Hire and Rental News - November 2017

4 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • NOVEMBER 2017 ASSOCIATION A time of change means time for new involvement president's message Jeff Bernard, National President At the end of September we had two days of meetings (20-21 September 2017) with the HRIA National Board of Directors, followed by our combined HRIA National AGM and Victorian General Meeting in Melbourne. After serving two years as Events President in Victoria in 2007 and 2008, Victorian President and National Executive from 2009 to 2013 and as the HRIA National President from 2014 to 2017, I’m realising I’ve been actively involved with the HRIA for a decade. It was my last National Board meeting and AGM as the HRIA President and I had a good feeling of gratification and accomplishment. I’m very pleased to have had this opportunity. It has been a fantastic journey that isn’t over yet and I have made a lot of friends. One friend is Jeremy Shaw from Master Hire in Queensland who is our candidate for the Global Rental Alliance Leadership Program for 2017. Jeremy was our Queensland State President and National Board Member from 2010 to 2015. Jeremy flew out of Brisbane on 20 October and after spending a couple days in Vancouver, was off to stay with his host family Bunce Rentals in Tacoma, Washington. After two weeks at Bunce Rentals Jeremy’s next stop is Alexandria, Virginia south of Washington DC. Jeremy will be attending the American Rental Association’s ‘Young Professionals Conference’. Speaking about the newly established network and conference, feedback from the HRIA’s first Young Professionals Conference on 17-18 August 2017 has been very positive. A call for nominations for the Young Professionals Network subcommittee is underway. If you have up and coming future leaders in your organisation please support them to get involved in this new initiative. The HRIA office and National Board are working hard towards our 50th Convention from 30-31 May 2018 to be held in Brisbane. HIRE18 will be a celebration of 50 years' history, recognising the great achievements that have helped shape the rental industry, as well as a look at new technologies, the next generation of hire professionals and what the future might hold. Please save the dates. In past months and at our State AGMs we've had some HRIA Board Members step down. We would like to acknowledge these individual leaders. They do a great job within their own businesses and volunteer their valuable time which is so important to the success of the Association. In May stepping down was our National Events President Tom O’Dowd; at this past AGM was Past President Mark Scarce and in the next few months at our State AGM is Victoria State President Jarrod Kerr, QLD State President Steve LeProu and NSW State President, Luke Geelan. On behalf of the HRIA and Members, I would like to say a big Thank You for your input and dedication over the years. It’s been a privilege to work with you and we look forward to continuing our friendships and keeping in touch in the years ahead. A very special Thank You to Mark Scarce. Mark was our National President from 2011 to 2015 and our Past President for the past three years; a total of seven years on the HRIA National Board. Thank you for everything you’ve put into the Association Mark, and well done. We welcome our new National President, Mark Burton from Barossa Valley Hire. Mark was the HRIA South Australian President from 2011-2013 and has been on the South Australian committee for over 18 years. He is passionate about the hire industry and has grown the business, with his wife Trish, since they took it on back in 1994. They now operate two successful businesses, Barossa Valley Hire and Barossa Function Hire. Looking forward, there is no doubt the next 12 months will continue to be competitive and challenging and the HRIA will be working hard to deliver new initiatives to better serve its members. Remember, everyone’s participation in the Association is crucial. Please take the time to attend your State Meetings to raise concerns or to flag new initiatives and ideas. I wish you all the best for the upcoming holiday season and thank you for your support of the Association and our industry. Jeff Bernard HRIA Past President