This year marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland, probably the original industry peak body of the modern era. After its formation back in 1981 the rest of the states in Australia followed the original model used in Queensland, forming organisations representing livestock transporters across the country.
Then this grouping of livestock transporters decided to create an organisation which would represent all of the of states associations federally, the organisation again developed a new model. The formation the Australian Livestock Transporters Association (as it was then) structure would later be followed by the rest of the Australian transport industry when forming the national association representing trucking interests, which is now known as the Australian Trucking Association.
The connection here being Bruce McIver, who was involved in that first meeting of the Queensland Association back in 1981, becoming this association’s first president. He was then later involved in the formation of the ALTA and, became its first president. Later his involvement in the formation of what would become the ATA, lead to the organisation following the ALTA’s model and also appointing him as its first chairman.
Leaving history aside, the job of the recent LRTAQ included one of the traditional highlight of this event, the Bull Carters Ball and the evening saw the awarding of the 2021 Young Person in Transport Award to Damien Swalling, from Swalling Livestock Transport.
This award has developed to recognise and acknowledge the contribution younger transport workers are making to the sustainability of the industry. Member businesses of the LRTAQ have been encouraged to recognise excellence in their workplace and nominate outstanding individuals aged 35 years or younger.
“Each of these individuals displays pride and professionalism in their career, demonstrates a passion for our industry and has a strong desire to advance within it,” said, Gerard Johnson on the night. “They are a credit to our industry and I’m looking forward to promoting their stories to encourage other young people to consider a career in rural transport.
“The average age of a driver these days is over 50, and in order to secure the future of our food and fibre supply chains we need to get serious about bringing younger people into the industry. Our six finalists are the proof in the pudding that this is a great industry to both earn a living and forge a rewarding career in.”
Safe Cross Loading of Cattle
In livestock transport, transferring cattle between road train crates, in the traditional sense, is considered one of the most dangerous activities for both drivers and livestock along the transport supply chain.
During the LRTAQ event, fuel supplier IOR officially opened a new cattle cross loader at its Roma fuel stop, about six kilometres West of the main town. The cattle cross loader facility removes the safety risk of traditional cattle cross loading in Roma and is open, free of charge, for use by IOR customers and other livestock transport drivers.
IOR says it is committed to the Health and Safety of team members, contractors, customers, and Australian communities, and Roma has been selected for this safety initiative as it is the home of the largest livestock selling centre in the Southern Hemisphere.
The facility has been modelled on IOR’s existing cattle cross loader facility in Port Augusta, South Australia.
