QTA "Centenary" Events

Association History

"Centenary" Celebration Dinner - Huge Success

Over 350 members and guests gathered at the Hilton Hotel last Saturday evening to celebrate 100 years of service by the Association to its members.  After many months of planning the highlights of the evening were the launch of the QTA Centenary Commemorative DVD, the awarding of Life Membership to Phil Russell (now the Association’s second living Life Member), the Fireside Chat involving several prominent industry “characters” and the humour of our MC, Steve Haddan (prominent Channel Nine personality).

Gary Fenlon Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations (John Mickel) congratulated the industry on its achievements over a century of representation, noting the importance on the industry to the State’s economy and the contribution the vast majority of our industry make to maintaining high safety and compliance standards.

Extracts from the Speech of Association President, Tim Knowles and Phil Russell’s Life Membership Certificate are set out below.

The success of the night was linked in no small way to the generous contribution made by our Centenary Sponsors identified in the Regional Celebration Program attached to this News Brief.  Guests were provided with a complimentary copy of the Centenary DVD.

2007 Extracts from President’s Speech

Tonight we celebrate one hundred years of freight history in Queensland through the formation of a Road Transport Association, founded in the horse and cart days.

Indeed while many issues remain similar over the past 100 years, -that is - the need to interact with government and the labour market, it would be fair to say that some of the changes of significant impact have been at the level in which we work.

While originally issues were very local in the Brisbane region - our sphere of representation has grown to include the entire state and as a major player at the National level of Industry Representation.

Our association today continues to be the leading representative body for Road Transport operators in Queensland across many industry sectors. The challenge here has been to identify the areas in which common operational issues need addressing and developing strategies to achieve some resolution.

These activities along with the recognition by all levels of government that our Industry is a major support mechanism of all supply chain models means much time and effort is put into liaising with various government departments, and the elected representatives for whom they work.

Too often our industry fails to appreciate the level of consultation that goes into a new reform, instead getting impatient when delay is experienced in delivering a result on the road.

All businesses today are expected to operate in a regulatory and safe environment that reflects the broader community expectations in relation to being socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizens.

The association accepts these principles and actively engages all bodies that regulate our industry and informs our membership of new policy and regulations placing obligation on the management of our businesses. The association encourages and supports all forms of safety initiatives.

Industry associations can however only do so much in improving the relationships between industry and government and the community. We must ensure that operators who are prepared to demonstrate high levels of compliance with regulations are not subject to excessive financial costs in doing so, and that promised improved access for Vehicles is delivered.

Likewise we owe it to ourselves to ensure our customers understand their role in the chain of responsibility and the effect that turning a blind eye to less than compliant behaviour will have on their business, when regulators come looking for evidence in a compliance and enforcement investigation.

We who are participants today in representing the needs of our industry must continue to address the challenges of today and look for the opportunities that the future will bring.

I extend our sincere appreciation to those companies who have supported our Centenary Celebration by way of sponsorship across all of our Centenary activities in 2007.

Life Membership – Phil Russell (Extract from Certificate)

Life Membership is hereby conferred on Philip Russell in recognition of his contribution to the Association demonstrated by

·     Dedicated work as a member of the Board of Directors for 30 years commencing at the Annual General Meeting held on 30^th March 1977.

·     Phil was President of the Association from 1990 to 1993.

·     Phil accepted appointment as Treasurer of the Association in April 1978.

·     In 1990 Phil was appointed the inaugural Treasurer of the RTF, now Australian Trucking Association.

·     Phil has participated on the Transport Minister’s Road Freight Industry Council since its creation in 1983.

·     Phil was recognised with the QTA Ltd Industry Excellence Award in 2001 and the ATA National Award for Outstanding Contribution in 2002.

·     RB Russell Transport commenced business in 1925. Phil accepted the leadership of his Company on the retirement of his father Roy in 1971.

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