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- Bromwyn Minihan

 

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

 


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

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex

2013 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex

2014 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

State-wide and Annual General Meetings held at  Crown Complex

Regional Meeting

2015 - Pullman-Mercure Albert Park

Feather in your cap' Annual Leadership Conference

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

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

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

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 Anniversary. 

State-wide General meeting held at Crown in March.

Regional meeting: Inverloch