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History of the Inventors Association
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History of the Inventors Association of Australia |
Serving Australian Inventors for over 50 Years.The Inventors Association of Australia (IAA) was formed in 1958 by Stan E. Shrivell, an independent inventor who was dismayed at the lack of information, guidance and assistance available to inventors. He decided to do something positive about that situation. He aimed to help inventors and innovators to achieve success with their new products, to bring the benefits of new innovations to the general community and thereby to improve the standard of living and the employment situation. Hence the mission statement: "Helping employment, exports, the disabled and the environment by networking inventions and innovations with the community, industry and commerce for the welfare of a better country." Stan was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for founding the association and for helping inventors. In 1963 Charles Smith visited Sydney from his home in Perth to exhibit several inventions at that year's Royal Easter Show. Charles joined the organisation and later served as Vice President. In 1965 Charles became the Association's third president since it was founded in 1958. When he moved to Sydney the following year, he became actively involved in the still fledgling organisation that was then functioning in NSW only. While travelling around Australia to promote his own inventions, he organised initial meetings of inventors throughout the country to operate as branches and sub branches. A branch was formed in Perth with the inspirational character of Fred Kelly as the first president. Charles was recognised as National President of the IAA; each branch by then also had its own State President. In 1969 he organised the incorporation of IAA as a non profit company limited by guarantee, which was a prerequisite to the gaining of Federal Government grants to subsidise help for inventors. Simultaneously Charles began lobbying ABC TV to produce a television program on inventions. The "ABC Inventors" program ran from 1970 to 1980. Many of our members (past and present) appeared on the original ABC Inventors and on the current ABC New Inventors programmes. Early inventor's societies and associationsThe first Inventors Association in this continent was founded in Sydney in 1893 – prior to federation - as the Inventors Association of NSW, its fate is unknown. Another organisation, called The Australasian Institute of Patentees and Inventors, ran for a year from 1939. It published 6 good magazines (these are available in the state library) but sadly ended in a defamation dispute. The Australian Society of Inventors and Patentees, ran for a few years in Sydney in the mid to late 1940's – Sir Mark Oliphant was the patron. It too appears to have suffered the same fate as its predecessor – wrecked by "constant disputes." (Above material supplied by Stuart Fox and edited for inclusion on this website) Logos and badges through the years
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