Origins of the NSW & Victorian Pilot Committees | Records Management Association of Australia – 1969 | Author Chris Fripp
A special 3-day Records Management seminar was conducted in February 1968 at the Crest Hotel, Sydney by Tom Lovett. Selected speakers such as Eddis Linton assisted. Run as a pilot test, the seminar proved a big success.
Opening this new sphere of professional training and discussion forum was met with enthusiastic response. “A training forum is needed if records supervisors, administrators and person with responsibility for records are to approach their work with professional backing and expertise. Such a forum is not available.”
Motion to form an Association: The motion was moved and unanimously voted to form an Australian Records Management Association by the people attending the Seminar.
A pilot committee of four was appointed and they agreed to meet in March 1968 to decide on material and to discuss the arrangements for an inaugural meeting. The original members of the NSW pilot committee included: Don Fairbairn; Ken Nicholl; Eddis Linton; and Tom Lovett, Chairman.
The Victorian pilot committee was formed in July 1968 at a meeting at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne. Those present had responded to an invitation by the NSW pilot committee, to register their interest in the establishment of this Association. The original members of the Victorian pilot committee included: Norm Davies; Ken Pearce; and Mike Leigh, Chairman.
The committees concentrated on obtaining the widest possible publicity for the proposed association and its objectives. In October 1968, comments were coming in about having New Zealand joining the association and it would become Records Management Association of Australia and New Zealand.
On 6th March 1969, 56 people attended the inaugural dinner of the Victorian Branch, held at private premises in St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
On 13th June 1969, after the successful inauguration, with an enrolment of 69 applicant members, a draft constitution, a sister Association already formed in Victoria, keen support from the American Records Management Association (ARMA), and talks already underway with Commonwealth and State educational authorities; One could say the NSW Branch had received a good start in life. That was the inheritance from the NSW pilot committee, and its efforts during the preceding 15 months.
The photo below is the inauguration of RMAA (NSW Branch) – Pilot Committee members address the gathering. The 3 gentlemen up front from the left are: Tom Lovett; Don Fairburn; and Eddis Linton.
Summary extract from minutes for both Victoria and NSW taken in 1968 and 1969. Article researched and written by Chris Fripp Fellow and Life member of RIMPA.
