'THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLACES'
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Countdown to 100 Years of PLA Celebration

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🎉 The celebration has begun — Happy 100 Years of PLA! 🎉
100 Years of Parks & Leisure: Historical Timeline

Previous Organisation Names

  • Victorian TreePlanters Association (1926–55)
  • Institute of Park Administration of Victoria (1955–62)
  • Institute of Parks Administration of South Australia (1956–62)
  • Australian Institute of Park Administration (1962–66) and Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation (1966–77)
  • Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation (1977–98)
  • Australian Leisure Institute (1993–98), preceded by the Municipal Recreation Officers Association of Victoria (1980–85) and Local Government Recreation Association of Victoria (1985–93)
  • Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) (1998 – present day)
PRESIDENTS
1926-34
Councillor William Cockbill (VTA)
1934-38
James Railton (VTA)
1938-47
Councillor William Warner (VTA)
1947-65
John Stanley (Jack) Owens – VTA/IPAV/AIPA
1965-68
TR Noel Lothian
1968-69
RTM Pescott – RBG Melbourne
1969-71
David Shoobridge ACT
1971-72
Frank Keenan – Director MBE, City of Melbourne
1972-73
WR Watson – Assistant Director RBG 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
1976-77
John E Gray ACT
1977-78
WA Bill Goodman
1978-79
Ray J Steward – Brisbane CC
1979-81
WR Watson – RBG Sydney
1981-82
Dr Paul Wycherley OBE, Kings Park, Perth
1982-83
Ken Trafford – Toowoomba CC
1983-84
Ted Gleeson, Tas
1984–85
Barry Nielsen, Qld
1985-86
Laurie Withers – Hume CC, 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, Wagga Wagga CC, NSW
1996-97
Andrew Taylor SA
1997-98
Phil Gale, WA
1998-1999
Phil Gale – WA (PLA)
1999-2002
Martin Doulton – Vic/Tas
2002-2003
Steven Few – WA
2003-2006
Steven Bourke – NSW/ACT
2006-2009
Steve Mason – WA
2009-2012
Bruce Fordham – Vic/Tas
2012-2015
Kevin Lowe – SA
2015-2016
Kristen Jackson – Vic/Tas
2016-2019
Marty Lambert – Qld
2019-2021
Paul Jane – Vic
2021-2024
Les Munn – NSW
2024-present
Kristin Davies – VIC
HONORARY LIFE FELLOWS
1966
Ben Bone
1967
James Sullivan
1969
Noel Lothian, Alex Wilkie
1970
Bill Halligan
1971
Frank Keenan, Richard Pescott
1974
David Shoobridge
1976
Jack Firth
1977
George Vafiopolous, Warwick Wilson
1978
John Gray, Gordon Shearwood
1985
Richard Clough, Jack Owens, Tom Wood
1986
Ian Frencham
1989
Bill Goodman
1991
Val Ellis
FRANK STEWART AWARDEES
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 & Helen Croxford
1998
Peter Fitchett
1999
John Senior Neville Byrne
2000
Francis Lobo
2001
Andrew Taylor
2002
Martin Doulton
2003
Peter Nicholls
2004
Sarah-Jo Mason
2005
Les Dennis David Aldous
2006
Tony Veal
2007
Stephen Wearing
2008
Stephen Bourke
2009
Sally Jeavons
2010
Anne Binkley
2011
John Brandenburg
2012
John Wood
2013
Bruce Fordham
2014
Cathy Kiss
2015
Andrew Smith
2016
Not Awarded
2017
Penny Davidson
2018
Kevin Lowe
2019
Kristen Jackson
2020
Martin Lambert
2021
Nick Cox
2022
Suzanne Suter
2023
Dr John Tower
2024
Paul Jane
CONFERENCES
1927
Ballarat
1928
Melbourne
1929
Melbourne
1930
Bendigo
1931
Melbourne
1932
Melbourne
1933
Melbourne
1934
Western District Vic
1935
Melbourne
1936
South Gippsland
1937
Melbourne
1938
Travelling: Melbourne→Healesville→Mansfield→Bright→Albury→Wangaratta→Benalla→Seymour→Melbourne
1939
Melbourne
1940
Western District Vic
1941
Melbourne
1942-43
Not held (WW2)
1944
Melbourne
1945
Ballarat
1946
Travelling: Bendigo→Kerang→Ballarat
1947
Melbourne
1948
Adelaide
1949
Melbourne
1950
Not held
1998
Melbourne
1999
Adelaide
2000
Gold Coast
2001
Sydney
2002
Melbourne
2003
Perth
2004
Brisbane
2005
Hobart
2006
Olympic Park
2007
Townsville
2008
Melbourne
2009
Darwin
2010
Glenelg
2011
Fremantle
2012
Newcastle
2013
Melbourne
2014
Cairns
2015
Sydney
2016
Adelaide
2017
Gold Coast
2018
Melbourne
2019
Perth
2020
Virtual Conference
2021
Virtual Conference
2022
Melbourne
2023
Adelaide
2024
Brisbane
2025
Hobart

LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY

As the national peak body for 'The People Behind the Places', we support over 2,500 members through the provision of training, professional development, research, advocacy and provide a range of products and services.
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PLA EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION

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BECOME A REGION COUNCILLOR

Your opportunity to help lead the Parks & Leisure industry is here!
 
Every year, PLA elects councillors for each Region. Councillors serve three-year terms, and each Council has 10 Region Councillors, plus additional members as needed
 
Learn more about the Region Councils and election process below!
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MEMBER BENEFITS

Join PLA to access members-only benefits, discounted rates for events and more!
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CPD/CPLP

We support our members through the provision of training and professional development.
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INFO PACK

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BECOME A PLA MEMBER

Our members are ‘The People Behind the Places’ who work across policy, planning and the provision of assets, services, facilities, programs, and research in the parks and leisure sector. Find out how you can join us and access PLA member benefits today!

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LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS
NSW/ACT

Planning Perfect Parks with Teens

We are excited to support this research project and encourage anyone working in park planning and policy to contribute: Assessing the feasibility and acceptability of a novel AI-Park Design methodology

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26 March 2026
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OUR NATIONAL PARTNERS

Inspired by the Past, Visions for the Future: 2025 PARKS & LEISURE AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE

We are thrilled to announce the theme of the PLA National Conference theme, which will be held in Hobart from 9-12 November 2025.
 
This event is run by the industry, for the industry and it will give guests the opportunity to meet the people behind the places, and hear insights from those working in parks, leisure, sports and facilities. There will also be learning and professional development opportunities throughout the conference with real-world takeaways and applications.
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