Australia Day honours for industry stalwarts

Long-serving truck industry advocates Kathy Williams and Harry Gooden have been named on the 2015 Australia Day Honours list

Veteran industry campaigners Kathy Williams and Harry Gooden have been named on the 2015 Australia Day Honours list for their contributions to Australia's road freight industry.

Ms Williams was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia while Mr Gooden received a Medal of the Order of Australia.

Kathy (pictured at the 2014 Melbourne Truck Show) was ATA Chair from 2000 to 2002 and has served as a Director for the representative body since 1999, also filling the role of treasurer until 2014. She has also previously served as treasurer of NatRoad and a board member of the South Australian Road Transport Association.

The current ATA Chair, Noelene Watson, said Kathy's tireless efforts had led to improvements on a number of levels across the road transport industry.

"As Chair of the ATA, Kathy led the development of the ATA’s national headquarters in Canberra, and turned the first sod on the site," she said.

"This project has underpinned the long-term security, viability and effectiveness of the ATA. As ATA Treasurer, she continued to drive this project by managing the payment plan for the building.

"Kathy also played a critical role in securing the maintenance of the on-road diesel grant. This was a $650 million per year victory for Australian trucking operators.

She was also instrumental in the development of the ATA's safety accreditation program, TruckSafe.

In receiving the honour, Kathy was also recognised for her extensive community work, including her efforts as a board member for Concern Australia, and for her services to the arts – as a member for the Board of Collections Council of Australia from 2004 to 2010, she helped establish national standards for the digital recording of collections.

Through Concern Australia, a Christian mission and welfare organisation, Kathy became heavily involved in the Hand Brake Turn program, which helps disadvantaged youths focus their efforts on gaining an Automotive Certificate I qualification.

Mrs Watson congratulated Kathy on the honour.

"Kathy's work was recognised by the industry with the National Trucking Industry Outstanding Contribution Award in 2006; now her many years of service to the industry and the community have been recognised by the people of Australia.

"On behalf of the ATA and the whole trucking industry, I want to offer Kathy my warmest congratulations on this most significant honour."

Meanwhile Mr Harry Gooden, who served as President of the Victorian Road Transport Association (now the VTA) from 1992 to 1996, was also honoured, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia.

VTA CEO Peter Anderson said Mr Gooden had held a wide range of posts over the years.

"Extremely active in the industry, Mr Gooden also served as Chairman of the VTA's waste management division, the Victorian Waste Management Association, for 14 years," he said.

"Mr Gooden was a board member of VicRoads for eight years, an inaugural councillor on the Road Transport Forum and a committee member on the Australian Road Transport Industry Organisation.

"Following his retirement in 2001, Mr Gooden joined the Illawarra Road Safety Group and has been involved in the Rotary Youth Drive Awareness program.

"It's fantastic to see someone from the VTA family recognised with such a tremendous honour."

Australia Day honours for industry stalwarts

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