HSA June 2023

C E L E B R A T I N G I A N H O R N E
And of course I enjoyed the total support of the AHA
SA Executive and Council. Peter, David, Matt and the
executive met on an as-needs basis and not once
failed to give anything but 100% support both personally
and in allocating precious resources. It was an
expensive campaign.
PANDEMIC
I’ve talked about many other challenges but amongst
the greatest was COVID-19.
Who could ever imagine that on the 23 March 2020 that
every single pub and hotel would be closed, from the
Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and everywhere in
between. That never happened in World Wars or in any
natural disaster, and there was no exit date.
It was devastating for all our members and all of our
hundreds of thousands of employees across Australia.
And it was a challenge for the AHA.
The resilience of the industry was really tested. Sadly,
there were casualties along the way, but generally we
got through it.
Post-COVID-19, we’ve entered an incredible growth
period but we’re still paying a price in terms of chronic
skill shortages, among a range of other issues.
What did work for us was the role of SAPOL under
the leadership of Commissioner Grant Stevens in
communicating, sharing and, on occasions, advocating
for better outcomes. In particular I would like to
acknowledge Assistant Commissioner Noel Bamford
whose direct dealing with us and our access to him
and his team was unprecedented. Thank you Grant
and Noel.
“Who could ever imagine
that on the 23 March 2020
that every single pub and
hotel would be closed,
from the Indian Ocean
to the Pacific Ocean and
everywhere in between.”
MY KPIs
David Basheer and others have heard me try to
describe what I do. I’m generally seen as unhelpful
when I respond that ‘my KPIs at the AHA are to achieve
nothing’. Quite simply, the status quo may be the best it
will ever be. The word reform usually means nothing of
the sort for hotels - but a further undermining of hotels
and their capacity to employ and sustain communities.
We have enjoyed an economic moat for some time,
largely because we deal with alcohol and gambling...
in fact, since 1836!
Others keep kicking dirt into this moat trying to fill it
up fill it up. It’s our job to shovel it out as quickly as
possible.
Finally I would like to acknowledge wonderful my family,
my wife Lyndsay who over the journey has managed
single handedly every important decision of our lives,
like raising two daughters, caring for elderly parents,
selling, buying and moving houses, and providing
tangible, unquestioning support for me.
Thank you all with my love and great appreciation.
While I’m retiring from AHA|SA, I’m not retiring from life.
It’s been a fantastic journey which I would love to start
again but with the knowledge I have now! That’s not
possible, so to Anna Moeller and David Basheer and the
AHA|SA Council and members of AHA|SA, thank you for
an extraordinary ride!
Ian Horne,
AHA|SA General Manager
Aristocrat Technologies would like to sincerely
thank Ian Horne for his more than three decades
commitment to the hospitality industry in South
Australia as CEO of AHA SA.
Ian’s tireless efforts in support of his members
were remarkable and his successes were many.
Ian established the AHA as an effective and
respected advocate and his wealth of knowledge
and professionalism meant the industry was in
safe hands right through his tenure.
From the entire team at Aristocrat, we thank you
Ian and wish you all the best for the future.
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