2008
PIONEER
The late Ken Rudder

The late Ken Rudder, of Sydney was regarded as a pioneer of the purest form because he started in auto air in 1967, when the industry was barely five years old.

His award was accepted at Wire & Gas convention by Ken’s brother, Elton Rudder, who also runs an AC workshop north of Sydney.

Ken began in the industry in 1967 and up to 1972 was in his first auto air job at Air Pty Ltd, Parramatta Road, Camperdown. In 1973 Ken and his partner Peter Austin started All Car Air conditioning in St Peters and moved to Marrickville in 1978. In 1979, Ken sold his interests to Peter, and started Prestige Auto Air Pty Ltd with his partner David Cannell.

In 1982, he bought out Dave’s interests and continued the business until it went into liquidation in 1999.
He started Avken Products, at Prestons, where he traded until 2002. Ken then started Vancool, which is still operating today.

His first business had grown rapidly with the popularity of Mazda and the rotary engine models which most others at the time found too risky or too difficult to air condition.

Ken's brother Elton Rudder, also an AC technician, accepted the award from VASA President Mark Padwick (left) and Vice-President Mark Mitchell (right)

Ken Rudder developed a determination to fabricate everything in house. His desire to be independent was paramount.

Ken was always looking for that little extra to add value to his products. Ralph Cadman, another great pioneer who imported and distributed Unicla compressors, recalls Ken’s obsession with shiny bolts. Unicla mount and drive kits were full of shiny bolts, but there was a shortage of them in Australia.

In an effort to make his brackets look better, Ken would appear at Unicla’s back door, pleading with Ralph to lend him some shiny bolts.

Always ambitious, sometimes beyond reality, Ken’s expansion into the larger premises of Prestige Air was a stepping stone towards something bigger.

Prestige became the titan of the industry for all the AC applications that were ‘too hard’. It was remarkable what Ken Rudder could build, and he did build the whole system except for the compressors and cores.

And from doing all this complicated, hard stuff, he just carried on air conditioning anything that moved and that included backhoes, trucks, tractors, sweepers and fridge vans.

2006
PIONEER
Bill Penfold

Bill started as sales manager for a company called Car Radio City, Artarmon in 1969.  The same year he formed a subsidiary company called Auto-Cool.  He did a basic three month training with Barry Oris at Aust Mobile Air, Camperdown. 

Bill started A/C on English cars from Rowley Motors, Triumph Stag, 2500 Dolomite, Range Rover. Because no units were available, he designed his own systems, and in the process attracted the attention of suppliers interested in designing units for them.

Bill worked part-time for Hi-Line and then formed a company called Car Air Conditioning, mainly doing European cars – Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Mercedes, Volvo. He started his own company in 1982, called Bill Penfold Auto Air & Sound this time concentrating on European cars. He developed factory air for Alfa 33, Peugeot 504 and Renault 20. Bill developed an expertise in mount kits and started a company called B & M Mount Kits with Mike Irvine, which is still going today.  

Bill specialised in A/C into wedding cars as early as 1938 onwards – cars such as Roll Royce 49, Bentleys and Jaguars. He resigned from his company after 20+ years and joined Sanden as their Warranty & Service Engineer where he still labours away to this day.

He regards the high points of his career as developing and supplying factory approved air for  Alfa Romeo Australia – Alfa 33, Alfa 75:          England – Peugeot 504, Triumph 2.5;  Renault Australia – Renault 20

2006
Ralph Cadman -
2nd LIFE MEMBER

Granted in April 2006 to Ralph Cadman on his resignation as an active participant in the vehicle air conditioning industry, having finalised his links with Unicla Japan.

"In recognition of his extraordinary service to the Australian Vehicle Air-Conditioning Industry.

His dedication and achievements stand forever as an inspiration to all."

Mark Mitchell's departure from the Presidency this year, after 10 incredible years, is the most appropriate time VASA will ever have to say THANK YOU to this man who exudes enthusiasm and loyalty to his industry.

VASA began in 1993 as a small, perhaps over-exuberant group of vehicle air conditioning repairers and wholesalers, who thought the industry needed a voice to cope with the challenges of the day.  There were a few around who said it wouldn’t survive.

VASA got a voice all right – it was loud, it was forthright, it found the right ears to hear the message and it reflected a consistency and credibility which other organisations, including government, should emulate.

Mark Mitchell has been accused of being a one-man band, a tyrant, the leader of an elite clique, a stooge of the big companies.  But who better to represent you than a man who will willingly get his hands dirty in the workshop, who built a strong retail service centre network over almost a quarter of a century and who was prepared to spend how ever many hours and days it took to fight your fights. 

If you’ve ever seen him in action at any Board meeting or at any other platform where his industry is being questioned or challenged, you will know that if there’s a stoush on, you need Mitchell and his Irish blood on your side.

The fact that Mark only resigned his commission as president at the AGM prior to this convention, is not his fault. The reality is that in those ten years, he was doing such a fantasic job that nobody was game to mount a challenge.  We weren’t scared of him, but you know what they say - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

But in recent years, as Mark’s business interests changed from retail to wholesale and now importer, as he found himself being invited on to some of the most influential boards for this industry in the nation, the old voluntary principle under which VASA operates started to wear a bit thin.

Between VASA, RRA, NRAC, the AFC, SuperCool, SCA Australia, Unicla, and would you believe, his beloved Epoch Violins, Mark was rarely home.   His family, luckily, had photographs of him on the mantelpiece but he really isn’t the sort of family man who wanted to see his children’s life as a series of photographs.

Mark has been looking for new talent in VASA for some years.  He was like the boy who cried wolf,  nobody believed he would ever quit. When Mark threw down his written resignation for the first time last November at our board meeting in Melbourne, we knew his time had come.

Mark has left his Mark.   He will continue to leave his mark in many ways because he is still on the Board of VASA and is still on the boards of some important organisations.

Mark leaves the Presidency and VASA in a healthy, enthusiastic and ambitious state.  We face an exciting, if not a different future as technology changes and the needs of our members change. He leaves VASA as the only organisation which truly represents the vehicle a/c aftermarket, and which is respected by most organisations down from the top levels of Government, not only in this country but on a global level. 

2004
Ralph Cadman
UNICLA AUSTRALIA

Ralph Cadman is a rare human being.  His personal attributes, and his honourable character almost outshine the contribution he has made to the vehicle air conditioning industry.

But Ralph is a true pioneer of this industry in Australia. It could be said that he was among the first to pioneer multiple service centres in Sydney and as a result he began building a product sourcing and distribution network, which, back then, was a difficult thing to do because systems as such did not exist. Every item had to be sourced, even manufactured and brought to Australia for assembly into a multitude of models, for which there were no drawings, no specifications and no manuals.

The famous Marlan Air Conditioning was co-founded by Ralph, with the colourful Ross Marshall in the early 60s.  This famous enterprise operated from four locations,  Kogarah, Artarmon, Five Dock and Parramatta.  We are talking about a business which put airconditioning systems in Mercedes Benz, American cars, Holdens, Falcons, before anyone else.

This was the first car air conditioning business in Australia where no job was too hard. It was at Marlan that he developed a keen business sense, and began the first of many overseas trips to source parts.

Around the mid 70s he sold his interest in Marlan, but in the meantime, he had nurtured a part time sales involvement with Unicla.  So in 1972, Unicla Australia was incorporated and the legendary Mr Nobata asked Ralph to be a partner and manager.  The office and warehouse was first in Carnarvon Street, Silverwater.

Ralph moved the enterprise to Egerton Street Silverwater, in late 1992.

In 1997, Ralph decided he needed a change of scenery and pace, and in his meticulous fashion, sold off his stock and arranged a virtually seamless transition of parts of the business to others. 

Ralph has developed other business interests, but the fact that he came to this convention, as he does to all the conventions, to rekindle friendships with many people he worked with over many years, speaks volumes about his loyalty to the industry.  It should be known to everyone here that it was Ralph Cadman’s money that funded the spark which led to the formation of VASA.

Bevan Carrick, an engineer, and Steve Whitelock, a former boilermaker, came up  from Sydney and joined forces only in 1984 to establish Cooltemp Pty Ltd as a private, Australian owned company. Their vision was to produce after-market automotive air-conditioning systems for all makes and models.

Bevan had already established himself in business in 1977 with Summercool, an air-conditioning installation firm and it was from these humble premises in Castlereigh Street in Milton that the story of Cooltemp began. Bevan and Steve’s willingness to give things a go fast tracked their success and in 1985 the first move to larger premises was made.

Three years later the company was divided into manufacturing and installation, and the first of four buildings was built on industrial development land in Darra. Now well recognised for their design capability, the business was booming.  This meant expansion for the manufacturing operation, and so in 1991 a second building, their Aluminium Brazing Plant was built.

By 1995 Cooltemp were building their own Head Office, bringing the undercover area of their Brisbane based facilities to 13,000 square metres. Over the next fourteen years Cooltemp Pty Ltd gained a reputation as a leader in design, manufacture and supply of high quality products both locally and internationally.  This reputation is maintained through Cooltemp’s in-house expertise in the tooling, design and manufacture of its own components including; aluminium serpentine heat exchangers, sheet metal components, refrigeration hose and pipes, electrical harnesses, plastic injection products, and aluminium brazing.

Cooltemp  awarded ISO9001 quality accreditation in 1995 and soon after they developed into  transport refrigeration.  In 2000 the first of the TR range was on the market and by mid 2001 the TR product range numbered five and continues to grow.

The decision to pursue QS9000 (the automotive industry quality standard) was made in late 1999.  By July 2000 Cooltemp was awarded certification. The high ideals set by Bevan and Steve have been an inspiration to VASA members. They are highly regarded for their perfectionism and their toolroom is the envy of many Australian Companies.  They now operate four Brisbane based facilities and employ 180 staff.

They have achieved significant international market penetration for supply of air-conditioning systems and components and for that, they, VASA and Queensland should be very proud.

Les Bennell

Les Bennell Automotive Airconditioning

Les entered the air conditioning industry 20 years ago, following a background in heavy trucks.  He trained through courses and self application and began a mobile service for all types of vehicles, but specialised in heavy equipment.

He developed systems, one being adopted by Massey Ferguson UK for heavy equipment used in harsh tropical conditions. Because of his strong design skills he is often called on to modify imported systems to better suit the tropics.

His work has taken him to extremes…from the Tasmanian forests in mid winter and to the Cape York gold fields and Groote Island in the Territory.

When he began his business, he continued regular trips to Goondiwindi where he earned a strong reputation for his diagnostic skills and the ability to get even the most impossible job done.

His workshop now caters for cars, trucks, buses and campers while still maintaining the mobile services vital for the heavy equipment trade.  He still services several new car dealers who have been with him since the beginning.

Les brings a highly developed ethical belief in customer service to everything he does and he stands behind the quality of his work.  For a man like Les, his best advertising has always been word of mouth.

He is a foundation member of VASA and enthusiastically supports its moves to promote and improve training and standards. Les and his partner and wife Jan appreciate the help and support given to them over the years by other technicians and suppliers.

ROY BROWN

Roy Brown has been called by those who have known him for years, a creative engineering genius.

The fact is, he is not an engineer, but an electrician.  Everything he knows about auto air conditioning systems – and that’s considerable – he’s learnt the hard way, all by himself. In his native England, Roy was an electrician in the railways. When he moved to Australia he worked as maintainence electrician at a Sydney hospital.

Around 1980, Roy began with AMC in Sydney. In the years when the design and manufacture of aftermarket systems was a lucrative pursuit for innovative engineering companies, Roy Brown was in there, solving problems and designing complex units to fit ambulances, Land Rovers and other special vehicles.

For as long as anyone has known him Roy has worked at AMC Holdings Pty Ltd. In the heyday of aftermarket manufacture, the company held major contracts with OEMs including Mazda. It was Roy that held all these together, first as designer, then as manufacturer, then as manager and finally as salesman.

His whole life has been in the design of air conditioning systems for all manner of vehicles.  In doing so, he became a modest expert and around the industry he earned great respect and friendships with some of the major wholesalers and suppliers in the country.

In later years, he was designing special systems for back hoes and bob cats which would act as dust inhibitors as well as cooling systems. At AMC, Roy was production manager and then, about ten years ago, Roy and a co-worker Barbara Beech, the Sales Manager, were asked by management to take over and rule jointly. They had no management experience but between them the company survived.   Barbara took early retirement, leaving Roy to manage on his own.

He was highly regarded by his fellow employees and he is well known for treating everyone right.  They, of course, saw him as a mad professor, especially when he was flying around on a fork lift.

He was quite accident prone, having fallen from the mezzanine floor when sober. He has stuck his fingers into many machines over the years, almost severing a few on the way. He was rushed to hospital more than once to be stitched together again and turning up for work the next day like nothing had happened.

Tonight, the eye patch is just another normal episode in Roy’s life, the result of a wild okkey strap.

Roy, your many friends in the industry believe you have deserved an award like this for years.  We are very pleased to be able to do tonight and we wish you well for the future.

2001
Rodney Bradley
Manager of A G Souter Pty Ltd in Parkes, western New South Wales

Rodney Bradley is one of the unsung heroes of the Australian country town.

Born in Parkes, Rodney has devoted his life to his town, his business and his family. He began his auto electrical apprenticeship with AG Souter in 1959, leaving only briefly to work in the Ford dealership. During his time with Souters, Rodney has been at the forefront of auto air conditioning from the early period in the 70s with the Mark IV to the present day with its modern high tech equipment. His inventiveness and innovation led to Souters being one of the first to aircondition Walmar and Gason cabs fitted to all makes of tractors and headers. In two decades, more than 500 machines were air conditioned, with the peak of 187 conversions in 1974/75 alone.

Rodney was always enterprising and resourceful, especially in the early days of air conditioning when kits that were supposed to fit, often didn't and were more often only half complete. He couldn't wait around for a missing bit - he just made one.

Rodney's community service makes you wonder when he had any time to himself. Starting with the P and C (he has three children, now all school teachers), Rodney was involved in the setting up of the Parkes High School Council for which he worked for 18 years. He has held various positions with the Parkes Uniting Church committee over 30 years and is currently secretary to the parish council and is highly respected within the church.

He's a member of the Parkes Vintage Car club and has been its president since 1998. He's a volunteer fire fighter and that not being enough, he became the engine keeper and deputy captain, a position he holds today. Rodney and his wife Adrienne seem to put commitment to others way above themselves. For the past four years, they have cared for Adrienne's disabled parents in their own home, a mammoth task just in itself.

2001
John Wallace
Founder and owner of Cool Drive Pty Ltd
Castle Hill NSW
(with his wife Kerry)

2001
Tom Drummond
Group Manager
Dupont (Australia) Limited
(being presented by Carl Heslop of Atofina, at right)

Those of you who have heard Tom Drummond on his feet at a VASA convention - and he's done it a few times - will know that when Tom speaks, everyone listens.

His knowledge of the chemical industry is superior. Behind his quiet and unassuming nature is a man who commands - and always gets - the respect of those who work with him in the industry.

Tom is a rubber chemist by profession and with these qualifications his first career was in the rubber industry, particularly with Advanx, the name synonymous with rubber.

He is a founding member of the Plastics and Rubber Institute of Australia and is an expert in rubber and tyre chemistry, working for a time as technical manager of Epping Rubber.

Tom was Group Manager - Fluoroproducts in Dupont in 1975 when he first started with the company and went on to become Regional Program Manager, Chemicals, covering Australia and Asia.

His Dupont career spanned 23 years, working through Sales Technical Support and Distribution Relations, through Industrial and Packaging and finally Chemicals.

It is now generally known that Tom is venturing into new pastures in a month or so, leaving a space in his industry which everyone knows is going to be extremely hard to fill.

Tom Drummond has been a staunch supporter and friend of VASA for many years, in fact since our inception. Tom believed in VASA's commitment to training, to the degree that Dupont, through Tom's instigation, became the prime sponsor of the Registered Training Program and they've just signed up for another year.

2000
Geoff Merritt
Founder of Car Air Systems Pty. Ltd, Brisbane Queensland

2000
W.J. Blanchard (John Senior)
Founder of Melbourne Auto Air and JAYAIR

W.J. Blanchard (John senior) overcame incredible frustrations and odds to open up condenser supply lines from Taiwan and single handedly overhauled the way condensers were sold, priced and fitted in Australia, especially in the smash repair industry.

He was raised in a house next to his father’s garage and spent most of time after school working in the garage. He worked his way through sales and service positions with companies such as New Holland and Kenworth and became account supervisor and sales engineer with Lockheed and Girling.
In 1974 he took a position with Inchcape UK working in Malaysia at a motor vehicle assembly plant. John Senior returned to Australia in 1976 to start his own business.

He build his own factory in 1983 in Bulleen. In 1985 Melbourne Auto Air was born. It wasn’t easy. John sunk his life savings and family home into the business.

In 1986 John senior went to Taiwan to look for a company that can make condensers. He went through hell and high water to manage the supply and import of condensers, eventually establishing a Melbourne Auto Air office in Taiwan.

Other milestones include: 1990 - They introduced the industry’s first pictorial catalogue of condensers and moved to new premises in Box Hill. By now MAA has a reputation of being able to source factory replacement parts from anywhere. 1994 - they became original equipment supplier to Mazda Australia, followed by Kia Motors. 1999 - the company launched the JAYAIR brand of products

2000
Rob McLaren
New Zealand airconditioning craftsman.

2000
VASA LEGEND
Frank Allison
CEO
IMACA (International Mobile Air Conditioning Association - USA)

1999
Damien Petrie
Founder of Bonny Auto Air

1999
Brian Haley
Founder of Autotrac Automotive and All Cab Airconditioning

1999
Bruce Griffiths
Managing Director Air International

1998
Les Howard
Founder, Howard Auto Service Pty Ltd

1997
The late George Jackson
Founder of Mobile Air Parts, later Palm Air

1997
Norman Bilton
General Manager Sanden Australia