In 1978, when Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister, Sir Charles Court was the WA Premier, "You're the One That I Want" by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta topped the charts, and "Annie Hall" won Best Picture at the 50th Academy Awards, Steve Crispin embarked on his career at the State Housing Commission.
This Friday, May 2nd, 2025, Senior Accounts Controller Payables Steve will retire after an impressive 47 years of dedicated service.
Reflecting on his early years, Steve fondly recalls, "My first boss was wonderful. I look back on those days as probably some of the best days of my working career."
He reminisces about a time when everything was done manually, from using carbon paper to drafting memos for the typing pool. The introduction of computers revolutionised his field, transforming processes that were once painstakingly manual.
Throughout his career, Steve adapted to numerous technological changes, learning new software and systems. Despite these advancements, the fundamental operations of tenancy management remained consistent. He recalls the days when rent collectors knocked on doors and cashiers handled large sums of money at both head office and regional offices.
Steve's management philosophy has always been about encouraging growth and development. "People have got to grow. The worst thing you can do is leave them in the same spot for your own selfish reasons," he says. Steve also said he believes in the importance of knowing his staff individually and understanding their capabilities.
One of Steve's early career highlights was his involvement in the insurance section, leading to the State Housing Commission's first public liability policy. He also played a crucial role in the transition to computerisation, balancing manual rent books with computerised records and undertaking significant projects like the first asset verification exercise of housing rental stock.
In his current role, Steve oversees the payment of on average $16 million twice a week to suppliers and oversees the maintaining of the vendor database. He was instrumental in the transition to Smartstream in 2012, training staff across the state.
Steve said he takes pride in the work of Communities supporting those with nowhere else to turn. He admires the frontline workers who handle challenging situations daily, acknowledging their dedication and resilience.
Looking ahead, Steve plans to spend more time with his ageing parents and his ‘girls’ Lakeisha and Yasmine He cherishes his role as a guardian to the daughters of his late colleague, Michelle Ramanah, whom he supported as a carer through her battle with brain cancer.
Steve's advice to younger colleagues is to embrace continuous learning. "Keep learning - I'm still learning now and there's still things that take me by surprise even after 47 years," he says.
As he prepares for retirement, Steve looks forward to more fishing trips across Australia, including an upcoming trip to Dunsborough. He expresses gratitude for the friendships, advice, and support he has received over the years, which have shaped him into the person he is today.
"It has been a privilege and a pleasure to have worked with and interacted with everyone over the past 47 and a bit years," Steve says.
"I will miss the people, (particularly those in Financial Operations) the banter and my beautiful, dedicated, hard-working AP team."
Steve extends his thanks to his managers for their support in recent years and to all his colleagues for their friendship and constructive criticism. As he steps into retirement, Steve leaves behind a legacy of dedication, growth, and unwavering commitment to his work and colleagues.
