National Road Transport Museum update

The shock announcement in July that the National Road Transport Museum was in administration caused concern that the internationally-renowned Truckies’ Reunion might not go ahead.

Happily, this year's annual ReUnion on August 23-25 is on schedule, according to the Road Transport Historical Society’s statutory manager, Rosey Batty.

“Since my appointment as Statutory Manager of the Road Transport Historical Society Incorporated, on Monday July 22, I have received overwhelming support from the Alice Springs community and members of the RTHS Australia-wide,” Ms Batty told Trucksales.com.au.

“The Alice Springs Chamber of Commerce co-ordinated a meeting of business leaders and transport and tourism champions on July 23 and the outcome was a commitment from everyone present to do whatever they could to support the ongoing operation of the RTHS – in particular, the annual ReUnion event.

“A committee, consisting of Wayne Thompson, Jamie der Brenni, Grant Whan and Brendan Heenan, was formed, to deliver the ReUnion in accordance with stakeholder expectations,” Ms Batty said.

Sponsors committed

Sponsors have confirmed their commitment to the ReUnion, the RTHS said.

Deloittes have been working on the RTHS financial arrangements, to bring them up to date, in line with regulatory requirements.

A new general manager of the RTHS has been appointed, as of August 6. Lester Hamilton is well known in Alice Springs, as the past owner of the successful Brumby’s small business.

Trucksales understands that there is no threat to the Road Transport Hall of Fame Museum’s future. Our Central Australian correspondent visited the Museum on August 5 and reported: “It’s business as usual.

“Visitors to the Museum who haven’t read the local news don’t know the site is operating under a statutory manager.”

Trucksales also understands that major Museum sponsors, Kenworth, Shell and Cummins, remain committed to involvement with the Road Transport Hall of Fame Museum. Cummins has recently installed a new engine display on the site.

There have been persistent rumours of moves to establish road transport museums on the east coast, but an RTHS spokesperson told Trucksales that if such initiatives did go ahead they would be unlikely to affect the Alice Springs Museum.

“The essence of the Road Transport Hall of Fame Museum is pioneering transport, with great emphasis on road trains and there’s no doubt that Alice Springs is the correct location for such a collection,” the spokesperson said.