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HSA July 2023

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R A V O ’ S B U S H T E L E G R A P H<br />

FINAL FAREWELL<br />

TO IAN HORNE<br />

BY IAN RAVENSCROFT<br />

The recent farewell for Ian Horne at<br />

Adelaide Oval was a fitting finale to<br />

a man who lived the dream for us<br />

all as our leader.<br />

At the function he was awarded<br />

Life Membership of the AHA|SA,<br />

the first ever for a non-hotel owner,<br />

and received a standing ovation<br />

in recognition of this inaugural<br />

achievement. The event, MC’d<br />

by Chris Dittmar, had speech<br />

contributions from our current<br />

president David Basheer, David<br />

Curry, and Peter Hurley AO, who<br />

was president for 24 years, of<br />

which 17 years were working<br />

together with Ian.<br />

The Premier of South Australia,<br />

Peter Malinauskas, also spoke<br />

glowingly of the professionalism<br />

of Ian whenever dialogue occurred<br />

with him on hospitality, hotel<br />

or tourism matters. He said he<br />

respected Ian’s opinion and that he<br />

was very tenacious. The Premier<br />

also light-heartedly referred to the<br />

fact that Ian Horne had actually<br />

“made the bigtime” by having a<br />

West End stubby created with his<br />

name and face on it, as a token of<br />

importance he has attained in the<br />

community.<br />

I have always believed that one of<br />

the hallmarks of being a member<br />

of the AHA|SA is that every hotel<br />

member is recognised equally,<br />

whether you are a sole operator<br />

or own multiple hotels.<br />

This always ensured the strength<br />

in membership numbers and a<br />

proudness by all to be involved.<br />

The respect the Premier spoke of<br />

will be maintained because the<br />

AHA|SA leadership group, council<br />

members, executive committee<br />

and staff are professionals and<br />

have significant tenure in their roles.<br />

The farewell to Ian as a leader<br />

has highlighted the integrity of the<br />

man’s approach to all things normal<br />

or controversial that have occurred<br />

over the years.<br />

The final regional council meeting<br />

Ian Horne attended prior to retiring<br />

was the Yorke Peninsula regional at<br />

the Royal Exchange Hotel at Kadina.<br />

An excellent number of members<br />

were present for the occasion,<br />

along with many corporate partners,<br />

including John Langford (hotel<br />

broker), Steve Markham (business<br />

manager and a regular overseer<br />

of such events), Grant Clarke<br />

(McGees), Scott Elix (CUB), Scott<br />

Randell (Coopers) and Andrew<br />

Tully (Lion Nathan) to name a<br />

few long-term corporates.<br />

All were reflecting on past functions<br />

and gatherings. Unfortunately the<br />

current Councillor for the YP region<br />

- Trevor Evans - was an absentee,<br />

but David Papps and yours truly<br />

(Ravo’s Bush Telegraph) were<br />

present, being the nearest past<br />

councillors for the YP area.<br />

For interest sake, going back from<br />

that point, past councillors were<br />

John Warren, then Stan Papps<br />

(father of David), and Michael<br />

Kennedy from Warooka, all in the<br />

modern era.<br />

I asked Ian what was his most<br />

significant memory and he said<br />

it was probably back in 1992 with<br />

the gaming machine legislation<br />

being passed through parliament.<br />

However he also believed that<br />

so many staff were long term<br />

employees with the AHA|SA,<br />

which assisted provided stability<br />

to the organisation and supported<br />

him in his role.<br />

David and Ian Horne with Ravo.<br />

Anna Moeller, who until now has<br />

been the Deputy General Manager,<br />

has been promoted to replace Ian<br />

as the new CEO. We all congratulate<br />

Anna on her appointment and wish<br />

her all the very best for the future.<br />

The RBT says good luck to your<br />

sporting team in pursuit of grand<br />

final wins in the coming months<br />

and may the Ashes be won in the<br />

Old Dart once again!<br />

Back to Contents www.ahasa.asn.au | Hotel SA | 31

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