2016 is a landmark year for NECA as the associations heads into its second century.

The first NECA Chapter – called the Electrical Traders & Contractors Association, opened its doors to Victorian members in 1916.  And the first NECA President was appointed in 1917.

As a result, NECA will be celebrating its centenary over the next twelve months. The first major event in the celebration will be the Victoria Excellence awards on Friday 5 August, 2016 and the celebrations will conclude with a Gala Dinner at the next Australia-wide Industry Conference – towards the end of the second quarter of 2017 at a date to be confirmed.

“Things have certainly changed since those ground-breaking days when Australian cities were making decisions around voltage and even underground cabling a hundred years ago,” says NECA chief executive Suresh Manickam.

“Interestingly by 1918 the first Commissioners were being appointed to regulate and investigate the supply of electricity in Victoria and New South Wales.

“And the wonderfully named Electrolysis Board was established in 1921 – only five years after NECA was created as the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, in response to reports around damages to gas, water mains and underground telephony lines.  Headings like Leakages of Electricity were already starting to appear in the press, so it was certainly an interesting journey.”

A timeline of NECAs history

1916    –           Electrical Traders & Contractors Association

1921    –           Electrical Federation (Contractors & Retailers)

1928    –           Electrical Federation (Contractors Section)

1940    –           Electrical & Radio Federation (Contractors Section)

1957    –           Electrical Contractors Federation

1992    –           National Electrical & Communications Association  

The highlights of the associations history are captured in a new book written by Brian Seymour, available at the end of July.

Brian is a NECA Life Member and Electrical Connection contributor.

NECA hopes you will join them in celebrating the association’s centenary over the next 12 months.