGUST 2015
ASSOCIATION
Rewarding experiences right across the board
president's
message
Jeff Bernard, National President
What a productive and interesting time
we had in Adelaide at our recent HRIA
Convention. From the indoor and outdoor
exhibition to our keynote speakers and
seminars, the Events Dinner and of course
the Hire Industry Excellence Awards!
What a great few days we had!
The exhibition was an indoor and outdoor
format at the Adelaide Showground.
There was a total of 153 exhibitor stands
and approximately 960 attendees with
feedback from exhibitors very positive.
The Conference, Seminars and Keynote
Speakers were held at the Intercontinental
Adelaide, plus our final evening featured
the national industry awards presentation:
the Hire Industry Excellence Awards.
On behalf of the Association we would
like to thank all of our award nominees
and congratulate all Hire Industry
Excellence Award winners from the
evening. An enormous amount of work
goes into participating and being
nominated for Rental Company of the
Year. But, if you talk to anyone that has
been through the process, it is also a very
rewarding experience and the benefits
for the participating business are tenfold.
Feedback and input from the judges offers
rare insight to operational practices which
you might never have considered.
On a personal note, it was fantastic to see
so many familiar faces and the opportunity
to reconnect with old friends as well as
meet new friends and colleagues during
the Convention was priceless. We are
already in the process of planning for the
Gold Coast in 2016 and the HRIA National
Convention - HIRE16 - will be at the Gold
Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre
4-5 May 2016.
With an ever accommodating program, the
2016 Convention will run over two days
with both indoor and outdoor equipment
displays, live equipment demonstrations
and a full daily conference and seminar
program to educate and inform. It will have
something for everyone - as always - and
as the only hire expo in Australia - is not to
be missed. If you're in hire, then you need
to be at the HRIA hire show!
With the recent start to our new financial
year we have said our goodbye to Phil
Newby and warmly welcome James
Oxenham into the position of CEO,
commencing 1 July 2015.
We’ll miss having Phil around and we
thank him for all he has done during
his 17 years with the Association. Our
new Operations Manager is Nicolas
Chiew. Nicolas started prior to the Hire15
Convention in April and has already gotten
off to a great start. Also recently leaving
after 13 years with the Association, is
Christine Dunlop who has been replaced
by Lisa Groves.
The Association continues to work
diligently on the Personal Property
Securities Act (PPSA) issues. The HRIA has
been working with its legal team for the
past 20 months to have this redressed. In
recent months our government and media
relations activity has heightened with key
journalists running stories and a recent
interview on radio station 2GB with Phil
Newby – See HRIAWebsite.
We’ve also been canvassing relevant
politicians and ask you contact your own
local MP to add voice to this seriously
concerning legislative issue for our
industry. We’re encouraging you to contact
your local pollie and let them know
how this unfair legislation is impacting
businesses in their electorate.
We thank you for continuing to support
our Association. We look forward to seeing
you at our upcoming State Meetings and
on the Gold Coast in 2016. As always,
please feel free to contact me or our
State Presidents if you should have any
questions or require further information
regarding the Association.
Jeff Bernard
National President
"....if you talk to anyone
that has been through
the (awards entry)
process, it is a very
rewarding experience
and the benefits are
tenfold...."