History:-

History of the Australian Agricultural Contractors Association Incorporated Formerly:-

"VICTORIAN HAY PRESS OWNERS ASSOCIATION"
(Circa 1943)

The Association had branches operating in some of the following districts:- Shepparton, Euroa,Wangaratta, Ovens Valley, Geelong, Cobram and Albury districts as early as 1943 possibly 1942 or earlier.

We now have association in West Gippsland, South Gippsland, Northern Victoria/Riverina and Western Victoria.

The Association has the original bank books and minute books from 1944.

1950:- From records and information received, we believe the Gippsland group had its germination in 1950 when Lewis Genoni and Gregory Dore started discussing problems with hay baling in the Gippsland District, they felt there was a need for some general understandings amongst farmers & contractors in Gippsland, and in their wisdom they felt there should be an Association to look after the interests of "hay balers".

Following on from those thoughts:- In 1950 Lew and Greg got together with several contractors, and through 1950, 1951 & 1952 made plans. In 1952 Greg Dore travelled to Nagambie to meet with the Victorian Hay Press Owners Association, where they discussed the introduction of twine to replace wire, and from that meeting pushed the desire for a Gippsland branch. The first recorded meeting of the Gippsland Hay Press Owners Association took place on 25th September 1953.

We believe that it should have been looked on as a branch of the:- "Victorian Hay Press Owners Association", as that is the format of the other regions.

1953:- The new Gippsland branch was up and running with around 30 members and was called:-

"GIPPSLAND HAY PRESS OWNERS ASSOCIATION"

1953:- From the minute book of the day; on September 22nd 1953 the State group formerly changed their name to:-

"THE VICTORIAN HAY BALERS ASSOCIATION"

In the mid fifties, (thought to be 1956/57) there was a name change by the Shepparton group to:-

"HAY BALERS ASSOCIATION of VICTORIA"

1956:- From the minute book of the day; on September 25th

1956:- the State group formerly changed their name to:-

"THE FODDER CONSERVATION OPERATORS ASSOCIATION"

The Association operated under that name for the next 50 years

MARCH 2006:- To better reflect the activities of the association the name was changed too:-

"AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION"

JULY 2007:- To enable the association to engage with Government Depts. traders and to protect the members we became:-

"AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED."

"JULY 2011 A NEW CONSTITUTION FOR THE FIVE ASSOCIATIONS"

So here we are today, 68 years on

"Keeping the dream alive"