Rick Lovell’s 29-Year Legacy

The name Rick Lovell is synonymous with the Australian Hotels Association (SA). Rick, a qualified chartered accountant, has served as Secretary/Treasurer for the AHA|SA since 1992.

In early May, he marked the end of an era when he presented his final report at the Association’s annual general meeting.

Rick is a Life Member of the AHA|SA, and his involvement in the hospitality industry dates back to his childhood.

His father, Brian, also a chartered accountant, had an interest in the Hawker, Maitland and Criterion Hotel on King William Street. Rick recalls travelling to the country as a young boy to visit the hotels.

By fifteen, he was working at the Criterion and living there when the manager was on holiday. Rick studied Accountancy at the Institute of Technology, and opened his own practice in 1978. Fittingly, the practice boasted a large hospitality client base.

In 1983, Rick and Brian purchased the Hotel Enfield. The two focussed on catering, establishing a mobile catering division for weddings and functions. Rick sold his interest in the hotel in 1991 and bought the lease of the Gepps Cross Hotel. The following year, he was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the AHA|SA.

“I was on the council of the AHA|SA, and Jack Hoban, the current Secretary/Treasurer at the time, was retiring,” said Rick.

“I guess because of my chartered accounting background and hospitality experience it was considered I might be the appropriate person.”

He went on to win the election, kickstarting a 29-year legacy he is only now stepping down from.

In 1993, Rick purchased the Marryatville Hotel and sold the Gepps Cross.

“We did quite a lot of renovation work at the Marryatville,” he said.

“We got rid of what used to be a dedicated front bar and opened that up. We put in a children’s playground with a dining option outside and extended the bottle shop and put a nice walk-in area in there.”

Gaming was introduced in South Australia in 1994, bringing with it a number of tests for the AHA|SA.

Rick reflects on the “challenges” local politician Nick Xenophon presented for the hospitality industry when he decided to run in the 1997 state election under an Independent No Pokies ticket. Xenophon advocated for the reduction and elimination of gaming machines.

“The AHA|SA did a lot to ensure our members maintained a practical and financially feasible gaming industry,” said Rick.

“I think the AHA|SA is probably the most effective lobbying industry body in the state.

“We’ve had and continue to have very good people involved in the executive and the council and very good general managers, management, and staff… it’s just a no-brainer being a member of the Association.

“The AHA|SA is set up to deal with the continual myriad of licensing issues that are dealt with, to maintain the best situation that we can for members. That goes for gaming and right across the board - accommodation, tourism, liquor issues, gaming issues.”

Rick said over the years the hospitality industry has seen the introduction of red tape and restrictions, with more technical knowledge now required.

“Gaming brought with it a whole new set of regulations and restrictions and codes and things that you had to be concerned with as well as of course staff had to be concerned with,” he said.

In 2019, Rick sold the Marryatville and was no longer eligible for the Secretary/Treasurer position. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the inability for the AHA|SA to hold a formal election, he was asked to continue on in the role, and was happy to do that.

Rick’s tenure as Secretary/Treasurer is now complete, marking the end of an era. He merged his accountancy practice with another firm about ten years ago to concentrate on hotels, and with the Marryatville sold, he will have some time to rest with his wife of thirty-five years, Cynthia.

“I’ve got two children. My daughter is doing radiology up in Queensland and my son lives in Miami in America where he has a business,” said Rick.

He leaves a legacy of dedication and passion, a 29-year job well done.

“The industry has been very good to me and my family, and it [the AHA|SA] gave me an opportunity to contribute something, in a small way, back,” said Rick.

DAVID BASHEER, AHA|SA PRESIDENT

An AHA|SA life member, Rick has served our Council for over 30 years and has been a major Industry figure.

He has provided the AHA|SA with stability, financial certainty, and an incredible depth of professional knowledge.

As President, I have found it a continued comfort to put my head on the pillow knowing Rick is in charge of our finances.

Don’t for a moment believe Rick was one of those ‘cut and don’t spend’ finance guys.

Two recent critical battles successfully fought by the Association were the battle to prevent the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, and our much publicised State election campaign in 2018 against Nick Xenophon’s party.

Both campaigns were extremely costly, but knowing the consequences of defeat, Rick was a critical decision maker into how much we were able to allocate, and in the case of the 2018 election, it was his initiative to increase our spending.

When the battles were complete, Rick’s first thought was ‘ how do we replenish our reserves to fight the next members’ campaign?’ The current state of our finances illustrates his vision and success perfectly.

To dismiss Rick’s 30 year tenure to merely the custodian of our books would grossly underplay his contribution.

Rick has been an significant voice on a wide range of key Industry initiatives and challenges, sometimes playing the Devil’s advocate, but always bringing a

strong level of reason and common sense to any debate.

Simply put, when Rick Lovell talks, people listen.

Needless to say, Rick and Cynthia, you will always be cherished members of the AHA|SA family.

“As President, I have found it a continued comfort to put my head on the pillow knowing Rick is in charge of our finances.”- DAVID BASHEER

PETER HURLEY AO

As State President for much of Rick’s 29-year tenure it was a massive comfort to know that every dollar of Association funds was being managed by a colleague who treated members’ funds in the same cautious way as if it were his own.

While that was a comfort to me, the entire membership should be equally grateful that their funds were under his custodianship.

The Association and its members were very fortunate that a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) who earned his living by billing his time was prepared to donate his time to the management of Association funds. Added to that he had both empathy for - and a deep understanding of - what was important to our industry and its sustainable position in the economy.

Over the years the Association has been well served by stability both in its staffing and its office bearers. Those Associations that have set short term office holders (forced rotation) have never had the political influence the AHA|SA has been able to deliver for its membership. Rick is a shining example of the benefit of that stability.

Congratulations to him and on my own behalf and on behalf of the entire membership, sincere thanks Rick.

“The Association and its members were very fortunate that a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) who earned his living by billing his time was prepared to donate his time to the management of Association funds.” - PETER HURLEY AO