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.
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.
Pictured above: new Life Member Grant Baxter (middle), with National President Peter Lloyd (left), and Life Member David Rees
Life Membership was awarded to David Rees in 2018:
Pictured above: Life Member David Rees (middle) with and Peter Lloyd (MLAA National President)
Life Membership was awarded to Norm Axford and Cliff Forrester in 2017:
Pictured above: Life Member Norm Axford (middle) with his wife Tracy and Peter Lloyd (MLAA National President)
Pictured above: Life Member Cliff Forrester (middle) with his wife Ruth and Michael Rechenberg (MLAA Director QLD)
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 |
Grant Baxter | VIC | 2019 |
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 Master) to receive a fully funded trip to Italy and Germany to visit the Silca & ABUS factories respectively.
Pictured above: 2019 John Andrew Apprentice of the Year Jesse Shepherd (left) with his mentor Matt Ellis
Pictured above (from left): Peter Lloyd (MLAA), Fabrizio Lante (Silca), Cliff Forrester (MLAA), Jesse Shepherd, David Weinel (LSC), Andre Winterhoff (ABUS) and Matt Ellis
Pictured below: Winner 2018 Riley Davison
Pictured below: Winner 2017 Zachary Winslade
Pictured below: Winner 2016 Peng Guo (Leo)
Pictured below: Winner 2015 Luke Bergin
Year | Apprentice of the Year | Branch | Employer |
2000 | Chris Verbolle | VIC | Stewarts Security Specialists |
2001 | David Overend | NZ | James Bull & Co |
2002 | Eric Yorsten | NZ | Armstrong Locksmiths |
2003 | Nathan de Rooy | NSW | Brian Preddey Locksmiths |
2004 | Andrew Worsfold | QLD | Northside Locksmiths |
2005 | James Methven | VIC | Echuca Locksmiths |
2006 | Shane Cook | VIC | Echuca Locksmiths |
2007 | Bradley Wheeler | VIC | East Gippsland Keys & Locks |
2008 | Adam Burling | WA | SAS Locksmithing Services |
2009 | Robert Jeges | VIC | API Security – Moorabbin |
2010 | Kyle Bevans | VIC | Bendigo Locksmiths |
2011 | Nicole Bornis | QLD | Ruswin |
2012 | David Monahu | VIC | Omega Corporate Security |
2013 | Daniel Kolosi | VIC | Corporate Locksmiths |
2014 | Nicholas Smith | QLD | Keycut Services Pty Ltd |
2015 | Luke Bergin | QLD | Ruswin |
2016 | Peng Guo (Leo) | VIC | ASAP Locksmiths |
2017 | Zachary Winslade | NSW | Independent Locksmiths |
2018 | Riley Davidson | VIC | ASAP Locksmiths |
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.
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.
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:
As a Member Organisation, the MLAA is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board MLAA consist of 6 Regional Directors representing the States and Territories, and New Zealand and a National President.
The National President is responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the Association.
The National 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.
Peter Lloyd
President of the MLAA
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 – |