When I was asked to contribute to AEPMA’s inaugural industry year book, I took the opportunity to reflect on my time in the pest management industry and the exposure I had to it growing up as a child in Melbourne.

Reflections on the Past: Perceptions of the Future

David Gay, President, AEPMA

Although I have been personally involved in this industry for 15 years, my connection to it goes as far back to the early 1970s, when I was a young child. From those early days my summers always involved ‘helping out’ aroundthe family pest management business, holding the ladder on a job or taking phone messages while at home.

I vividly remember a large map of ‘Greater Melbourne’ posted to the wall in the hallway of our family home that tracked the spread and proliferation of European wasps into mainland Australia. At the start of each ‘season’, my father would place a different coloured pin on the map to denote the location of wasps' nests which he had identified and treated. One year the pins would be green, the following year they would be red and so on. It is amazing to think that an insect, whose spread over Australia could once be tracked so easily, has now become a prolific and everyday part of Australian life. The current situation with the spread of Fire Ants in Queensland strikes me as a similar progression.

Almost 40 years later, I remember those early days going to wasp jobs with my father and standing a safe distance away to watch him work. In those days there didn’t appear to be much skill required, other than the ability to not poison yourself. Application equipment was not as specific as it is now and the products used were either straight dieldrin, Gammexane smoke generators, or a bit of dust (which was probably another organo-chlorine of some description).

On reflection, our industry has progressed fairly rapidly over the last 20 years when we consider the products and equipment currently available. These include termite baiting, non-repellent termiticides, cockroach and ant baits and pheromone lures, a wide variety of rodent management technologies, and termite detection equipment such as moisture meters, Termatrac™ and thermal imaging technologies.

People
My time in this industry has been influenced by the people I have met along the way, both industry peers and mentors. Important among these have been Australia’s Peter Meadows, Judy Dole from America, and termite ‘guru’, Phil Hadlington.

Other influencers, back then in the 90s, were practitioners, some of who are or were regarded widely as true industry ‘big guys’ and identities. Among the most memorable and influential, to both myself and our business, was Gordon Gordon from Metropolitan Pest and Weed Control in Melbourne. Gordon either knew or spoke to everyone in the industry and was very astute in networking with other businesses, as well as being generous in his referrals of work.

At the time, our company had neither the experience nor the desire to pursue termite work, so we referred all termite inquiries to Gordon, and he responded in kind with work he was not able to do. Referrals like this are a key to the success of any small business, not because of their dollar value or cash flow but because it allowsbusinesses the potential to form close friendships with other businesses who may experience similar issues and challenges.

The friendship and business relationship which was formed between our companies proved to be invaluable.

AEPMA
Gordon had a major influence on our decision to join AEPMA. At that time, AEPMA was in the early stages of formation and the Victorian Pest and Weed Association had become AEPMA’s Victorian branch. I remember the early meetings with John Adams (Adams Pest Control) as Chairman, Doug Browning as Secretary and the friendly environment that was fostered between members. It is a quality and trait that is as strong and vibrant among AEPMA members today as it was in the beginning.

Conferences near and far
My attendance at and involvement in AEPMA, FOAPMA, and a couple of large American conferences also shaped my thinking as well as my knowledge base. Our company’s involvement in and membership of AEPMA gave our us the confidence to pursue learning opportunities at both Australian and the big American conferences.

Many people I met at my first conference in Australia are still friends today, even though I may only see them once a year at the National conference. I know this is also true for many members. The National conference is a chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, to catch up on what’s new and who’s new.

Importantly, AEPMA’s National (Australian) conferences offer much more than just technical presentations, opportunities to collect CPD points, or exposure to latest technology in the trade shows. They are about people. Many times I have met someone, either by introduction through a supplier or manufacturer’s representative or simply by sharing a table at dinner. Invariably the conversation moves onto a topic in our business which is either technical, business or staff related. In most cases someone else has or has had the same problem or solution, or if they don’t, they know someone who does. This is one of the true values of a conference.

It is impossible to place a dollar value on this sort of experience, but time and time again we hear people complain of the cost to attend such conferences.

I would encourage every pest manager to take a moment to reflect on what the cost to our industry would be if we didn’t have conferences. Companies would be less likely to talk and exchange information, and therefore less likely to develop together.

Importantly, conferences tend to concentrate all the serious pest management companies into one place: attracting leaders who respect our industry and view it as their livelihood. Like me, they see attending conferences as a commitment to learning about emerging knowledge and equipment and to keep themselves at the forefront of the industry.

Like AEPMA membership, AEPMA National conferences are for those successful individuals and companies which make this industry great. Those that ‘know it all’ or are not prepared to contribute to the industry, or fail to be successful enough financially to afford to attend industry conferences or functions, are not greatly missed.

I have been fortunate to attend a couple of NPCA (American) conferences over the years and I believe every serious pest management manager should do likewise, at least once. NPCA conferences are BIG with thousands of attendees over the technical, social and trade show sessions. The quality of speakers and the range of topics are amazingly broad and inspiring while the array of equipment and products on display at the trade shows is something to envy.

My attendance at NCPA conferences has reinforced my view that American professional pest managers and pest management companies take their industry and industry association very seriously. This translates into not only association membership and attendance, but also mentoring and assisting other companies. Another notable trait at the American conferences is the degree of friendliness toward Australians. Generally the Australians have a fairly strong contingent of attendees and it is great to see familiar faces among the thousands of people present.

And so, to the future
It has been an exciting and educational past for all of us. But it is our industry’s future about which I am especially positive. Indeed, I am looking forward to real business growth and diversification into all areas, regions and industries.

As the need for professional pest management services increases, our professional skills are developing and adapting to new and emerging technologies and businesses are embracing leading edge marketing and management methods.

Small businesses are becoming large businesses with enviable resources and structures.

And finally, the message is getting across to consumers and government regulators that we are a professional body. We provide services that enhance the quality of life and health as well as protecting assets and property. Our role includes caring for our environment in Australia and we also have the ability to influence pest management practices throughout our pan-Asia region.

I am truly looking forward to the next 20 years and where this industry will be positioned, what technology we will be using to market, manage and execute pest management services.