Hire and Rental News - November 2018

4 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • NOVEMBER 2018 a promise to myself to make sure I spend more time with my grandkids than I did with my two sons growing up. l hope I can keep this promise. I see another large construction company has fallen by the way side in South Australia. This is the third large company that has gone into receivership in the past five years. The impact on suppliers is massive; and we all must ask why? How did this happen? Is this bad management or more about skinny margins to try and stay competitive? Whichever it is, there are a lot of innocent bystanders who will have suffered through no fault of their own. A friend who owns a well-established hire business in the South East has been personally affected, - and it's not by the PPSR since his equipment had not been on site for very long - but the receiver has padlocked the gates and no one can remove any equipment. Some of the equipment is sub-hired, which means he is still liable and has to cover the payments until it comes off hire. This could go on for some months before he can have his equipment released. Therefore, I remind members, it is so important to regularly monitor cash flow and be extremely firm on debtors, ensuring they do not trade outside our agreed terms and conditions. There are some very good software programs available for the hire industry to assist with this process. In my first year as President I have spoken about the fantastic benefits the HRIA has available to members. I personally needed to call HRNet the other week, regarding the dismissal of one of our staff. Within half an hour of making the phone call I received a call back, discussing my issues for about 45 minutes. Less than one-hour later, I ASSOCIATION NEWS The highs and lows of hire and how help is always at hand president's message Mark Burton, National President I can't believe my first year as National President has come and gone. I seem to be saying more than ever ‘where did that time go?’ I am not sure if it is due to getting older or because I am busier than ever. Whichever, it has been an extremely rewarding and sometimes challenging experience which I have enjoyed immensely and am very grateful to be given this opportunity. I would like to thank all our members for their support and words of encouragement over the past 12 months, along with a huge thanks of appreciation to our National Office for their mentoring. My biggest challenge now, along with the rest of the Board, is to keep the momentum going, especially with all the new programs we have introduced in the past year. Since last issue, I have become a grandparent for the first time. I know there are lots of grandparents and grandchildren in our Association, but I wanted to share my experience with you. It is great owning a hire company. We had four display boards on hire at the time my granddaughter was born and I managed to convince all our customers to let us change the signs for one day. Now all the Barossa and surrounding areas know my eldest son Blake and wife Tara are proud parents. Trish and I are grandparents for the first time; a beautiful girl Imogen Patricia Michelle Burton and I have made received an email reiterating our phone conversation. I was very impressed by their quick, professional response. I know sometimes it can be a little daunting sharing business issues with others, but I can assure you all information given is held in the strictest confidence. If you need any assistance with staffing issues please do not hesitate to give HRNet a call. Thank you, Brenton Allen for your assistance. This is my last President’s message for 2018, so I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and all your families the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Please remember we all get busier as the festive season approaches, so take five to stay alive. Thank you, take care and stay safe. I look forward to catching up with you all in the New Year. Mark Burton National President Mark 'hijacked' his electronic messaging boards to announce the birth of his first grandchild