Vale: Don Hartley

Australasian Leisure Management is saddened to report the death of industry entrepreneur Don Hartley who died yesterday, at the age of 63, as a result of cancer.

A pioneer in the contract management of aquatic, recreation and sport facilities in Australia and later the co-founder of leading industry technology company Links Modular Solutions, Don will be remembered as an industry innovator whose low-key management approach inspired many in the industry.

Privately, Don was also a longstanding rock drummer.

Don co-founded Leisure Management Services in 1995 (which continue to operate facilities today), before his experience with the technological needs of facilities, led him to co-found Links Modular Solutions in 1999.  Links then went on to sell their market-leading software company to Transaction Services Group in 2016.

Don maintained his industry activities with locker and security company Metra Australia, while also leading Leisure Management Services’ interest in a new facility with Bayside City Council.

Looking back on Don’s achievements, longstanding business partner and current Leisure Management Services Managing Director, Nick Ciccarelli, highlighted today that “Don started in a time where community leisure provision was an outdoor pool and a community centre and the concept of a ‘leisure centre’ was in its infancy.

“It was from humble beginnings as a Duty Manager at the East Keilor Leisure Centre, that Don honed his entrepreneurial skills and introduced activities like Aerobithons, wellness classes and engaging customers through targeted marketing strategies.

“The introduction of Compulsory Competitive Tendering by the Jeff Kennett-led Victorian Government of the 1990s provided the catalyst to take the next step in leisure management, and Leisure Management Services was born.

“The company grew from managing one facility, to at its prime, operating a wide range of facilities across multiple states.

“To provide effective facility management, it became obvious that the industry needed to have management tools, and from this the software package known as SportsMan was developed. This was in a time where customer information was kept on paper cards, receipts were hand written and butcher paper sized student class sheets were used, as computers were not yet commonly used in the workplace.

“The SportsMan package evolved into SportsMan Plus, and finally Links Modular Solutions.  Links went on to be the largest software provider to the leisure industry in Australia and New Zealand.  Through Don’s contacts in the learn-to-swim school industry, Links was introduced to the North American market and was utilised by its largest swim school operators.

“In addition, during this remarkably busy period, additional companies were founded that impacted the leisure industry in the areas of training, debiting and electronic lockers.

“For those who have had the privilege to meet and work with Don, they will always remember his humour, endless stories, enthusiasm for business and life, and his ability to ‘think outside the square.’

“As his long-term business partner and friend of 35 years, he has left a huge hole in the lives of myself and the wider leisure community, and will be greatly missed.”