Industry stalwarts lauded

The Australian Trucking Association has celebrated some of the industry's leading lights with the presentation of the National Trucking Industry Awards at its 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

Held in Hobart on Saturday, March 21, the evening represented the culmination of the body's Trucking Australia 2015 conference.

ATA Chair Noelene Watson said the award winners were, in their own ways, helping to build the reputation of trucking in Australia.

"We have come together to celebrate the contributions and the achievements of our industry," she said.

"The men and women who will be recognised tonight as finalists and winners of this year's National Trucking Industry Awards come from across Australia and demonstrate the amazing talent that makes this wonderful industry of ours what it is today."

DON WATSON MEMORIAL AWARD
The Don Watson Memorial Award, awarded for conspicuous service to the Australian trucking industry, went to Paul 'Harro' Harrison of NSW's Paul Harrison Transport.

"Bloody hell!" said an emotional Harro.

"Buggered if I know – no-one told me anything! It's such an honour to be thought of in this way. I'm so keen of what the RTF [Road Transport Forum] and ATA have achieved over all these years. We'd have been up shit street well and truly if they hadn't got going; we'd have been in real trouble. We're still in trouble, but not as big a trouble!"

JOHN KELLY TRUCKSAFE MEMORIAL AWARD
The John Kelly TruckSafe Memorial Award, sponsored by AEI Transport Insurance, went to Jim Pearson Transport of Port Macquarie, NSW. A founding member of the TruckSafe program, the company runs over 160 prime movers and employs over 350 staff, and prides itself on its safety and the facilities it provides for its workers.

Owner Jim Pearson said the company's membership of TruckSafe had galvanised its safety efforts over the years.

"It's a great honour to receive this award, as it recognises the culture and the many years of development that makes JPT the company it is today," he said.

TRAINING EXCELLENCE
The Training Excellence Award, sponsored by Driver Education Centre of Australia (DECA), was a group award this year, and was handed to the many members of the Queensland Trucking Association who participate in the Queensland Government's GenR8 School to Work Transitions program.

The program has seen numerous QTA members allow school students to gain real-life experience of the trucking industry and gain a Certificate II in Logistics, with the placements also leading to a number of apprenticeships or job offers.

"It gives me great pleasure to accept this award on behalf of the QTA members," said Darren Nolan, of participating operator Nolan's Interstate Transport.

"This program helps raise the profile of this vital industry and the way the industry is viewed in the community."

INDUSTRY WOMAN OF THE YEAR
The Industry Woman of the Year Award, sponsored by Cummins South Pacific, went to Julie Russell of Qld's RB Russell Transport. As Manager, Support Services, of RB Russell Transport, Julie also contributes to a range of industry and government groups, including the NHVR, Qld Transport and Main Roads, QTA, ATA, and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.

"It is fitting that the ATA have had this conference in March, because earlier in the month it was International Women's Day," she said.

"I do acknowledge that we are in a male-dominated industry but we are also in a family-oriented industry, and for that I take heart in knowing that generations before me have paved many paths in enabling me to get where I've got today, and that people like myself, [fellow award nominees] Jacquelene and Heather, we've also laid foundations for the next generation of women in business to take it forward."

PROFESSIONAL DRIVER OF THE YEAR
The Professional Driver of the Year Award, sponsored by BP Australia, National Transport Insurance and Volvo Group Australia, was handed to Aaron Busk of Qld's Tytec Logistics. The leading hand and mentor in his work group, Aaron has also never had an accident in his 30-year driving career.

Also the 2014 NatRoad Professional Driver of the Year, Aaron paid tribute to the many people who had helped him over the years.

"I'd like to thank Tytec for nominating me in the first place; my wife, for her long life in transport; and to far too many people to list for influencing my career and going out of their way to show me the right way to do the job," he said.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO INDUSTRY
That left the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award, sponsored by BP Australia, National Transport Insurance and Volvo Group Australia, which went to Heather Jones of Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls.

Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls is a not-for-profit organisation that supports women in the industry; through it Heather has mentored and trained 30 new drivers. Director of her own transport company, Success Transport, Heather is also involved in Transport Women Australia, the WA Logistics Training Council and the WA RoadWise program, among others.

"Thank you so much; I promise to look after this award and help us open many many more doors for women in the industry," she said.

The night also saw the latest Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian named, with Phil Berger of Kerin Kay Transport recognised for his selfless act that saved a three-year-old boy's life. Click here to read that story.