At the 2026 WSAA Gala Dinner, held during the SuperExpo week, the window shading industry paused to honour the people who helped build it — two inducted into the Hall of Fame, and one couple recognised for a lifetime of dedication.
The WSAA Hall of Fame is the industry's highest honour. Established in 1999, it recognises individuals who have made a contribution that extends beyond their own business. These are people who have moved the sector forward through advocacy, innovation, education, or association leadership. It is not given every year, and it is not given lightly.
That honour was awarded to two individuals whose careers have left a mark on this industry that will be felt long after them: Tony Cassar and Robert Mayer.
Tony Cassar entered the window furnishings industry in 1989 and spent the next three decades building one of its most recognisable retail businesses. In 1993 he co-purchased Victory Curtains and Blinds and spent the next 25 years building it into a nationally recognised enterprise, expanding from a single operation into eight showrooms across Australia, employing a substantial workforce, and growing the business into a scale that few independent retailers in the sector have matched. His introduction of mobile showroom franchises was a genuine first for the sector.
But what sets Tony apart, is what he gave back. He introduced dual roller blinds and SRS systems to the Australian market, developed patented vertical blind solutions, and built a custom CRM system later adopted by competitors. He worked with the ACCC on child safety initiatives, contributed to industry training programs, and has directed more than $300,000 toward charitable causes over the course of his career.
Tony retired from active business in 2018 but has remained engaged with the industry through his ongoing Ask the Expert column in this very magazine, sharing knowledge built across more than four decades in the trade. He has always believed that a stronger industry benefits everyone.
Robert Mayer has spent more than 36 years defining the industries technical and regulatory foundations. His 25-year tenure with Somfy Australia placed him at the forefront of automation and innovation across the Oceania region and his work within the Association also earned him his place in the Hall of Fame.
Appointed Chair of the WincovER Committee in 2008, Robert provided nearly two decades of leadership in advancing the scientific and technical framework behind window covering energy ratings — from the early BERS origins through to WincovER’s landmark launch at SuperExpo2026. It is a body of work that will underpin the industry’s energy efficiency credentials for a generation.
As a 14-year WSAA/BMAA Director, Robert also represented the association on the Australian Fenestration Rating Council, serving as Vice-Chair from 2018, and built productive relationships with ASBEC, the CSIRO and NatHERS, ensuring that the value of external shading was embedded in Australia’s national conversation on building performance and energy efficiency.
WSAA CEO Wesley Fawaz said both inductees exemplify what the Hall of Fame is designed to recognise. “Tony and Robert didn’t just build successful careers; they invested in the industry around them. They mentored, they advocated, they pushed the sector forward in ways that outlasted their own commercial interests. That’s what this award is for.”
The WSAA Lifetime Recognition Award recognises those whose sustained dedication, investment, and leadership within their own business has created an enduring legacy for the trade. On 11 June, Lyn and Peter Crosby became only the second recipients in its history.
The dollar curtains + blinds story began in Boronia, Victoria, in 1967, a single retail outlet selling curtain fabric for a dollar by the metre. When Lyn and Peter took ownership from Peter’s parents in 1997, they inherited a foundation and built an institution. Today, dollar curtains + blinds are one of the most recognisable names in Australian window coverings; a network of stores spanning four states, a substantial manufacturing and retail workforce, and an Australian Made manufacturing facility in Kilsyth, Victoria, that stands as one of the most sophisticated operations of its kind in the country.
Between them, Lyn and Peter experienced 92 years in the industry. Their investment in people has been as significant as their investment in plant and equipment. From paid English language courses and VECCI training for manufacturing staff, to diversity programs, charitable partnerships with Rotary, the Salvation Army, and environmental organisations. They retired in February 2026, but their mark on Australian window furnishings manufacturing is enduring.
