Vic Marine Awards highlight industry success

by Lindsay Grenfell on 26 Jul 2007 The 2007 Victorian Marine Awards highlighted remarkable growth and success in the state’s marine industry, with several winners celebrating major successes in the past year.

More than ever, the awards reflected the industry’s commitment to excellence and the position Victoria holds as a centre for design, manufacture and export.

Judges were BIA Victoria president Gordon Howlett, IC Frith & Associates Victorian state manager Paul Mattiasi and John Donaldson from the Office of Manufacturing and Service Industries in the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.

In a strong field, the judges noted that many industry leaders were disinclined to 'blow their own trumpet', so that not all submissions fully reflected the entrants’ achievements.

They encouraged all entrants to maximise their promotional efforts, not just in award entries but for the commercial benefits of strong and confident marketing and promotion.

This year’s awards were presented at the annual IC Frith Victorian Marine Excellence Awards breakfast by the Victorian Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, and Simon Cook from IC Frith & Associates.

Winners this year are:
Industry Achiever – Alistair Murray of Ronstan International
Trainee of the Year – Kelly Richardson of Corporate Fishing Charters
Safety Initiatives by an Organisation or Individual – Life Saving Victoria & Yachting Victoria
Boat Manufacturer of the Year – Haines Hunter
Marine Manufacturer of the Year – Sealite
Environment – Sandringham Yacht Club
Business Growth – Haines Hunter

Most successful of all the winners was marine lighting and safety equipment manufacturer Sealite, which won the Marine Manufacturer of the Year Award for the fourth year in a row.

Sealite began manufacturing marine navigation aids in 1982, and later switched to LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology and developed a range of supporting technology including special lenses, electronic circuit development, reflectors, and virgin plastic components.

Based in Somerville, the company employs over 20 full-time employees (it was 12 a year ago), Sealite’s products are now listed on an American government procurement website creating rapid purchase completion with complete confidence in products listed.

Also notably successful was Haines Hunter, winning both the Business Growth and Boat Manufacturer of the Year awards.

The Business Growth Award recognises initiatives in strengthening and growing the marine industry in Victoria, and reflected the company’s recent enormous growth, with a new 5,000 square metre factory at Derrimut due to open in September.

Its new premises will allow Haines Hunter to produce more 1,000 boats per year from Melbourne alone – and it has and another 10,000 square metres of land for future growth.

As Boat Manufacturer of the Year, Haines Hunter offers a range of 34 purpose-built boats.

Launched in 1959 and purchased in 2001 by John Haber, Haines Hunter now has its head office in Victoria, along with production, R&D, design, marketing, finance deals and customer service.

The Industry Achiever award, for outstanding achievement or significant contribution to the Marine Industry by an organisation or individual, was won by Alistair Murray.

An active sailor since the age of 11, Alistair is the Managing Director of Ronstan International and has worked tirelessly for the good of the industry.

He has served with BIA Victoria, AIMEX, Sail America and Sail Melbourne, has won an Austrade 'Export Hero' award and helped to establish the International Sailing Summit and the Sailing Division of BIA Victoria.

Trainee of the Year, recognised for her outstanding attitude, achievement and diligence in learning the craft and skills of a marine trade, is Kelly Richardson.

This award was judged by only two of the three judges, as BIA President Gordon Howlett was the proud employer of the ultimately successful entrant.

Kelly started at Corporate Fishing Charters in February 2007 as an administration trainee, and has shown a talent for going above and beyond to meet her job requirement and better the company.

Safety Initiatives by an Organisation Award, for outstanding achievement in providing safety initiatives and carrying out courageous rescue efforts for the boating public, went to Life Saving Victoria and Yachting Victoria.

The award was won for the Boating Safety for Kids Program, jointly developed and delivered by Life Saving Victoria and Yachting Victoria over the last three years throughout Victoria.

In the past year nearly 15,000 grade five and six students have received classroom sessions on boating safety and 10,000 have participated in on-water introductory boating safety demonstrations.

The Environment Award, introduced in 2004 to recognise an initiative, product or service that benefits the environment, was won by Sandringham Yacht Club for a wide range of environmental initiatives.

With a history dating back more than 100 years, the club recently became the first Yacht Club in Victoria to receive the Clean Seas Marina Accreditation through the Marina Industry Association of Australia.

It has also introduced recycling and general waste bins placed throughout the complex, capturing all rubbish removed from the marina by boat owners, and has partnered with Holmesglen TAFE to deliver certificate courses in OH&S and environmental education.