News

Car Wash Show Australia 2022 provided the backdrop for the announcement of three new inductees into the Australian Car Wash Industry Hall of Fame.

The inductees announced at the event exemplify greatness in the Australian car wash industry and join the foundation inductees including Shiners’ Richard Davison, Good Sight’s Ardeis H. “Buck” Myers and Richard Holloway of Carwash Headquarters.

ACWA President Neil Fox announced the winners at the Car Wash Show Australia’s Party in the Washbay event.  Those inducted were:

Greg Boston          The Car Bath (SA)

Tony Stephens     Washbusters (VIC)

David Moyns        Velocity Vehicle Care

“The criteria for induction into the Australian Car Wash Industry Hall of Fame include attributes such as leadership, collaboration, industry support, longevity, and innovation,” said Neil Fox, “This year’s inductees truly embody greatness in the Australian car wash industry and are worthy additions to the Hall of Fame honour roll”.

ACWA is currently preparing a webpage to honour our inductees, in the meantime we provide the following background information.

Greg Boston, The Car Bath (SA)

• Greg is recognised nationally as an exceptional South Australian-based car wash operator and leader in the Australian Car Wash Industry.
• Greg has served on the Board of the Australian Car Wash Association on more than one occasion and was President from 2005-2008.
• As President, he presided over the most tumultuous period in Australian car wash history… the Millennial Drought.
• Greg navigated the industry through the drought crisis, leading negotiations with Government departments, politicians and bureaucrats across the country.
• Greg remains passionate about the impact of car washing on the environment. He is considered by many in the industry as the “go-to” person on the subject of water reclaim and recycling systems.
• Greg remains active with the Australian Car Wash Association, serving as Company Secretary.

Tony Stephens, Washbusters (VIC)

• On 17th October 1996, he and Rob Anson founded ACWA, the Australian Car Wash Association.
• Tony first encountered car washing in North America in the early 90s and “fell in love”.
• Returning to his hometown of Melbourne, he set about building a wash.
• He initially worked with Hall of Famer Richard Davison, opening a wash in Frankston.
• Soon after, he built Washbusters in Moorabbin.
• As the industry was in its infancy, Tony regularly visited North America, developing relationships with equipment and product suppliers.
• As well as running his own business, he has fostered and mentored many other car wash operators over several decades.
• In 2021 Tony sold Washbusters but still remains very involved in the industry.

David Moyns, Velocity Vehicle Care

• David Moyns is a car wash supplier of premium products with more than 20 years of experience in the car wash industry.
• David has clearly been a wanderer and has worked extensively across North and South Queensland, Papua New Guinea, Western Australia and Victoria.
• In 2014 David formed Velocity Vehicle Care to exclusively take on the master distributorship for Zep Vehicle Care products in the Pacific Region.
• David served a term on the Australian Car Wash Association Board from 2010.
• David is recognised nationally as a leader and mentor in the car wash industry. His passion, integrity and work ethic are renowned.
• David introduced Australia to globally recognised brands
  • Blue Coral in 2001
  • Rain-X in 2006
  • Armour All Professional in 2015
• David is continually looking for and introducing new and innovative products to the car wash market, such as
  • Assure Program in 2015
  • Coinless mobile in 2020

First, it was Optus, and now it’s Medicare. Haven’t data breaches become front of mind for the Australian population in recent months?

For many, many years, marketers have told businesses that collecting customer data is the most important of marketing strategies. Of course, this makes sense. Getting return business from an existing customer is vastly more efficient than finding a new one.

However, the recent breaches have raised a red flag on the importance of understanding data obligations. Some of the questions businesses are now asking are:
• What information are we holding on our customers?
• Should we be holding that information, and do we need it? For example, does your business need the customer’s full date of birth?
• Are our systems robust enough to provide data protection?

If the Privacy Act 1988 covers your business, there are obligations and principles associated with the collection and use of customer data you should understand.

To find out if the Privacy Act covers your business, go to the Office of the Information Commissioner website

The Office of the Information Commissioner also provides tips for protecting customer data.

On behalf of all Australian Car Wash Association members, we extend our best wishes and thoughts to all those who continue to be impacted by recent flood events across the east coast of Australia.

Those whose homes and businesses have been impacted by floods are encouraged to check the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs Disaster Assist website

The joint Australian, state and territory governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.  Use the interactive map to navigate to the assistance available in your State.

ACWA attempts to keep abreast of issues impacting members, but sometimes, we miss something.

If you have any information you believe may be of benefit to members of our Association, please drop us a line so we can share the details.

The thoughts of ACWA Directors and Staff are with those car wash operators in areas impacted by recent flooding in Victoria.

We take this opportunity to highlight Victorian State Government assistance that may be available to wash operators in affected areas.

The Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program provides a one-off grant of $5000 to cover immediate expenses.

It is available to businesses directly impacted by the Victorian floods that commenced in October 2022.

Full details are available here

Applications for this program will close at 4 pm on Friday, 13 January 2023, or earlier if funds are exhausted.

Applications will be assessed on a first-in, first-served basis.

Company Director Advice – Applying for a Director Identification Number is Mandatory

If you are a company director or intend to become one, you must be aware of new Australian Government regulations requiring you to apply for a Director Identification Number (DIN). Once issued, the DIN is a unique identification number that will remain with that director for life regardless of whether they stop being a director, change companies, change their name, or move overseas.

In short, all Directors are required to have a DIN by 30 November 2022. Importantly, if you are a company director and do not have an ID by 30 November, you will be breaking the law!

Please follow this link to see who needs to apply and when

The introduction of the Director Identification Number is part of the Government’s Modernisation of Business Registers Program creating greater transparency and preventing the potential for fraud and phoenix company activity. The new system will create one source of truth across Government agencies for individuals and entities and be managed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

The Victorian Government has launched the new $5 million Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program for Victorian small business owners to access financial and legal advice from trusted professionals.

Eligible small businesses can receive a $2,000 grant to cover the costs of engaging a qualified service provider that can help with financial and legal advice.

The program supports businesses that have adapted their core business activities in response to disruptive change caused by COVID 19.

Grants will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis until Friday, 30 September 2022, or when funds are exhausted.

Click the link below for full details.

https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/specialist-advice-pathways-program?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BV%20Update%2024%20August%202022&utm_content=BV%20Update%2024%20August%202022+CID_0a1cec7964b13a1a81b54666855add51&utm_source=BV%20Update%20enews&utm_term=Apply%20now

Queensland Members –  Business Boost Grants

The Queensland Government has released details of their latest Business Boost Grants. The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) will administer the program.

Car wash operators looking to improve their businesses in the core areas below could be eligible to receive support funding:

1. Future planning
2. Specialised and automated software
3. Staff management, development and planning.

Registration for support funding can be made between 12 August and 19 August 2022.

Several qualification criteria are likely to exclude many wash operators; however, if your business is investing in projects in the core areas listed, it may be worthwhile checking the full details here business.qld.gov.au/business-boost