From the General Manager IAN HORNE – AHA | SA GENERAL MANAGER
Vale WT (Bill) Spurr AO It was with great sadness that we informed members of the passing of Bill Spurr AO on 4 July 2022. President David Basheer is currently travelling out of the country, but joins me in acknowledging the enormous contribution Bill made to tourism and hospitality in this state. Bill was the CEO of the Australian Hotels Association SA Branch between 1982 and 1986. As a 38-year-old, Bill left the AHA|SA to head up the new tourism and hospitality school at the Light Square Campus. This venture included Bill establishing with the AHA|SA, Australia’s first commercial training hotel, the College Arms in Currie Street. The College Arms (formerly the Armstrong’s Tavern) was eventually demolished to make way for an expansion of the Adelaide TAFESA Tourism and Hospitality School. Under Bill’s watch the AHA commenced its Hospitality Group Training Company in 1983. He saw the expansion of Sip & Save Liquor Marketing Group and established the Town & Country Pub Accommodation scheme designed to utilise the hundreds of traditional pub style rooms across the regional and remote areas of South Australia. It was during this time that the Adelaide Hilton International was opened (October 1982), the first Grand Prix hit the Adelaide streets (3 November 1985)
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and the Adelaide Casino launched on 12 December 1985. John Bannon AO was the Premier and Gavin Keneally was Tourism Minister. Bill was an extraordinary leader and mentor, taking leadership roles not just within the AHA. During his career he went on to be both CEO and Chair at the Adelaide Convention Bureau, CEO of SA Tourism Commission, Chair of Study Adelaide, Australian Major Events and Adelaide Venue Management Board that incorporates the Adelaide Convention Centre and Entertainment Centre, Board Member of the Zoo, Adelaide Festival Centre, the former Government’s Economic Advisory Council and the Adelaide Fringe and many other advisory boards and roles. Bill remained a close friend of the hotel industry and was a significant contributor to the development of South Australia’s tourism and hospitality industry. He credited his time at the AHA SA as being the catalyst for his subsequent interest and finally passion for tourism and hospitality. He will be greatly missed by generations of operators, students and industry participants. We send our deepest condolences to Bill’s wife Helen, his children Debbie and Craig, and all his family.
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