History

Business Managers Victoria is a Statewide organisation that has been in existence since the 1960's. The association has undertaken many name changes and developments over this period. Today we offer Educational Support staff who perform the Business, Administration, Finance or Personnel Management Roles in a Victorian Government School, the opportunity to be part of an Association that is in touch with your needs.

1960's
Prior to the statewide association Registrars met as regional groups. Lillian Poolman started the group in the Western Region but there were similar groups in Eastern Region and in the Geelong area.

Meetings were originally ad hoc aiming at one per term but when the association was introduced meetings went to two per year, March and October. We have not changed really!

1975
Lillian Poolman (Sunshine Technical) and Trevor Cooke (Collingwood Technical) began the statewide group. The group was known as: The Association of Registrars of Victorian Technical Schools and Colleges.

Early members include:

  1. Maureen Straughan, St. Albans Technical
  2. Maree Jacombs, Geelong Technical (joined assn. in 1976)
  3. Margaret Ward, Syndal Technical
  4. Margaret Banfield, Werribee Technical
  5. Val Fenner, Tottenham Technical
  6. Chris Platt, MacLeod Technical
  7. Mary Richardson, Box Hill Technical
  8. Margaret Holt, Mt Evelyn Technical
  9. Pat Lawton, Melbourne College of Textiles
  10. Elaine Carter, Templestowe Technical
  11. Chris Platt, Macleod Technical
  12. Jim Minster, Yallourn Technical
  13. Helga Schlueter, Lilydale Heights Technical
  14. Mavis Robinson, Mitcham Technical
  15. Irene Hunter, Corio Technical
  16. Beris Rickhuss, Bell Park Technical
  17. Mary Hall, Jordanville Technical
  18. Veronica Phillips

Each region contributed to the organisation with the Treasurer traditionally coming from the Eastern Region.

Early meetings were held at the "City and Overseas Club" on St.Kilda Road. This venue was available as Margaret Banfield was a member of the Club.

Presidents’ Hall of Fame

  • 1975 Lillian Poolman
  • 1976-77 Jim Minster
  • 1978-80 Elaine Carter
  • 1980-82 Margaret Banfield
  • 1983-1986 Margaret Ward
  • 1987 Catherine Wemyss (Fawkner Technical)
  • 1988-1990 Val Brennan
  • 1991-1994 Beris Rickhuss  (in 1994 Primary Schools invited to Conference)
  • 1995 John Thomas (VP-Primary, VP-Secondary)
  • 1996-1998 Inny Smit
  • 1999-2002 Sharon Markham
  • 2003-2007 Helen Steen
  • 2008-2016 Linda Lee
  • 2016-2020 Denise Sadler
  • 2021-2023 Bromwyn Minihan
  • 2023- Tracey Smith

The Honour Board of Life Members

  • Lillian Poolman (founding member)
  • Margaret Banfield
  • Irene Blake
  • Val Brennan
  • Elaine Carter-Gregory
  • Margaret Holt
  • Susan Webber
  • Christine Morgan
  • Christine O'Leary
  • Beris Rickhuss
  • Linda Lee
  • Kristine Hunter
  • Denise Sadler
  • Bromwyn Minihan
  • Jane Kuipers

 


Conferences and Key Points

1979
A residential was held at the Park Royal with six new schools joining the Association. This was most probably the "birth" of conferences for the Association.


1980
"Serious" Conferences would have began to be celebrating our 25th Anniversary. During this early period of the Association there was also a residential at the Halls of Residence at Melbourne University (this information came with thanks from Maree Jacombs)


1981 ParkRoyal


1982 ParkRoyal


1983 Lorne


1984 Dookie


1985 Monash University
Facilities were shared with students who did not leave the campus over the vacation period - some Registrars found this a little embarrassing!

SAS - Schools Accounting System
CAAS - Computer Aided Administrative System (including Student Records)
Along with VASS and a library program these systems went on to be known as Computerised Administrative Systems Environment in Schools (CASES)


1986 Monash University
CASES introduced


1987 Ballarat (opposite Sov. Hill)
Association known as ARVTS & Colleges


1988 Ballarat (opposite Sov. Hill)
CASES introduced to all schools


1989 All Seasons - Bendigo


1990 IEA - Geelong


1991 IEA - Geelong


1992 IEA - Geelong

Association known as AAMVSC


1993 Pinnacle Valley
Western Region host the conference.
Kris Hunter and Mavis Bartels invited as Primary School representatives


1994 Shepparton Civic Centre
Primary School Business Managers invited to conference, to commence the process of becoming one association to cater for all schools.
"Schools of the Future" introduced


1995 Shepparton Civic Centre
"Leaders in Best Practice" - Geoff Spring Opened the Conference
199 delegates attended the conference.
General Meetings were held at the Carlton Football Club
HRMS introduced at DE&T


1996 All Seasons - The Ambassador - Geelong
"Management - Leaders of the Future"
202 delegates attended the conference.
New Career Structure for SSOs introduced
October - Tom Carr, DE&T calls for (30 - 50) schools interested in a focus group on Human Resource Management.
The ABMVSS has 282 members


1997 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"Leaders in Performance Management"
224 delegates attended the conference.
The ABMVSS has 335 members
General Meetings were held at the Melbourne Convention Centre (World Congress Centre)


1998 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"Enjoy Management"


In 1998 General Meetings were held at the World Congress Centre
The ABMVSS has 363 members


1999 All Seasons International - Bendigo
203 delegates attended the conference.
HRMS implementation commenced in schools
Self Governing Schools introduced
ProRata joining fees introduced to ABMVSS
Term 2 1999 - ABMVSS office opens for business in Vale St.
General Meetings were held at the Melbourne Exhibition & Congress Centre
The ABMVSS has 361 members


2000 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"What's New?" - including CASES21
Everyone survives Y2K
GST introduced
High Yield Account begins operation
General Meetings were held at the Melbourne Conference Centre
DE&T introduces the SSO Development Unit
The ABMVSS has 340 members


2001 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"Planning for Key Responsibilities"
239 delegates attended the conference.
The SSO Accredited Training Program is introduced
General Meetings were held at Crown Towers - Palladium Room


2002 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"Technology, the Future and You"
249 delegates attended the conference.
SSO Induction material placed on SSO Development website
SSO appointments are posted on the web.
General Meetings were held at Crown Towers - Palladium Room
The ABMVSS has 409 members.


2003 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"Back to Basics"
293 delegates attended the conference.
HRWeb is introduced by DE&T
General Meetings were held at Crown Complex - Palladium Room
Committee of Management introduces regional meetings - Ist Regional Meeting held at "The Cottage", Warrnambool Primary School June 2.
The ABMVSS has 432 members


2004 All Seasons International - Bendigo
"25 Years - A celebration"
304 delegates attended the conference
The ABMVSS currently has 467 members
General Meetings are held at Telstra Dome


2005 -All Seasons International - Bendigo

State-wide and Annual General Meetings are held at Crown Complex


2006 All Seasons International - Bendigo
‘All Systems Go!'
National Conference - Rydges Hotel Melbourne - "The conference that unites the Nation" - aprox 60 delegates.
State-wide and Annual General Meetings were held at Crown Towers
Regional meeting held at Halls Gap


2007 - Doherty Ballarat Lodge
"Essential Elements"
State-wide and Annual General Meetings were held at Crown Towers
Regional meeting held at Mildura

Our membership has now grown to 500.


2008 - Doherty Ballarat Lodge
"Tapping into Your Potential"
General Meetings were held at Crown Towers
Regional meeting held at Shepparton


2009 - Sebel Albert Park
"The world is your oyster"
General Meetings were held at Crown Towers
Regional meeting held at Echuca

Rebranding the association


2010 - Sebel Albert Park
"Evolve - Developing the role of business managers towards 2020"
State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex
Membership approaches 550


2011 - Sebel Albert Park

'Collaborate'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex

Membership approaches 580


2012 - Sebel Albert Park

'Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'Winter Wonderland'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex


2013 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'Once Upon a Time'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex


2014 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'A taste of the Orient'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex

Regional Meeting


2015 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'Showstoppers'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Towers

Regional Meeting Lakes Entrance


2016 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'The Great Gatsby'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Towers

Regional Meeting:  Mornington Peninsula


2017 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

'Imagine in Black and White'

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Towers

Regional Meeting:  Ballarat

Membership over 750


2018 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Annual Leadership Conference May

'Under the Sea'

State-wide and Annual General Meeting Crown March & October.

Association name change was voted for Annual General Meeting by committee of management members to better reflect our organisation. Formerly 'Association of Business Managers in Victorian State Schools' to 'Business Managers Victoria'.

Regional Meeting:  Bendigo


2019 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Annual Leadership Conference, May.

40th Leadership Conference Anniversary 'All that Glitters'

State-wide General meeting held at Crown in March.

Regional meeting: Inverloch


2020

Due to state-wide lock downs due to covid-19, no face to face event were held

Annual General Meeting held online in October.

Membership over 900


2021 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Annual Leadership Conference, May.

'It's a Juggling Act'

State-wide General meeting held at Pullman-Mercure Albert Park at Conference in May.

Annual General Meeting held at Sofitel on Collins in October.

Regional meeting did not go ahead due to covid-19 restrictions.


2022 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Annual Leadership Conference, May. 

'Celebrate, Connect & Colour'

State-wide General meeting held at Crown in March.

Annual General Meeting held at Sofitel on Collins in October.

Regional meeting: Maryborough

 


2023 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Annual Leadership Conference, May. 

'We're Still Standing'

State-wide General meeting held at Crown in March.

Annual General Meeting held at Crown in October.

Regional meeting: Geelong