The Boating Industry Association Ltd has recognised 24 organisations who have so far logged more than 50 years as members of the association.
BIA President Tracy Souris said, “The association was founded in 1960 by an inspired group of industry leaders who realised the importance of a collective effort to promote boating, advocate to governments, support marine jobs and deliver services to support marine business.
“The BIA has continued to evolve through time but in one regard it has not changed; and that it the importance placed on the membership.”
The 50 year-plus Honour Roll read like a who’s who of the industry in Australia and included the longest serving member in David Binks OAM of the eponymous Binks Marine of South Australia.
David, also a BIA Life Member, is a true titan of the Australian boating landscape, whose profound influence spans more than two-thirds of a century of dedicated service. A well-known racing sailboat designer and builder and passionate sailor, David began his journey in the mid-1950s as an apprentice in Port Adelaide before founding Binks Yacht Constructions in 1959.
The full roll call of the BIA 50 year-plus is:
Binks Marine, Austral Propeller Co., Castlecrag Boatshed, David Rose Yachts, Hunts Marine, Lifestyle Marine, Steber International, Cruise Craft Boats, Cohoe Marine Products, Bukh Diesel Australia, D’Albora Marinas, Mercury Marine, Clontarf Marina, Fenwicks Marina, Wynnum Marine, Yamaha Pitmans Marine, EJ Milde & Co Pty Ltd, John Crawford Marine, Lakeside Marine, Northside Marine, Whitworths Marine & Leisure, Port Lincoln Boat Supplies, Terrace Boating & Leisure Centre, JN Taylor Marine.
A common reflection from the 50 year plus-group to explain their long-term support of the BIA as a member-based association was knowing that key priorities such as advocacy, promoting boating and industry-wide programs such as Marine Jobs were being delivered on their behalf. With Matt Hodson of John Crawford Marine summing it up by saying he was ‘proud to be a member of the BIA’.
Ongoing member recognition programs will continue to roll out later this year.
For more information, visit bia.org.au
