18 | SSAA 30TH ANNIVERSARY
SSAA – Celebrating 30 years
O
ver the next 12 months the SSAA will be celebrating 30 years since its formation. It all started back in May 1990 when a handful of Facility operators gathered in the Swagman Room at the Hotel Lawson, Ultimo, Sydney and held the inaugural meeting of the proposed Australian Self Storage Association. There will be lots of exciting things happening over the next year to mark this milestone, culminating in the 2020 Melbourne Convention in August 2020. Did you know that on 28 September in 1990 the first trade show was held at the Hotel Lawson with a cocktail party on opening night? The infamous John Singleton gave the keynote speech “Marketing Self Storage in the 90s”. The next morning the steering committee was appointed and 32 foundation members were welcomed, including Jim Miller, Bob Marsh,Frank Cooney, Richard Whalan, Neville Kennard, Ian Oliver, Lee Cameron and Liz Davies. All familiar names we know today.
How can you help? Do you have any information, images, and stories from the last 30 years? We would love you to share them with us. You can mail them, or scan them and email them to marketing@selfstorage.com.au The more memories and mementoes we can gather the better. These will all help celebrate and commemorate all the achievements and growth the industry has had over the last 30 years. Did you also know that in September 1993 The AGM was held in Canberra and Mark Bateman requested the Association change its name to include New Zealand? This was moved firstly by Neville Kennard and seconded by Jim Miller. Overall it was a unanimous decision by the board.
As a result The Association changed its name immediately and became The Self Storage Association of Australasia. As the 30 year celebrations gather momentum we would love all members participation to make this celebration worth celebrating. l
