Honouring the finest in our field
Established as a local network of Locksmiths in 1967 and as a national body in 1982, the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia (MLAA) has been serving our industry for more than 50 years.
Throughout our history, many individuals have shaped the Association and the industry at large. It is our duty and honour as the peak body of this industry to uphold and award some of its key influencers.
The MLAA also acknowledges the achievements of the next generation of Locksmiths by annually awarding the John Andrews Apprentice of the Year Award.
Life Membership
Members who have a distinguished record of achievement with the Association or the security industry may, at the invitation of the Board, be awarded a Life Membership of the Association.
Recent Life Membership recipients
Life Membership was awarded to Rod Croot in 2021.
Life Membership was awarded to Len Lorraway in 2020:
Life Membership was awarded to John McMullen in 2019.
Life Membership was awarded to Grant Baxter in 2019:
| Name | Branch | Year |
| John Andrew | NSW | 1983 |
| Albert Chantry Snr | VIC | 1983 |
| Keith Cohoe | QLD | 1983 |
| Andrew Crandon | NSW | 1983 |
| Max Hull | VIC | 1983 |
| Stephen Mills | NSW | 1983 |
| Alex Stewart | VIC | 1983 |
| Bruce Hilderbrandt | NSW | 1985 |
| Harold Johns | VIC | 1986 |
| Allan Axford | NSW | 1988 |
| Robert Bull | NZ | 1988 |
| Stuart Johnson | VIC | 1991 |
| Mick Berrell | NSW | 1992 |
| Hugh Hendry | VIC | 1992 |
| David Le Fevre | VIC | 1992 |
| Ray Clark | SA | 1993 |
| David Stewart | VIC | 1994 |
| Laurence Mills | NSW | 1995 |
| Frank O’Neill | QLD | 1995 |
| Keith Ross | VIC | 1996 |
| Robert McKenzie | QLD | 1997 |
| George Ramsay | NSW | 1997 |
| Jack Sheldon | NSW | 1997 |
| Rae Mortimer | NZ | 1998 |
| Doug Wickham | NZ | 1998 |
| Robert Larsen | QLD | 1999 |
| John Payne | VIC | 1999 |
| Trevor Storen | WA | 1999 |
| Clive Tulloch | NSW | 2003 |
| Jack Coomber | SA | 2011 |
| Jim Beveridge | NZ | 2013 |
| Tony Douglas | NSW | 2013 |
| Fraser Burns | NZ | 2014 |
| Robin Gibbs | SA | 2014 |
| Geoff Ross | VIC | 2014 |
| John Denzin | QLD | 2016 |
| Eric Higgs | QLD | 2016 |
| Cliff Forrester | QLD | 2017 |
| Norm Axford | NSW | 2017 |
| David Rees | VIC | 2018 |
| John McMullen | NZ | 2019 |
| Grant Baxter | VIC | 2019 |
| Len Lorraway | QLD | 2020 |
| Rod Croot | WA | 2021 |
John Andrew Apprentice of the Year
This annual award honours the memory of the late John Andrew who was the Association’s inaugural Life Member and a winner of the A.L. Chantry Memorial Award for the Pursuit of Excellence. Eligible apprentices employed by MLAA Business members in Australia and New Zealand are invited to participate.
The test covers Picking, Impressioning, Lock fitting, Master Keying, Safe Diagnostics and General Knowledge.
LSC, Silca and ABUS continue to be major supporters of the Award, with the winner (and their mentor) to receive a fully funded trip to Italy and Germany to visit the Silca & ABUS factories respectively.
Locksmith Shop & Van of the Year Awards
The Locksmith Shop & Van of the Year Awards, sponsored by SG Lock & Security, recognise the best retail outlet and vehicle in the locksmith industry across Australia and New Zealand.
A.L. Chantry Memorial Award for the Pursuit of Excellence
This Award was established in 1987 in honour of the late Albert Chantry, a pioneer of locksmithing in Victoria (AU).
It acknowledges the commitment and contribution of a Member or Director of the Master Locksmiths Association.
It is awarded periodically and requires 75% of the votes of the current Directors of the MLAA.
Fraser Burns – Recipient of the A.L. Chantry Award for 2019
Pictured below (from left): 2019 recipient Fraser Burns, President Peter Lloyd, and 2018 recipient Cliff Forrester
| Year | Recipient | Branch |
| 1987 | John Andrew | NSW |
| 1987 | Laurence Mills | NSW |
| 1987 | David Stewart | VIC |
| 1988 | Hugh Hendry | VIC |
| 1989 | Mick Berrell | NSW |
| 1990 | Stuart Johnson | VIC |
| 1991 | David Le Fevre | VIC |
| 1992 | Rae Mortimer | NZ |
| 1993 | Brian & Peter Preddy | NSW |
| 2005 | Max Cherry | VIC |
| 2007 | Murray Sanders | NZ |
| 2012 | Norm Axford | NSW |
| 2018 | Cliff Forrester | QLD |
Nominations for the A.L. Chantry Memorial Award are considered by the Board and require a vote of no less than 75% of Directors voting. The Award is presented at the Association’s Annual Conference.
S.D. Mills Award
This Award honours the memory of the late Stephen D. Mills and acknowledges an outstanding practical example of locksmithing, e.g. the design of a new lock, locksmithing tool or procedure in areas ranging from the cutting of ornate keys to the development of computer software concepts or programs.
| Year | Recipient | Branch |
| 1995 | Wayne Fisher | NZ |
| 2002 | Geoff Ross | VIC |
| 2004 | John McMullen | NZ |
| 2007 | Jack Coomber | SA |
| 2012 | John McMullen | NZ |
Whilst the initiative may have been developed by a group working independently or under supervision, only one person can be the recipient of the award. Judging of the Award will be undertaken by leading industry representatives members nominated by the MLAA Board of Directors and the judges will take into consideration:
- the originality of the initiative
- its usefulness in the industry
- the quality of work undertaken.
Presidents of the MLAA
As a Member Organisation, the MLAA is governed by a Board of Directors. The MLAA Board consists of six Regional Directors representing New Zealand and Australia’s states and territories, and a President.
The President is responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the Association.
The President also acts as the Association’s spokesperson on relevant issues in the public domain and in the media, represents the Association at key internal and external events, chairs Board Meetings, ensures the diverse views of the Association are represented at Board level, and ensures that the views and decisions of the Board are communicated effectively.
| Name | Branch | Period |
| David Stewart | VIC | 1982 – 1983 |
| Lawrence Mills | NSW | 1983 – 1985 |
| David Le Fevre | VIC | 1985 – 1992 |
| Lawrence Mills | NSW | 1992 – 1993 |
| David Stewart | VIC | 1993 – 1995 |
| Trevor Storen | WA | 1995 – 1998 |
| George Ramsay | NSW | 1998 – 1999 |
| Clive Tulloch | NSW | 1999 – 2003 |
| Jim Beveridge | NZ | 2003 – 2007 |
| Tony Douglas | NSW | 2007 – 2011 |
| David Rees | VIC | 2011 – 2017 |
| Peter Lloyd | NSW | 2017 – 2021 |