Our History

SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 95 YEARS

PLA has been servicing and advocating for the parks and leisure industry since 1926.

It originally formed as the Victorian Tree Planters Association and then in the 1950’s & 60’s expanded its focus around parks and recreation administration nationally, becoming the Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation in the 70’s that continued supporting the industry until merging with the Australian Leisure Institute in 1998 to form Parks and Leisure Australia.

Over this time, there have been significant contributions made by many individuals and attached is a list of the previous presidents and honorary award winners that have reflected these contributions.

PRESIDENTS

Victorian Tree Planters Association (VTA)
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1926-34
Councillor William Cockbill
1934-38
James Railton
1938-47
Councillor William Warner
Victorian TreePlanters Association (VTA), Institute of Park Administration of Victoria (IPAV) and Australian Institute of Park Administration (AIPA)
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1947-65
John Stanley (Jack) Owens - Melbourne City Council
1965-68
TR Noel Lothian OBE - Director Adelaide Botanic Gardens
1968-69
RTM Pescott - Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
1969-71
David Shoobridge -ACT
1971-72
Frank Keenan MBE - Director Parks, Gardens & Recreation, City of Melbourne
1972-73
WR Watson - Assistant Director Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney
1973-74
Val B Ellis - Director Adelaide Parks & Gardens
1974-75
Gordon R Shearwood -WA
1975-76
Jim H Sullivan - Director Melbourne Zoological Gardens
Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation (RAIPR)
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1976-77
John E Gray - National Capital Development Commission, ACT
1977-78
WA Bill Goodman -Launceston Council, TAS
1978-7
Ray J Steward Director Parks & Recreation, Brisbane City Council, QLD
1979-81
WR Watson - Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, NSW
1981-82
Dr Paul Wycherley OBE -Director Kings Park Perth, WA
1982-83
Ken Trafford - Toowoomba City Council, QLD
1983-84
Ted Gleeson -TAS
1984-85
Barry Nielsen - QLD
1985-86
Laurie Withers - Hume City Council, NSW
1986-89
John Mortimer - NSW
1990-91
Peter Nicholls - SA
1991-92
Graham Mustow - VIC
1992-93
Tom Crossen - TAS
1993-94
Richard Clarkson - QLD
1994-96
Kerry Geale -Director Parks & Community Services Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW
1996-97
Andrew Taylor - SA
1997-98
Phil Gale - WA
Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA)

HONORARY AWARDS

AIPR and RAIPR HONORARY LIFE FELLOWS
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1966
Ben Bone
1967
James Sullivan
1969
Noel Lothian OBE, Alex Wilkie
1970
Bill Halligan
1971
Frank Keenan MBE, Richard Pescott
1974
David Shoobridge
1976
Jack Firth
1977
George Vafiopolous, Warwick Wilson
1978
John Gray, Gordon Shearwood
1989
Bill Goodman
1991
Val Ellis
1985
Richard Clough, Jack Owens, Tom Wood
1986
Ian Frencham
ALI Frank Stewart Awardees
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1985
Laurie Boyd
1986
Rob Ewart
1987
Ric Thompson
1988
Garry Henshall
1989
Peter Butler
1990
Michael King
1991
Helen Hayes
1992
Greg Maddock
1993
Jim Harley
1997
Ken Marriott
PLA Frank Stewart Awardees