Just like the Duke of Edinburgh, the trucking industry was recognised in the Australia Day Honours List. The headline news is the appointment of Kathy Williams as a Member of the Order of Australia, as announced on Australia.
Kathy Williams AM was the Chair of the Australian Trucking Association from 2000 to 2002, and has been a member of the ATA’s Board of Directors since 1999. She has only recently stood down from the position of Treasurer of the ATA. Over the years, Kathy has also served as Treasurer of NatRoad and as a board member for the South Australian Road Transport Association.
Her working career involved a long association with Bunkers Transport and the operation’s transformation from local family trucking operation to a major national linehaul contractor. The company now trades under the Red Star Transport banner.
“As Chair of the ATA, Kathy led the development of the ATA’s national headquarters in Canberra, and turned the first sod on the site,” said Noelene Watson, ATA Chair, in response to the news. “This project has underpinned the long term security, viability and effectiveness of the ATA. As ATA Treasurer, she continued to drive this project by managing the payment plan for the building.
“Kathy also played a critical role in securing the maintenance of the on-road diesel grant. This was a $650 million per year victory for Australian trucking operators. Under her guidance, the ATA’ s safety accreditation program, TruckSafe, was developed into an individual entity. Today, TruckSafe is used by hundreds of operators across Australia to reach safety standards above and beyond the requirements of the law.”
Kathy was also recognised for her service to the community and the arts. She served as a member of the Board of the Collections Council of Australia from 2004 to 2010, working on the project to set national standards for the digital recording of collections.
Further involvement includes being a board member for Concern Australia, a Christian welfare and ministry organisation, in which Kathy is involved in the Hand Brake Turn program, helping disadvantaged children to obtain an Automotive Certificate I qualification.
Harry Gooden, a former President of the Victorian Road Transport Association (VTA) from 1992 to 1996, and was the VTA representative to the Australian Trucking Association for several years, received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the road transport industry, and to the community.
“Extremely active in the industry, Mr Gooden also served as Chairman of the VTA’s waste management division, the Victorian Waste Management Association, for 14 years,” said Peter Anderson, VTA CEO. “Mr Gooden was a Board Member of VicRoads for eight years, an inaugural councillor on the Road Transport Forum and a committee member on the Australian Road Transport Industry Organisation.
“Following his retirement in 2001, Mr Gooden joined the Illawarra Road Safety Group and has been involved in the Rotary Youth Drive Awareness program. It’s fantastic to see someone from the VTA family recognised with such a tremendous honour.”