Three familiar faces in the road transport industry have been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
They are Julie Russell, Mick Pattel and Sal Petroccitto, all from Queensland.
Russell has been at the helm of the third-generation transport company, Russell Transport, since 2007, and also held numerous high-profile association and committee roles, both in Queensland and on a national level.
She was the Queensland Trucking Association president from 2017-2021 and has been a director of the Australian Trucking Association since 2019.
Livestock legend Pattel, of KM and JC Pattel Transport, also picked up an OAM for his services to the road transport industry and the community of Richmond.
It’s the second OAM for the Pattels, with Mick’s father Kevin having picked up the same honour in 2019 when local MP Bob Katter was moved to say, “The main road coming into Richmond in Western Queensland is Pattel Road and quite rightly so”.
Petroccitto has been National Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO since 2014. Prior to that he worked as a general manager at the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland.
He’s also held various industry board and member roles.