The following HVAC&R heavyweights were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the industry and inducted into the ARBS Hall of Fame.
Clive Broadbent
Broadbent is widely recognised for his research work on preventative measures for Legionnaires’ disease hazards, particularly those that may be present in cooling towers. He has been awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition for his work in helping to understand Legionella. Broadbent is widely published, has authored 12 TAFE models on air conditioning systems and is the chairman for a number of standards committees.
Gerard Whittaker
Whittaker established the Australian maintenance divisions of Haden Engineering, and was appointed CEO in 1994. He has played an instrumental role in many industry associations including president of AMCA, president of the Building Industry Specialist Contractors Association of Australia and president of the Construction Industry Engineering Services Group. He has also served Standards Australia and the Construction Industry Development Agency.
Grahame Gibbs
Gibbs was the founding committee member of the Australian CIBSE region and was chairman from 1991-1992. He was foundation honorary secretary of the Australian Contamination Control Society, board member of AIRAH, a member of the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering as well as Standards Australia delegate to the ISO Technical Committee 209. He established the Bachelor of Building Services and Air Conditioning degree course at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he spent many years as a lecturer.
Kevin O’Shea
O’Shea has been in the HVAC&R industry for 45 years. He has been the president of RACCA NSW and is currently the national president of RACCA. O’Shea has also been director of Refrigerant Reclaim Australia, board member of ARBS during its formative years, chairman of the Australian Refrigeration Council, and board member of Electro Group Training. O’Shea is still actively involved in all parts of the industry.
Bill Robertson
Robertson began his career in engineering design in 1959 at GMF Electrical Motors. By the time he retired from the industry in 2009, he was general manager of Torin. Robertson is a well-known and much respected member of the industry who has been actively involved in the Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturer’s Association (AREMA). Robertson was elected president of AREMA in 2007. He has seen momentous change during his 50 years in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry.
Bernie Bugdalski
Bugdalski is a professional sales and marketing strategist with over 30 years’ experience in the FMCG and commercial markets of electrical, hardware and HVAC. Bugdalski has always had a strong commitment to the work of industry associations and has made a significant personal contribution to the development of industry policy. Representing Fujitsu General as a member of AREMA, Bugdalski was elected to the executive in 2004. After serving two years as vice president he was nominated and accepted the role of president – serving for three years from 2008 to 2011.
Murray Mason
Mason is a life member and fellow of AIRAH and a fellow of both the Institute of Engineers and the Australian Institute of Energy. He is currently a director of ACADS-BSG and has been a sessional part-time lecturer at VUT, the University of NSW, Monash University and Swinburne University.
William Roy Ahern
(1914 – 1984)
To many of those who knew him well, Roy Ahern is thought of as one of the best engineers in the history of Australia’s HVAC&R industry. He made a huge contribution as an AIRAH member and 28 years after his death Ahern is still remembered fondly as one of the founding fathers of the industry.