The following are the trucking industry legends whose names will now appear on the Wall of Fame at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame at Alice Springs. We congratulate them all. Names are listed in alphabetical order.

The Industry Icons and History Maker Awards are detailed after the Inductions list.

. . . . . . . .

..BRENDAN ARMANASCO (dec) - award accepted by wife, Pagen & daughter, Charlotte..

Brendan was born in Stanthorpe, Qld in 1986. As a 5 year old he could often be found at the Brisbane Markets alongside his father, lending a hand to tighten buckles or give directions to the new bloke.

Transport introduced Brendan to lifelong friends. He loved the camaraderie that came with the industry and went out of his way to ensure they never faded. He is remembered as a bloke that would spend 7 hours on the phone just to make sure you made it in safety.

After trying to secure a job with Otways Transport for years, this would be Brendan’s final job. Sadly, he passed away in 2022 at the age of 36.

..RICHARD BEAUMONT..

When Ritchie was a boy, he dreamed of having trucks with his name on the side. He could not have imagined back then that he would one day have more than 100 trucks, 300 trailers that carried his name, and 200 staff.

Ritchie started trucking in 1969 and within 2 years was out on his own – marking the beginning of Beaumont Transport. He secured contracts for coal, gravel, grain and ammonium nitrate.

His willingness to take a risk set the company apart. He was amongst the first to run bulk B-doubles and use BAB Quads in Southeast Queensland. After 45 years in business, he sold up in 2014, and today, has reacquired a couple of his oldest trucks for restoration.

..ALAN BECHLY..

Alan was just 21 when he purchased his business. He had a taste of the challenges that came with the industry on his first day, when his braked failed and he ran up the back of a parked police car in Fortitude Valley. This may be where his nickname, ‘Dozer’ came from.

Thankfully, this first day was not a reflection of the next four decades in business, where Bechly’s Kilroy Transport moved from strength to strength due to Dozer’s hard work. As of 2024, Bechly’s Transport has 35 trucks and 90 trailers. Dozer still actively manages the refrigerated and timber sections of the company.

..ANDREW BENEDEK..

Born in South Yarra in 1968, Andrew spent his childhood racing paddock cars with h9is two older brothers, John and Gunther, around the family property. In 1986, Andrew, along with his brothers, started AGJ Cartage Contractors.

Over the past 27 years, Andrew has dedicated himself to growing the business. He has always believed in giving people a go and regularly takes on new drivers with no experience, to give them a start and train them in the industry.

Andrew currently has a fleet of 20 truck and trailer combinations, but his pride and joy is his T404 Kenworth with aC15 CAT motor, He reckons they just don’t make them like they used to.

..BEVERLY BETTS (dec) - award accepted by husband, Peter..

Bev was born in 1950, straight into the transport industry. Bev and husband, Peter, started their own logging business, PW Betts Walcha, which they operated until 1996, when changes in forestry legislation and they needed to change direction.

As they already had a Kenworth B-double cutting timber to North Queensland, they repurposed this to become a general freight truck. Bev was instrumental in running operations, getting new customers and running all the administration.

In 2001 they renamed the business Betts Transport Pty.Ltd., which Bev continued to manage until her passing in April 2021. Bev believed that the drivers were to thank for the company success. She always looked out for all staff and their families, never forgetting her birthday.

..IVAN BULL..

‘Bully’ began his career and transported age 14, driving Blitz and Chevy trucks for his father’s roadwork business. From 1976, Bully purchased his own trucks -from an International AB180 carting general freight, to an LTL Ford 400 Cummins running from Melbourne to Perth.

He and his wife, Laurene and their family company for 10 years, which they grew to a fleet of 11 trucks, two fridge vans and 14 semi tippers. It wasn’t all work and no play for Bully. He remembers a time when he had his best mate Barry, after pulling an all-nighter in the public the night prior, turned up in suits to load sheep.

..IAN BURKINSHAW..

Ian started working in the family business at age 15, helping to load trailers and riding along with his father, Ray. By the time he got his truck licenses 18 he had started carting sheep and cattle in a rigid tray truck to the saleyards in Wagga Wagga and Wodonga.

In 1979, Ian was caught up in the Razorback blockade. After four nights sitting at Kalkallo, Ian left his truck on the side of the highway so that he could make it home in time for his wedding to wife, Debbie. Ian continues to manage Burkinshaw’s Transport, making the 45 minute drive into Wagga Wagga each day to work at the depot.

..RODNEY BURKINSHAW - award accepted by his children..

Like his brother Ian, Rodney started working with his father at age 14. Just five years later he would purchase his first truck, an International C-. Rod Cartage grain from the Riverina delivered fertiliser back. Later in the 70s, Rod operated a small fleet of trucks, working hard to refurbish his trucks to ensure they were put back to work as quickly as possible.

After several years of this, Rod decided to go back to one truck. From a cab over Kenworth and taught liner to a Freightliner Argosy and Western Star, Rod had driven them all. This final truck was a Peterbilt 379. Rod gave 54 years of his life driving trucks, until he sadly passed away in 2019.

..IAN CARLIN..

Ian Carlin, known to all as Manny, started his career driving a Ford Thames Trader and dog trailer, carting grain to Mount Gambier and returning with fruit, vegetables, ice cream and pipe for the local businesses of Casterton. Since then Manny has found himself involved in almost every facet in the industry, from carting livestock and owning his own business, to driving the local school bus and building his own stock grades, Ute trays and trailers. His driving has taken him into every state in Australia except for the Northern Territory.

..MARK CASTAGNA..

Mark, who many may know as Bulljump, the servant of the Northern Territory transport industry for over five decades. Working for the Department of Transport and Works in 1972, Mark was responsible for improving the NT’s pastoral roads.

Mark spent many years driving and later, managing Tanami Transport. He remembers a major lift of cattle out of Nenbury Station, south of Alice Springs, where the Station destocked 3000 head of cattle over 60 decks. This made for an incredibly long day of loading in the elements and flies. Mark started with Exact Contracting in 2017 and, seven years on, he is still with the business driving a Kenworth with a side tipper.

..LEO CASTLES..

Leo was born in Charleville in 1953 and started driving with his uncle, carting wool. From 1975 he could be found on the roads between Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin, carting freight, or on a little less travel tracks, carting sheep, cattle, goats or heavy machinery for Johnson Brothers Transport.

Aside from wife, Claire and his four boys, Leo’s greatest love was the V8 Mack Superliner – he owned and operated three within his own business LG & CL Castles. Known to have been a great operator and a great mate, Leo retired driving in 2014.

..WAYNE CROSS..

Crossy began driving when he was 12 years old, carting the cattle and sheep in ar. Commer Knocker. At 17, he worked for the Mount Taylor Forest Commission and so began the 60 years Crossy spent as a log truck driver. After 37 years of driving trucks for other people, he decided to become an owner driver, purchasing his first truck, a Kenworth T908.

Over the next 13 years WC&EA Cross Carter blogs script throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Reluctantly retired earlier this year when the government stopped native logging. It is said that only the best truckies could keep up with him on the bush roads.

..BRAD EMBREY..

Brad Embrey was taught to driving in Boston truck at 14 years old, by his father. At 26 Brad decided to buy his own truck, the six wheeler Dodge. He soon added a Louisville with a 903, which he drove interstate as a subby for Perth Freight Lines, Gardeners and Jayde transport.

In 1990, Brad opened his own yard in Maddington, running Perth to Brisbane return, until he opened a depot in Brisbane. His fleet consisted of eight trucks and he had 12 subbies until 2004. Brad fondly remembers the camaraderie of the industry and hopes to preserve this by organising the Gear Jammers Reunions in Perth, which brings together drivers that do, or did east-west runs.

..KEVIN ENGLEFIELD..

Kevin Englefield made his start in the transport industry working for his parents, loading and operating for their wine grape transportation business. When his father sadly passed away, Kevin took over as managing director in 2003, under the new and current name, K Englefield Wine Grape Services.

Kevin, with the help of his wife, has managed to expand and strengthen the business without losing sight of the grassroots family business it started as. Kevin is now trying to retire but still has to stick around to show his three boys – who all work in the business – how it’s done.

..MARIO GIACCI (with wife, Nellie)..

Mario was born in 1938 in Italy, migrating to Australia at the age of 15. His story is not just a tunnel of business success, but of the migrant making a profound impact in the new land through his resilience and innovation. In the 1950s, Mario and his brother Tony established A&M Giacci. What began with one truck would mark the beginning of the legacy spanning over five decades.

The company evolved to Giacci Bros, then to Giacci Group, before being sold in 2012. Mario’s ability to complete jobs on time, with minimal fuss, and in a reputation for reliability that is children working to emulate in their business, MGM Limestone and, later, MGM Bulk.

Based in Bunbury, Western Australia the business has operations and depots scattered throughout Western Australia. The company has just taken delivery of its 200th Kenworth last month. Employing around 550 people the company has a lot of FIFO workers on its books. 33% from Queensland and a number from New Zealand as well.

Today at 85, Mario still travels up to Port Hedland and Geraldton every fortnight to check in on his operations. He also gets up the boys if the trucks are dirty. He reckons this makes him the country’s oldest FIFO worker.

..ROBERT HALL - award accepted by Ken & Hayden Hall..

Bob Hall’s driving journey began at eight years old in the Blue Mountains, driving an ex-army Blitz. Bob spent many years driving for Kwikasair, doing Sydney to Brisbane changeovers six nights a week. Kwikasair wanted to have the drivers wear a company issued tie when on the road. Bob, when told he would be stood down if he didn’t comply, fronted to work with his tie through his belt loops. After this, management never hassled him about the tie again.

At 80 years old, Bob is still driving coaches and busses, extending his driving career to 73 years. His motto was always been, “I might only be a truck driver, but I try to be a good one.”

..ALAN HANCOCK (dec) - Alan’s award accepted by Julie Hibberd..

Alan Hancock was born in 1931 in Wareemba, Sydney. Alan began driving trucks as soon as he was legally able, starting as an owner- driver. His fleet included various trucks, but one thing they all had in common was their immaculate presentation. Allen’s commitment to maintaining his vehicles in pristine condition was unmatched – as if they had just left the showroom floor.

Alan frequently travelled the route from Sydney to Melbourne with his German Shepherd dog, Prince, who accompanied him on top of the load. Tragically, Allen’s life was cut short in an accident in 1970, aged 38. Alan’s passion continues to inspire his friends and family.

..BRETT HARDER..

Brett found himself hoisted into the driver’s seat from five years old, helping to complete jobs around the family farm in Cummins, South Australia. After buying his first truck at age 25 – a 1993 Western Star Heritage – Brett began Harder Transport. He went on to purchase 13 brand-new Western Star trucks, but his fixation with Kenworth’s and their reputation took hold and saw the whole fleet move to Kenworth over time.

At the peak of Harder Transport, Brett had 15 prime movers carting grain, super,, machinery and general freight. Brett’s famous saying is painted on his trucks: ‘No rain, no grain’, a reflection of the down-to-earth nature of this hard-working man and his connection to the agriculture industry.

..DAVID HARFORD - award accepted by Lucy Franklin..

David, born in Stratford, England, arrived in Australia in 1972. David’s transport career started with Ansett Australia as a Sales Manager. When Ansett Australia was acquired by competitors, David saw the potential to start a logistics business that specialised in servicing northern Australia.

With the sketch plan of what he wanted to achieve on the back of a boarding pass, David’s vision would become what we today know as Northline. While David is the owner of Northline, he has done at all. He says his specialty was loading; knowing exactly how to utilise the space and maximise the load.

..WILLIAM HARNEY..

Bill Harney first started driving in 1959, carting hay in a Chevrolet truck on the family farm. By 1969, Bill was driving full-time for local carrier to Adelaide. On one ‘routine’trip, he popped the front wheel brake cylinder and lost all braking mechanisms. This made him the first person to use the safety ramp in the Adelaide Hills.

Bill and wife, Kate purchased Stawell Haulage, now Stawell Freighters in 1990. Three prime movers, five trailers and a forklift formed the fleet for the new business. They picked up a great team of drivers, some of whom are still with them today. With 57 years in transport under his belt, Bill has no plans to retire just yet.

..EDMUND HART (dec) - accepted by son, David..

Eddie started life in transport at the age of 13, offsiding with his father, John, carting pipes for the Wellington Dam to Narrogin Pipeline. While working on the Logue Brook Dam Project in 1961, Eddie was commandeered under the Emergency Services Act to deliver fuel to machines on the front line of the Dwellingup fires.

Eddie spent almost 40 years with Peters Creameries, first picking up milk cans in a Thames Trader and later stepping up to the bulk milk transfers in tankers. Eddie passed away at age 87 in July of this year. He would not have changed his life in transport for anything else.

..DAVID HART..

Dave Hart has been involved in the transport industry all his life, spending his school holidays and weekends in the truck with his father, Eddie. Dave’s first truck driving job was with Catalano & Son in Brunswick WA, carting sand, gravel and fertiliser leg bins around the local area.

Dave progressed to carting stock throughout all areas of WA from Albany and Esperance regions as well as the Kimberley, for Klopper Transport. This was one of the great highlights of Dave’s career, operating triple 6-deck cattle road trains at 20 years of age. Dave has since worked throughout Australia, carting East-West, throughout the Northern Territory and in South Australia.

..SCOTT HARVEY..

Scott Harvey, born in Maitland in 1966, began his trucking career in his late teens, driving a milk tanker. Scott loved the job, so when someone suggested he should run his own business, he and wife, Regina decided to give it a go. Since October 1966, SRH Haulage has grown into a large company, purchasing over 300 prime movers and multiple tankers.

Despite the growth, Scott remains deeply involved in every decision. He attributes much of the company’s success to the support and involvement of his family, particularly his wife Regina, daughters Blair and Ashlee, and son Mitchell.

..ALBERT HOGBEN..

Bert was born and raised in West Gippsland and, as a young man, ran interstate from Melbourne to Brisbane and Sydney, pulling refrigerated trailers with the first of the Seattle Kenworths imported into Australia. He later drove some of the first Australian built Kenworths for Ansett Freight Express, before moving across to Greyhound as the Melbourne Driving Supervisor.

Bert set a standard of excellence which stemmed from his genuine care for the business and its passengers. The “Bert Alert” is said to have been a warning between the drivers that Bert may be waiting at any stop the road to ensure that you were delivering a service in the ways specified in the driver’s handbook, seeing passengers off at the door, and not smoking in front of the public.

..BRUCE HORSEFIELD..

At the age of 12, Bruce started carting bags of wheat and hay between farms in his dad’s D15 International. He went on to own six of his own trucks, which he ran to far North Queensland, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and occasionally to Darwin.

His loads consisted of everything from tires, rubber and wool, to hay, grain and bananas. Bruce cherishes the times he was able to bring his wife, Barbara and daughters, Renée and Susie on the road with him, as well as the old friendships, good people in the road houses, and the general care for one another. Bruce is said to have been a highly decorated truck driver…..though mostly with overloading fines.

..BARRY HOUGHTON..

Barry’s passion for trucks began at 10 years old, where he was always offering the hand with a loading and unloading of cattle at the Flemington Stockyards. He says, “many didn’t have cattle dogs back then, so I was the replacement dog!”

Barry’s first job was delivering soft drinks around Melbourne in an International and TK Bedford. He then started driving his father’s trucks, transporting hay and general to Melbourne. With over 50 years experience in the transport industry, Barry’s passion for trucks still lives on today at 68 years of age with his own business, Australian Freight & Haulage.

..RONALD JACKSON..

Ron ‘Jacko’ Jackson was born in 1939 in Arncliffe, New South Wales. His first experience of trucking was in his childhood, spending time travelling with his parents carting hay after World War II. In 1953, Jacko got pulled over by the police for not having indicators – aged only 14, his hands were too small to be indicators!

For 10 years, from 1965 to 1975, Jacko was driving around Sydney, delivering television tubes in a Daihatsu Delta. He then started at Edgell, driving freezer trucks. He went on to drive school busses, coaches and, in 1999 finished up driving a 15 seater bus as a volunteer for Centrecare. Jacko has very much enjoyed his time helping the community.

..DION LANGGUTH..

From an early age, Dion has loved the smell, sound and sight of trucks. He moved to Brisbane from New Zealand in 1984 and, following his father’s advice, worked as a furniture removalist. Having been a furniture removalist, Dion says every job he’s done ever since has been a breeze. He has since worked as a line-haul driver, sharing a truck with his father, a swing lifter, and a heavy haulage driver.

In 2002 Dion was involved in a near fatal accident when a trailer broke away. Left with a broken neck, he spent nine months in a brace but remained determined to get right back to where he loved – behind the wheel of a truck. Dion is now back to B-doubles, where he has being carting raw coffee beans twice-daily between Brisbane and Gympie for over 10 years.

..BARRY & DARRELL LIGHTFOOT..

Darrell Lightfoot, born in 1950, spent after-school hours and weekends at Bradley’s Transport Yard in Glen Innis, servicing and washing trucks. The early 1980s found him loading and driving furniture removals for Gollans of Gunnedah, but Darrell always wanted to be his own boss so he bought an International R190 and started hauling cotton modules.

In the off-season, he carted hay, car bodies and everything in between. He then bought another trailer and recommenced furniture removals. Testament to his skill in furniture carting, Darrell earned the nickname, ‘Tetris’. Now retired, the R190 in the shed is Darrell’s restoration product.

Barry Lightfoot, nicknamed ‘Fred’ by his brother, was born in 1959 in Glen Innes, NSW. A 3rd generation in the industry, Fred would often be found being the gate opener when his parents were delivering to farms. He recalls racing off the running boards to grab the gate, and having to run like the wind to close it again and catch up with the truck – an extra-challenging feat when working in the steep Glen Innes terrain.

Fred went on to run his own trucks, and worked in with local removalists to help each other have full loads. When the seasons were favourable, Fred ran his trucks for both cotton picking and grain harvest, but it was always furniture removals he returned to.

..ANDY McEWAN..

Born in 1960, Andy worked after school and weekends for the local fruit and veggie shop, picking up produce and delivering firewood. Andy travelled to some of the most remote parts of the NT and WA with Co-Ord Transport. That’s how, when ringing his wife, Megan from a broken down phone box in Halls Creek, he would find out that she was having triplets!

In 2003, Andy went back to driving fuel tankers with NT Fuels. He stayed on that run until the end of 2020, working under North Fuels, DirectHaul and Toll Transport. Today he working at Exact Contracting. He loves a variety work there which includes plenty of bush work.

..REG McLENNAN..

Reg started his 70 year career in the transport industry in 1954, where he carted logs on a single drive AEC, with no doors, from Delmorton to Grafton. In the early 1960’s he took a job with Ron Thompson Haulage, where he drove a Foden loaded with drums of fuel, concrete pipes and timber.

The purchase of two Fiat trucks marked the start of Reg’s own business. He later purchased two school bus runs and drove local children to school for over 20 years before retiring at age 70. At the age of 88, Reg still maintains his heavy vehicle licence, helping his friends at harvest time and always prepared to heed the call of duty, should his grandson, Angus, need a hand continuing the family tradition.

..MICK MOLLOY..

After leaving school at 14, Mick tried his hand at being a ringer on a station out of Alice Springs. They put Mick behind the wheel of a Commer Knocker and, as he recalls, “It gave me the transport bug right away!”

Mick has had the opportunity to travel all of the NT and WA, carting heavy machinery, civil construction camps, dry goods and produce. His involvement with the National Road Transport Museum started long before his induction today. He was the first to shift the Commonwealth Railways train that sits out on the Stewart Highway bearing the Transport Hall of Fame logo. While with Chambers Engineering, Mick formed part of the crew who completed the earthworks for the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame. His dedication to the transport industry has come naturally.

..NOEL MOLLOY (dec) - award accepted by Scott Molloy..

Noel Molloy grew up in the small village of Wombat. In 1956, at the age of 16, he and his brother Jack purchased their first truck and went into partnership under J&N Molloy Transport. They carted various fruits to and from the Sydney markets, then wool and fertiliser for local farmers. Facing health issues, Noel sold his share in the business in 1980. Part of the sale involved a five year restraint of trade, where he could not be involved in the trucking industry. Once the five years was up, he was back on the road, having secured a contract for the Australia Post, Young to Canberra mail run. Noel passed away in June 2010.

..LESLIE PANGQUEE..

Les is Territorian born and bred. In the early ‘80s, he secured a position with Kwikasair, based in Alice Springs, where he drove between Mount Eliza and Darwin for 10 years. In 1995 he got his start with Gulf Transport at the Granites Gold Mine. His role with Gulf took Les not just all over Australia, but also internationally, travelling to Nevada.

He recalls the Wyndham to Cadjebut Mine run as being particularly full-on – each day beginning with an afternoon departure from Wyndham, loading lead or zinc at Cadjebut, returning to Wyndham around mid-morning, then do it all again the following afternoon. The round trip was almost 1200 km. After Gulf, Les slotted into the fuel industry where he has worked for the past 20 years.

..HOWARD PARKER..

Howard turned to transport to support his young family. Working with Goldhill Plant Hire, he was doing the occasional interstate runs to Port Hedland delivering conveyor belts. This is where Howard’s love for long-haul trucking began, perhaps because it was an excuse to escape the cold in Victoria. Howard would eventually have five of his own trucks, carting Isuzu trucks to all states around Australia.

After 10 years Howard sold the trucks and purchased a brand-new Western Star. Howard’s much loved Western Star served him well and was sold with 3 million km on the clock. Although ill-health stopped him from driving, Howard was always known to lend an ear to friends who were driving those endless miles along the Nullarbor.

..TONY PEDEMONT..

Tony had little choice but to go into transport, growing up on the same block as the family’s removal business. Roy Pedemont Transport was servicing Canberra, the Riverina and Central Western New South Wales from Sydney. In 1978, Tony purchased the business and rebranded it to Pedemont Furniture Transport.

Tony was a jack of all trades, from loading, servicing and repairing vehicles, managing, driving and liaising with clients. The fleet would increase with extra depots established in Queanbeyan and Brisbane. Tony, now 70 years old, is still a company director with his wife, Dell, and comes to work every day to oversee operations. Although he spends less time in truck stops these days, Tony’s love for a T-bone steak and mushroom sauce endures.

..TREVOR PERRY..

Trevor started off-siding for a local maintenance contract in Woomera in 1986. The business had two concrete trucks that Trevor learned how to operate. Soon enough he was driving the smaller trucks himself. Trevor, looking for a change, secured a role with CalArk in the United States. He covered 42 of the states on his travels, facing all weather conditions and hauling combinations up to 70 foot through the busy Los Angeles, New York and Chicago traffic.

Upon returning to Australia, Trevor was introduced to Rhodes Contracting - now Exact Contracting – where he would spend the next 17 years. As a heavy haulage driver Trevor’s role involves the mobilisation and demobilisation of machinery to mine sites and road construction jobs across SA, the NT and as far away as WA, Queensland and New South Wales.

..ROSS RANGER (dec) – award accepted by Carol Ranger..

In 1979, Ross Ranger was en route to Sydney with his uncle when they were stopped by the Razorback blockade. Seeing the camaraderie of the industry, Ross knew 100% that he wanted to be a truck driver. Working from various companies over the years, Ross saw most of the eastern states doing trips between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.

When the opportunity came to drive road trains through central Australia, Ross jumped at it. He tragically passed away in 2006 in a truck accident, aged 43. The only thing Ross loved more than being on the highway was his wife and five daughters. They remember the times that the dad would ring at ungodly hours of the morning, just to see if they needed to go to the bathroom, or wake them up by blasting the air horns outside their bedroom.

..MARK RUCIOCH..

Mark was born in Peterborough in 1964 and completed his mechanical apprenticeship at Peterborough Ford. Arriving in Alice Springs in 1985, Mark secured a job at Ascot Haulage as a mechanic, while working towards his truck license. He mostly drove triple road trains to Darwin. He then took a job as the General Manager at NTFS. He remained there until 2012 when he moved to Port Pirie. Here, he was driving trucks to and from Prominence Hill Mine for Giacci Brothers Transport.

Mark was to be headhunted by ABC Transport to manage the Alice Springs yard. He was a good manager, known for leading by example. You would often find him on a forklift helping to unload trucks in his signature Akubra hat.

..SHANE RUHL (dec) – award accepted by Paul & Annette Ruhl..

Shane was a passionate truck driver for over 16 years and travelled Australia wide. His career started at Wheadon’s Transport as a truck tire fitter, where he taught himself how to drive a B-double. In February, 2024, Shane tragically lost his life in a Microlight accident in Colac West. Although Shane didn’t make it to 25 years of service in the truck industry, his dream in life was to eventually be an owner driver, a goal that would have been achieved on account of his diligence and dedication. Shane is remembered for his hard work ethic, always taking pride in how his truck looked. The love and respect from Shane’s trucking community was clear on the day of his farewell, where an epic, 40 truck convoy led the procession.

..PETER SANDS (dec) – award accepted by sons, Shane and Alexander..

Peter Sands spent most of his childhood with his father at their milk depot, Sands Milk Transport, often going on overnight truck runs in the Eastern Wheat belt to show their drivers where to go. At age 14 he left school to work with his father full-time, loading trucks. The business carted many things over the years – rabbit and kangaroo carcasses from the Nullarbor, eggs, Proteas, grapes, milk and newspaper into the wheat belt. Peter passed away in 2017, aged 65. He is survived by his wife Lynne, sons Shane and Alexander and two grandchildren, who remember Peter as a typical Aussie truckie who loved his workers and was always willing to pitch in.

..STEPHEN SMITH (dec) – award accepted by Karl Smith..

Stephen Smith was born in Alice Springs in 1956. Growing up at Mt Allen Station, Steve became interested in driving graders. After some negotiation he purchased a Caterpillar 12E grader for $5000 (and several good horses).

Steve, while grading the Tanami Road between Rabbit Flat and the Western Australian border, had the clutch give out in his old grader. He used three lengths of steel pipe to construct a makeshift tripod with a pulley block at the top, allowing him to lift the engine out to replace the clutch.

Steve would go on to sell his fleet of trucks and plant, working as a tour guide for over 20 years on the same roads he had helped construct years earlier. Stephen passed away in 2012, aged 56. His warm smile and sense of humour is greatly missed.

..JAMES SOUVLIS (dec) – award accepted by his children..

James started his driving career with J Cowans, carting sugar for the cane farms. The trucks were simply not big enough, so he soon moved to the full-length semi-trailers, carting potatoes to the Brisbane Markets with Redland Bay Transport. His professionalism and skill enabled James to work for virtually any company he chose, with stints of employment with Lindsay Bros, Geoff Richards Transport and JAT Transport.

Wherever he went, people would say hello to him by name and he’d have a polite chat. When asked who that was that he was talking to, he’d say, “I don’t know.” Jimmy was in the trucking industry for 41 years before he sadly passed away in March 2018. His funeral was very well attended in celebration of a much loved truckie, husband and father.

..MICHAEL SPEARS..

Spearsy was born in Alice Springs in 1974. The passion that Mick has for the transport industry was passed down from his pop, the legendary Wally Spears, who ran his own trucking company, Mt Nancy Transport.

Mick first started driving trucks with Bernie Earthmoving, having the opportunity to drive a classic Kenworth T900, hauling side tippers, flat tops and drop decks trailers. While working here, Nick took a trip to the NT/SA border to deliver the large stone signs that now welcome people to the Northern Territory.

In 2010 Mick landed a position with Exact Concreting, pulling a 100-tonne float. Still with the company today, he drives a custom-built 508 that Greg Rhodes assigned him to drive. He feels very privileged to have this truck.

..DENNIS STEENHOLDT..

Dennis started his career in the transport industry 1964 at age 15. Once he got his truck license, Dennis started working for Follet & Pope in Longwarry, VIC, picking up farm milk. Over the years he saw a variety of work, from carting paper, pine board and wood chips, to driving a milk tanker. He progressed into truck sales for South-eastern Trucks Warragul, before becoming Business Manager.

He held this position for 12 years before purchasing a concrete agi truck and working as an owner-driver. Although he says he semi-retired in 2017, Dennis’s definition of retirement might be a bit looser than others, as he still works part-time ,driving for Blackwood’s Readymix and carting grain during the harvest season.

..LANCE THOMSEN..

From before he could walk, if Lance Thomsen heard a truck start, he HAD to be in it. His passion showed no signs of settling in his teenage years, leaving school at 14 to work in the industry. Lance has carted everything from fridge vans and general freight, to oversized work and tippers. In 2001 he spent multiple days at Uluru, unloading and reloading a Chinook helicopter that was sent from Townsville with emergency supplies to send to the flooded communities.

There is not a desert Lance hasn’t worked in; he has spent more his life on remote dirt roads than he has on bitumen. Now in his 19th year with G&S Transport, they may well be in the running for the title of most time spent driving the Tanami Road.

..RAY WELLMAN..

Ray was born in 1935 in Cobden. He started driving in a K5 International truck on freight runs to Melbourne before the business branched out into interstate. He progressed to an S-Model Bedford but remembers it was tough going with those underpowered trucks. It would take 16 hours to get to Sydney, with numerous breakdowns along the way.

In 1987, Ray purchased his own truck, a twin turbo V8 Mercedes-Benz and, later, a Mercedes Freightliner. Ray retired from interstate driving in 2004 and sold his truck after 51 years on the road. He now enjoys a quiet life reminiscing on the countless fond memories of his time in transport.

..ROBERT WHITEHEAD (dec)..

Robert Frederick Whitehead was always mechanically minded, adding extra axles with springs from car seats to his Billy cart as a child. When Bob left home at 15 to maintain plant at a meat preserving company, a fellow employee suggested his talents could be better used in the RAAF as a mechanic.

Back in Sydney after the war, Bob saw shortcomings in truck suspensions, and he created PermAtrak trailing axle suspension. Bob went on to convert two Commer trucks into 8 x 4 tippers. The result was so successful that he was asked to build a complete truck, and so the first RFW truck, using a KM Bedford cab, was delivered in 1969. Over the next 25 years RFW built 380 trucks. Bob passed away in 2010 but his engineering feats are still celebrated today.

..LAWRENCE WILLIAMS..

As a student, Laurie Williams was told by a teacher that he’d never amount to anything looking out the window. As it turns out his life has been very successful, looking through the window of his truck! Laurie started his career by driving tow trucks in Redcliffe. Buying his first truck, a D series Ford, he went on to start Laurie Williams Car Carrying Company.

When he sold his business in 2000, Laurie retired for a whopping fortnight, before landing a role providing dealer delivery of Isuzu trucks under his new company, North QLD Truck & Machinery Movements. He is also the proud owner of the Bullet Burnout Truck, which has held the Guinness World Record for the fastest diesel-powered truck since 2005.

..SUE WRIGHT..

Sue Wright’s face was one bewildered surprise when her name was called to receive her Plaque commemorating her induction into the Wall of Fame. Sue has dedicated over 50 years to the transport industry and is known as one of the best parts interpreters in Australia. She may not have driven a truck but she is responsible for having thousands of them on the road.

Her attitude towards triple-checking that the right parts were being sent, might have frustrated her colleagues but made her an asset to every business she was part of.

She was working for herself when she had her daughter, Yvette. She gave birth on a Saturday and was out delivering to her customers the next Monday with baby in tow, such was her dedication to her job.

In 2010 she was recruited to run the spare parts division of Mick Murray Welding in Darwin, and later to open and run the Alice Springs business.

“I couldn’t believe that she actually wanted to work for us,” said Mick. “We have had a wonderful relationship, never had a cross word with me or with a customer – and that’s worth its weight in gold alone.

“Ask her about a part for a 1991 Ford Louisville and she will reel off the number without glancing at the computer. I’m surprised she didn’t call her kids AV6014 or B6013 instead of names. I’m constantly in disbelief that not only did I secure an employee of Sue’s calibre, but that I’ve managed to keep her on board for the past 10 years. She has an absolutely brilliant knowledge of anything relating to the transport industry. She is an Encyclopaedia

“I bought her a St Patrick medallion, a Guardian Angel medallion and another Saint medallion to look after her, because she is always talking about the saints that find you things. Our Sue though, is the Patron Saint of Spare Parts.

“She is talking about retirement to Adelaide. I’m going to tie her to her desk!”

Mick flew Sue’s daughter, son, sister and a couple of friends to Alice Springs to witness her induction.

. . . . . . .

..INDUSTRY ICON: GORDON MARTIN..

Above: Gordon Martin accepts his award from another Icon in Jim Hurley.

Gordon Martin commenced business in Singleton in 1958 with one truck, carting pigs and calves to Homebush abattoirs in Sydney, and a lifelong bond with the industry was formed.

Hard work and a keen eye for business enabled Gordon to capitalise on the many opportunities that came his way. He was soon carting fertiliser in bulk from Newcastle into the Scone area, later taking cattle from the saleyards at Maitland and Singleton to the abattoirs at Riverstone in Sydney.

Gordon and his wife, Denise (dec.) focused on bulk haulage, transporting coal from Hunter Valley to Newcastle, as well to the local railheads to be loaded onto trains for the journey east. The bulk fleet now outnumbered livestock division.

Gordon would go on to sell much of the bulk haulage business and the depot at Ravensworth, moving his livestock division to Scone. The business retained six bulk haulage trucks which are contracted for the cartage of dangerous goods.

There were times in those early days when Gordon must have questioned where he was heading but, in typical Martin fashion, no job was too big or too small and each received the same amount of attention. Today the livestock division runs 68 trucks comprising B-doubles and multiple combinations of trailers, predominantly across the eastern states.

Gordon has been a great contributor to state associations in New South Wales and Queensland. A director at the ATA from 2014 to 2016, he was awarded Life Membership of the ALRTA in 2018.

He led the charge in the early ‘90s for on-road access for B-doubles and the dual tax rebate. Gordon has empowered his staff to lobby hard for the introduction of ‘ramp standards’ to support driver safety and to push for better outcomes in environmental space regarding effluent spillage and bio security risks.

Turning 86, with 66 years in business this year, Gordon is known as a kind man who is committed to looking after the people who make his business so successful.

..INDUSTRY ICON: SAM SALI (dec) - award accepted by daughter, Linda Sali..

Sam Sali was born in 1937 in Voskop, Albania. He was just three months old when his family settled in Shepparton, Victoria.

Sam completed a Motor Mechanic apprenticeship beginning in 1953 with Favalloro Motors. Although an apprentice, he was treated with respect, setting the standard for how Sam would go on to treat his own employees.

In 1956 S.Sali & Sons (Named after father, Sabri) was born when Sam and brother, Alan bought their first truck to carry fruit to the Melbourne market. In 1958 the brothers took delivery of their Diamond T (still in the family) and semi-trailer, the business growing to 3 trucks by 1961.

Sam spent many years behind the wheel as well as performing or servicing and maintenance. In the ‘70s he began learning the managerial side of the business, working alongside his brother.

Sam was a foundation member of several leading Road transport organisations including the National Transport Federation (1986). When the NTF merged with the Long-Distance Road Transport Association to form NatRoad in 1994, Sam served as a director until 2001. In this role he worked to restructure the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award and introduce enterprise bargaining to the industry.

Sam was committed to improving the image and furthering the professionalism of the road transport industry, emphasising ethical operational methods. To this end, S. Sali & Sons never accepted clients who demanded unreasonable delivery times, to this day remaining dedicated to the safety and welfare of the company’s drivers.

In 2003 Sam was awarded the ATA’s National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Transport Industry. Conscious of community, he served the Shepparton Albanian Muslim Society for over 40 years and the Rotary Club of Shepparton for over 50, never missing a meeting.

Sam passed away surrounded by family on 7 January 2024, eight days shy of his 87th birthday. Continuously giving so much and asking for little in return, he is quoted as saying, “You cannot look with envy on what someone else has. You must understand the effort and sacrifice that went into it. Nothing is achieved if you don’t put your effort in.”

..HISTORY MAKER AWARD: KURT JOHANNSEN (dec) - award accepted by son, Dominic..

Kurt Johannsen was born in 1915 at Deep Well, in the Northern Territory. Kurt exemplified progressive innovation and was truly a pioneer to whom the transport industry owes its thanks.

His ingenuity was clear as early as 11 years old when he would hook his model trucks together with two, three and sometimes four trailers with wire towbars around bent nails.

By 15, Kurt was driving his own truck, carting general freight. His work in cattle transport commenced after the war and Kurt realised that there was plenty of room for improvement in the carting of livestock.

An inventor first and foremost, he already had plans in mind for building a road train with self-tracking trailers. At an Army disposal sale, he purchased 23 Bren-gun carrier recovery trailers. After designing a rough sketch on paper, he got to work. The self-tracking trailers were 13 m long and weighed 8 tons. They were specifically designed to follow the prime mover tracks perfectly, and were ideal for transporting cattle on the narrow, winding and sandy bush tracks of the NT.

With the trailers near completion, Kurt needed a prime mover which was powerful enough to haul three loaded trailers. He’d purchased 10 heavy duty International rear axles and thought he’d make it 8-wheel drive, like the old A.E.C road train - but much longer and more powerful. General Motors refused to supply Kurt with a reasonably sized motor so he travelled to Darwin where he found a Diamond-T tank transporter. Through friends and investors, he managed to raise enough to purchase the truck. It was then that ‘Bertha’, the first road train was born.

After retiring from mining and transporting operations in 1980, Kurt purchased a small hobby farm near Yankalilla, South Australia, passing away in 2002. Beyond his own impressive service, Kurt believed strongly in honouring those who worked beside him in improving the industry and those who would continue this work. He was a founding member of the Road Transport Historical Society, donating $500 to kick-start the National Road Transport Museum we enjoy today.