Page 30 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine
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VACC CENTENARY
100 YEARS OF STRENGTH AND
David Dowsey of VACC looks back at the development of the association in its centenary year.
IN 1918, VICTORIA’S rapidly growing retail automotive industry saw 15,150 vehicles and 27,424 licensed drivers in the state.
It was during this turbulent time that two car-dealer brothers, Henry and Percy Rickards realised that larger international counterparts could force smaller, local companies out of the marketplace. The brothers called together a group of garage owners to meet at the Bendigo Chamber of Commerce rooms on 20 September 1918 and decided to register a new industry association, the Retail Motor Dealers’ Association of Victoria.
Present day issues such as industrial disputes and skilled labour shortages were occurring as far back as 1918. To rectify these challenges, the association introduced a number of committees: the foundation of the association’s current operation.
Soon there were calls to increase the scope of the association to cover allied motor trades and on 14 April 1920 the association was renamed the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).
VACC purchased real estate on St Kilda Road in 1956, becoming the first motor industry association in the southern hemisphere to own freehold property. On 4 September 1958, accompanied by an eight-page newspaper supplement and car cavalcade, Victorian Premier Henry Bolte officially opened VACC House.
Over the years, VACC has grown to incorporate all facets of the automotive industry, including passenger vehicles, motorcycles, heavy vehicles and farm machinery, in the retail, service, repair and manufacturing sectors.
30 PAINT&PANEL July / August 2018
VACC provides key business support services for over 5,000 members including:
• Dealing with member, consumer and industry issues
• Developing and publishing automotive industry research
• Advocating on behalf of members to governments and
other agencies
• Producing regular communications and publications
• Promoting automotive industry skills, training and careers.
VACC continues to uphold the strong set of values that it was founded upon, fostering the growth of many small businesses across the state.
VACC’s Body Repair Division (BRD) is one of the most active and vocal in the industry and community. The BRD Executive Committee promulgates issues important to the panel repair industry and its Chairman and members inform VACC staff of the ‘on the ground’ effects of government policy changes and the important, dynamic relationship body repairers have with the insurance companies they work with.
Government submissions form an important part of BRD advocacy. In the recent past submissions have included the Parliamentary inquiry into the operation and effectiveness of the Franchising Code of Conduct. Meanwhile, fair trading and regulation of the Motor Vehicle Insurance & Repair Industry Code of Conduct remain issues at the forefront
of BRD efforts.
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