CELEBRATING 25 YEARS 1992 - 2017 CONTENTS 1 Introduction 2-7 In the Beginning - 1992/93 to 1997 8-10 1998 to 2002 11-16 2003 to 2007 17-20 2008 to 2012 21-24 2013 to 2016 25-28 2017 and beyond 29 The Melbourne Business Awards - 1992 to 2016 30-34 A Proud History of Australian Manufacturing 35-37 Where are they now? 38 Where will they go next? 39 Award Winners 40-41 Award Nominees 42 Foundation Award Winners 43 Young Achievers 44 Business Legends 45 Guest Speakers 46 Attending Students/Young Peoples Groups 47 Cash Sponsors 48 Time and Service Sponsors 49 Business Card Draw Prize Donors 50 The Melbourne Business Awards Committee 51 The MBA Breakfasts 52 The Venues 53 Attendances 1 INTRODUCTION The Melbourne Business Awards (MBA) commenced in 1992 to provide a forum to recognise the achievements of small to medium sized enterprises in the industrial, manufacturing or engineering sector within Melbourne’s South East region. Since inception, the primary forum Over 25 years, the MBA has recognised both government and private sector has been breakfast networking events more than 220 local businesses and businesses, in particular the City of with each breakfast having a keynote presented more than 60 business Kingston (City of Moorabbin until 1994) speaker from the business, political or awards. In addition to these awards, and Nugents Accountants who have sporting sectors to provide dynamic the MBA has also delivered on a supported the MBA since it began in and motivational presentations number of other initiatives: 1992. Whilst the original MBA had the covering their respective areas of support of prominent sponsors, their • Recognition of companies that expertise. In addition, two local involvement was more about improving displayed a continuing commitment businesses are invited to highlight their the performance of local businesses to youth employment and youth business achievements through a short rather than seeking to gain specific apprenticeships presentation to provide an overview business opportunities. This culture has of their successes and challenges. • Recognition of young employees remained with the MBA since the very A final breakfast is held each year to beginning and is a key reason for its • The attendance of secondary and announce awards for the business success and longevity. tertiary students as well as groups of or businesses judged best of those young people with a special interest in The information in this booklet has that had presented throughout the the expertise of the keynote speaker been drawn from the Melbourne year. Judging is based on a detailed Business Awards records and from assessment derived from the breakfast • Information workshops on information in the public domain. It presentations and a site visit by MBA specialist topics has been put together to recognise Committee Members. • A forum for business owners the achievements of the MBA, to to talk to other business owners acknowledge its wide range of supporters and to provide an indication This has all been made possible of the changing business environment by the generous support of cash in Melbourne’s South East region over sponsors, and time and services from the 25 years from 1992 to 2017. No representations are made about the accuracy or currency of the information and reliance should not be placed on it. 2 IN THE BEGINNING - 1992/93 - 1997 INDUSTRY Melbourne’s South East region was Nepean Highway was home to fashion the nation’s major manufacturing hub groups such as Berlei Brassiere and in the 1960’s and 70’s. You could buy also attracted other well-known industrial land in 1960 for $15 per companies such as Gilbey’s Gin (their square metre ($500 per square metre factory became Mercedes Barloworld today). The ideal factory size at that and Moorabbin Homemaker Centre), time was 500sqm - mostly using the Repco (now Good Guys), Horscroft new fire protective asbestos roofing. Engineering (now Harvey Norman), Mason Firth McCutcheon (who printed cheque books and later credit cards), and Lukey Muffler. GILBEY’S GIN FACTORY 1992 Coca Cola took over a drive in theatre • plastics companies such as Nylex, and Phillip Morris had their first Wickham Tooling & Plastics (1998 manufacturing plant on the corner MBA Business Development award of Chesterville and Cochranes Roads. winner) and Barfell Industries (2004 MBA award nominee), were also well Other industries also have a long established, and association with the area: • food companies such as Fontelle • the first Fox Transport depot Australia was established in 1993, and was established in Chesterville a little muesli bar maker, Carman’s Fine Road in 1960 Foods, established its business in 1992 3 1992/93 - 1997 continued The industrial sector of Braeside had a There’s a tennis court, jogging track, preponderance of development taking barbeques. Parking is more than ample place in the mid-1980’s, converting and there’s a 24 hour external security farmland into small or large factory service. There’s even a hotel-motel”. units. Some companies who would Redwood Gardens would become home later become MBA award nominees for more future MBA award nominees moved into the area such as Australian such as Chromagen, Chocolate Works Barbell Company, Roysen Engineering, and Hardman Bros. Redline Engineering, K&L Beasley Moorabbin was a cluster of small Patternmakers, AuscoPak, and businesses based around a thriving Form 2000. Victorian motor vehicle manufacturing Also in the mid-1980’s the Redwood industry that included Ford from 1925, Gardens Industrial Estate was Holden from 1948, British Leyland established in Dingley as a new style from 1950 to 1975, Peugeot from of development. In April 1985 The Age 1953 to 1981, Volkswagen from 1957 wrote “This has to be the ultimate in to 1976, Australian Motor Industries working environments. Here function (who produced Standard, Triumph, blends beautifully with aesthetics, Rambler, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota business mixes happily with pleasure - automobiles in Australia) from 1958 to here workstyle becomes lifestyle! More 1987), Toyota from 1963, Renault from like a work resort than a workplace. 1966 to 1981, and Nissan from 1976 to Buildings and landscaping complement 1992. Australian manufacture of cars each other beautifully. There is a rose to a maximum of almost half a business centre with conveniences million in the 1970’s (10th place in ranging from beautifully designed the World). professional suites to a bistro by the lake. There is a gymnasium complete with basketball and squash court. MOORABBIN INDUSTRIAL PRECINCT in the early 1990’s 4 1992/93 - 1997 continued By the end of the 1980’s, Nissan factories in 1992, but Toyota Australia was facing financial difficulties and began exporting the Camry to the eventually closed down its Australian Middle East in 1996. NISSAN CLAYTON SITE 1992 VOCATIONAL Vocational education and training finance and secretarial studies were provision was largely provided by the also significant in terms of enrolments, EDUCATION Technical and Further Education (TAFE) while literacy and numeracy programs AND TRAINING colleges in the region. Skills training and migrant education were featured in the food processing and food in further education. The early 90’s also technology sectors were introduced saw the development of the Moorabbin alongside tooling, fabrication, Industry Training Centre and the mechanical engineering, engineering opening of the Edmund Barton Centre production, industrial electronics and in 1995. electrical trade programs. Business, ECONOMIC The manufacturing sector’s recession. Inflation, coupled with slower contribution to the economy peaked growth in Australia’s GDP, affected all CONDITIONS at just under 30% of gross domestic sectors of the economy. The modest product (GDP) in the late 1950’s and employment growth in the 1970’s was early 1960’s. The onset of oil price rises dominated by service industries. in the early 1970’s led the world into 5 1992/93 - 1997 continued The 1980’s and 1990’s saw a decline tolls in 1985 led to transport companies in the relative contribution to GDP starting to move large warehousing from goods-producing industries, to the west which took the business particularly manufacturing, and a emphasis away from the traditional rise in the contribution from service south eastern suburbs location. industries. During this period, the To make matters worse, the early mining, manufacturing, and electricity, 1990’s saw the economy of Australia gas and water supply industries suffer its worst recession since the experienced declining employment, Great Depression sixty years earlier – along with outsourcing of some Federal Treasurer Paul Keating calling it activities, particularly support services. “the recession we had to have”: The floating of the Australian • Unemployment peaked at 11% dollar in 1983 and the reduction of tariff protection in the late 1980’s • Reserve Bank cash rates peaked led to significant changes to the at 17% manufacturing sector. In addition, • Australia wide, manufacturing as a the opening of the Westgate Bridge percentage of GDP declined from in November 1978, and the removal of 30% in the 60’s to 15% in the 1990’s THE It was in this depressed economic The attendees could go back to their climate that the Melbourne Business work re-energised and with a positive FORMATION OF Awards were formed on the back of attitude. A team made up of Nugents THE MELBOURNE an idea by Nugents & Sheldans, a local & Sheldans Daniel Zuzek, the CEO accounting firm, and the then City of of Carbitool and at the time, the BUSINESS AWARDS Moorabbin, to provide an opportunity Mayor of the City of Moorabbin Neil for local manufacturing businesses to Hamilton, the Marketing Manager for hear “inspirational” stories from other Moorabbin TAFE Jeremy Simpson, and local manufacturing businesses that representatives of founding sponsors were doing ok (and there are always National Australia Bank, Australia businesses doing ok).