The Tasmanian Transport Association (TTA) celebrated the industry’s high achievers during its Gala Dinner and Awards Night, held over the weekend, at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston.
The 2022 Tasmanian Transport Industry Achievement Awards were a highlight of the night. “We congratulate those businesses and individuals who were recognised this evening for their outstanding contribution and commitment to the Tasmanian transport industry,” said TTA chairman John de Bruyn.
Here are the winners:
Calvin ‘Bimbo’ Jones
The NTI Industry Achievement Award went to Calvin ‘Bimbo’ Jones. A third-generation trucking veteran, he was inducted into the Australian Road Transport Wall of Fame at Alice Springs in 2017.
In presenting Jones with the award, Tasmanian business development manager of NTI, Shane Fairhall, said, “As a teenager, Bimbo’s introduction to the industry was propped in the driver’s seat of a ten-yard tipper in the steep north-east Tasmanian logging country. At 18, he was driving interstate in a 1973 single drive International, hooked to a bogy-axle trailer with general freight Melbourne to Sydney for Lanes.”
After 12 months, he returned to Tasmania and formed a transport company with wife Susanne. Four decades on and CR & S Jones has grown into a prominent Tasmanian timber haulage company, providing deliveries for the last remaining sawmill in the Northeast district.
Bruce Webb
Webb was presented with the TWUSUPER Transport Every Day Hero award, which recognises the industry’s quiet achievers.
He is the Bell Bay operations manager with SeaRoad. Originally employed at Bell Bay 11 years ago, he oversaw the entire branch and small fleet, before being promoted to Launceston fleet operations manager in 2012. In June 2021, Bruce returned to Bell Bay to manage the day to day operations. Speaking of him, his employer said, “Bottom line for us is – if you need something done, Bruce can do it.”
James (Jamie) O’Brien
Also presented with the TWUSUPER Transport Every Day Hero award, O’Brien is the maintenance coordinator for the Northern Tasmania operations of Veolia Environmental Services. He is the central contact for all equipment related tasks. His multi-skilled abilities are pivotal to the success of Veolia’s operations. His employer said, “Over close to 12 years Jamie has grown into an extremely valuable member of our teams, he is our Superman.”
Kym Lawrence
Named the NTI 2022 Professional Driver of the Year, Lawrence’s willingness to jump behind the wheel of Recycal’s 35m PBS configuration and his consistent excellent safety and efficiency scores on the Scania’s telematics data were praised.
The grandson of a truckie, he joined the industry at age 19, driving MR trucks for furniture removals. He upgraded to his HC and was tasked with delivering precast concrete panels in the Brisbane/Gold Coast areas and interstate between Brisbane and Sydney, before moving to Tasmania. Lawrence has now been driving with Recycal for around four years.
De Bruyn’s Transport – Hobart depot
Recognised for a range of initiatives designed to increase diversity and inclusion, De Bruyn’s Transport’s Hobart depot employs a significant number of new arrivals to Australia and has over 20 per cent of the Hobart depot workforce from countries outside of Australia. The award was accepted by Hobart branch manager Roger Stone.
Tony Piper
Taking out the AEI Transport Insurance Brokers Award for Safety, Quality and Environment was Tony Piper of SRT Logistics.
Based at the Brighton head office, Piper’s original focus within the business was work health and safety, but it wasn’t long before the scope was extended to training, COR and compliance, and responsibility for the SRT Logistics Melbourne depot.
These days, he’s responsible for driver assessments for potential employees and internal audits on existing employees, overseeing the comprehensive SRT Logistics induction program for new recruits, monitoring compliance to SRT policies and procedures, and working with depot managers to ensure standards remain high for HACCP, food safety, COR and the HVNL. With a background in emergency response and current volunteer paramedic, he is a mental health first aid officer within the business.
Stephanie Nichols
The Gallagher 2022 Transport Industry Young Achiever Award was taken out by Stephanie Nichols, media and communications officer at Bonney Energy.
“Hardworking, resourceful, motivated and determined, Steph has a proven ability to provide outstanding customer service and has excellent administration and organisation skills. Steph was admitted to the Institute of Project Management as a Certified Project Officer in 2019,” said Dion Guest of award sponsor, Gallagher.
“Her professional and proactive approach to developing relevant industry knowledge has been really appreciated in her role with Bonney Energy, particularly during the challenges of Covid-19, where Steph played a key role in both internal and external communications to staff, customers and the broader community.”