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ABOUT THE AAAC



The AAAC is a not-for-profit peak body representing professionals who are involved in delivering acoustic solutions to a wide range of clients and the community.

AAAC members are competent and capable in their field of expertise. They provide professional unbiased advice and deliver practical innovative and cost-effective solutions for their clients.

This website and its contents have been provided by AAAC members to benefit the community, AAAC members and the acoustic profession by providing useful tools which enhance the delivery of acoustic services.

The Executive Team


Chair
Richard Haydon
chairman@aaac.org.au


Vice Chair
Gustaf Reutersward
vicechair@aaac.org.au



Secretary
Tim Trewin
secretary@aaac.org.au



Treasurer
Tim Reynolds
treasurer@aaac.org.au


Communications
Matthew Ottley 
comms@aaac.org.au


Guidelines
Jon Styles
execmember@aaac.org.au

Events
Julie Sobolewski
julie@aaac.org.au

Our History

In the mid-late 1960s and early 1970s, Jim Madden, Peter Knowland, Louis Challis and Roger Wilkinson were in Sydney, practicing the then-new art of ‘Consulting in Acoustics’. At the same time, (Hugh) Vivian Taylor, Gerald Riley and Ron Carr were showing the Victorians (and others) how noise control and architectural acoustics could be done. Talent in the form of Jim Watson, Graham Moss, Doug Growcott, Graeme Harding, Sam Richardson, Rob Burton and others were also busily engaged.

A few years after their involvement in the formation of the Australian Acoustical Society, (AAS), Jim Madden, Peter Knowland, Roger Wilkinson, Louis Challis, Ron Carr, Gerald Riley and H. Vivian Taylor, started mutual-interest meetings about acoustical technologies and practicalities. Out of these meetings grew the idea of the formation of an independent Acoustical Consultant Association, at arms-length from the AAS, which would formulate and implement a standard of professional behaviour and performance for specialist Acoustical Consultants which could be recognised and accepted on a similar level and status as the Institution of Engineers Australia (IE Aust) and the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia (ACEA).

Preliminary meetings regarding the formation of the Professional Association were held every few months, in both Sydney and Melbourne, over a period of some 18 months. During which time a Constitution was prepared, together with a set of Rules of Eligibility and Membership, and a Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. The new Association of Australian Acoustical Consultants, AAAC, was officially formed in 1978, with the following Founding Members:-

  • Ron Carr - Ronald J Carr Acoustics (Chair);
  • Peter Knowland - Peter Knowland and Associates (Vice Chair);
  • Jim Madden - James A Madden and Associates (Secretary/Treasurer);
  • Gerald Riley, H. Vivian Taylor and Roger Wilkinson - Wilkinson Consulting.

Following suitable qualifying periods Graeme Harding, Mark Eisner, Barry Murray, David Eden, Richard Heggie and Athol Day became members.

Reflecting back to those early years, we imagine that some of our readers will boggle at the idea that, in the early 1960s, a third-octave Sound Level Meter was state-of-the-art. The meter weighed about 20 kg (44 lbs, in those days) and required 240 volt power to drive it. Some field work required 200m-500m of 240v cable – just to get some real-time noise measurements. The old-acousticians often had to rely on brute strength for their information.

Statistical analysis of long-term noise logging was conducted with a tape recording in the field for perhaps 30 minutes followed by office processing with a Level Recorder. Data was dropped into 5 dB bins for calculation of L10’s and L90’s. Leq’s were an after-thought.

After this type of measurement the various third-octave results were depicted with the aid of coloured pencils! Then coloured ballpoint pens became available, what joy: we really could upgrade the presentations of our reports! The current, impressive computerised presentations were not even envisaged until the early 1990’s.

In 2023, the AAAC comprises some 80 member firms across Australia and New Zealand. They provide a wide range of Consulting, Testing and Research facilities to Community, Industry, Commercial and Government organisations as well as to individual projects and programs

Executive Officeholders

PERIOD

CHAIR

VICE CHAIR

SECRETARY

TREASURER

EXEC. MEMBERS

1977-78

Ron Carr

Peter Knowland

James Madden

James Madden

Ron Barden

1979-80

Ron Carr

Peter Knowland

James Madden

James Madden

Ron Barden

1981-82

Barry Murray

Ron Barden

James Madden

James Madden

Doug Growcott

1983-85

Ron Barden

Barry Murray

Doug Growcott

Doug Growcott



1986-88

Barry Murray

Doug Growcott

Richard Heggie

Doug Growcott

Mark Eisner

1989-90

Richard Heggie

Doug Growcott

Barry Murray

Barry Murray

Mark Eisner

1991-92

Richard Heggie

Doug Growcott

Barry Murray

Barry Murray

Mark Eisner

1993-94

Graeme Harding

Renzo Tonin

Athol Day

Athol Day

Allan Herring

1995-96

Graeme Harding

Dick Benbow

Athol Day

Athol Day

Allan Herring

1997-98

Graeme Harding

Dick Benbow

Allan Herring

Allan Herring

Ron Rumble

1999-00

Graeme Harding

Peter Knowland

Allan Herring

Allan Herring



2001-02

Graeme Harding

Peter Knowland

Allan Herring

Allan Herring



2003-04

Graeme Harding

Peter Knowland

Allan Herring

Allan Herring



2005-06

Graeme Harding

Peter Knowland

Shane Elkin

Allan Herring



2007-08

Tim Marks

Peter Knowland

Shane Elkin

Allan Herring



2009-10

Tim Marks

Matthew Stead

Shane Elkin

Stephen Gauld



2011-12

Matthew Stead

Shane Elkin

Nick Tselios

Stephen Gauld



2012-13

Martti Warpenius

Shane Elkin

Tim Trewin

Stephen Gauld


2014-15

Matthew Stead

Gustaf Reutersward Tim Trewin Richard Haydon  
2015-16

Matthew Stead

Gustaf Reutersward Neil Gross Richard Haydon

Tim Reynolds

2016-17

Matthew Stead

Gustaf Reutersward Tim Trewin Richard Haydon

Neil Gross, Tim Reynolds

2017-18 Matthew Stead Gustaf Reutersward Tim Trewin Richard Haydon Stephen Gauld, Tim Reynolds
2018-19 Matthew Stead Gustaf Reutersward Tim Trewin Richard Haydon Stephen Gauld, Tim Reynolds
2020-21 Richard Haydon Gustaf Reutersward Tim Trewin Tim Reynolds Matthew Stead, Matthew Ottley

2021-22

Richard Haydon

Gustaf Reutersward

Tim Trewin

Tim Reynolds

A Robinson/M Ottley, Jon Styles

2023-Richard HaydonGustaf ReuterswardTim TrewinTim ReynoldsMatthew Ottley, Jon Styles

Honorary Members

The following members or individuals have been awarded Honorary Membership in recognition of service and contribution to the Association of Australasian Acoustical Consultants (AAAC) and acoustical consulting.

NAME COMPANY YEAR INDUCTED
Peter Knowland PKA Acoustics 2014
Ron Carr Ronald J Carr Acoustics 2018
Athol Day Day Design 2018
David Eden Acoustic Dynamics 2018
Doug Growcott Watson Moss Growcott 2018
Graeme Harding Graeme Harding & Associates 2018
Richard Heggie Richard Heggie & Associates (SLR Consulting) 2018
Allan Herring Herring Storer 2018
Jim Madden James A Madden & Associates 2018
Barry Murray Wilkinson Murray 2018
Renzo Tonin Renzon Tonin & Associates 2018
Roger Wilkinson Wilkinson Murray 2018
Ron Barden (posthumous)Riley, Barden, and Kirkhope Pty Ltd / Watson Moss Growcott2023
Richard Benbow Benbow Environmental 2023
Shane ElkinSLR Consulting / Richard Heggie & Assoc.2023
Tim MarksMarshall Day Acoustics2023
Ron Rumble
Ron Rumble / Ron Rumble Renzo Tonin 2023
Nick Tselios (posthumous)
Renzo Tonin & Associates
2023




Association of Australasian
Acoustical Consultants