Retired interstate truckie raises $9k for Beyond Blue with Nowra Truck Show

Though plenty of rain threatened to derail plans for the Team Shoalhaven BBR Inc 2025 Truck Show at Nowra Speedway in New South Wales, visitors were treated to a spectacular event.

Held on Sunday May 25, the event included plenty to see and do, with numerous trophies presented to stand-out rigs. It set out to raise money for Beyond Blue and managed to raise a total of $9000 for the mental health charity.

Show organiser Ian ‘Pig’ Usher recently received the Peter Murphy Memorial Trophy at the Beyond Bitumen Rally. Image: Ian Usher

As show organiser and former interstate truckie Ian ‘Pig’ Usher told Big Rigs, Beyond Blue is a charity close to his heart. He tragically lost his son to suicide a few years ago at the age of just 29.

Pig has been involved in organising truck shows for the past 26 years, with the recent Nowra truck show being the first event he’s put together through his own corporation.

“I was an interstate truckie for many years. I had car transporters and tow trucks and had 19 drivers. I sold all my trucks when I lost my son and I retired. I’ve been involved in raising money for charities since 1992,” explained Pig.

The first Nowra Truck Show in 1992 raised $15,000 in a single day. “We kept that going for three years, donating the money raised to Shoalhaven Hospital. Then we formed the Shoalhaven Spring Festival Parade, then we started the first Shoalhaven District Hospital Bed Race and that ran for a few years. We also started up a car show at Nowra Speedway about 20 years ago.”

Pig has been recognised on numerous occasions for his charity work, much of which has revolved around his participation in car rallies.

Over the past three decades, he’s been involved in raising an estimated $1 million for various causes. He has also been nominated for various volunteering awards for his incredible efforts.

He was nominated as a volunteer of the year for the Shoalhaven region in 2018, received a Senior Citizen Achievement Award in 2024, and most recently was honoured with the 2024 Peter Murphy Memorial Trophy at the Beyond Bitumen Rally, which raises money for men’s mental health through Beyond Blue.

Best Paint Work went to this Kiwik Cartage Mack Trident. Image: Hotcard Photography

Pig’s most recent fundraising effort – the Team Shoalhaven BBR Inc 2025 Truck Show or Nowra Truck Show as it’s also known – further adds to his exceptional fundraising tally.

As Pig explained, the wet weather meant there had to be some changes to the original plans.

“There was a lot of rain Monday through to Friday, there was even light rain on Saturday morning, so owing to the wet condition of the Speedway grounds, we couldn’t put any trucks on any grassed areas, so we had to draw up a plan B on Saturday morning and reconfigure the set up for the trucks on a hard surface, even onto the Speedway car park, but we managed to enter all trucks in for the show,” he said.

This Kerden Haulage International D1910 won the Best Overall Award. Image: Hotcard Photography

The weekend began with a barbeque on the Saturday night provided by Shane Morton from The Bearded Fishermen’s men’s mental support group – there was also entertainment provided by local country singers Jane Dee and Sean Lucas.

Numerous truckies gathered around the fire pit to enjoy great food, a beer and catch up other truckies. “It was a great atmosphere for everyone there,” said Pig.

Then on the Sunday, it was show day, with the gates opened to the public at 9am.

There were 66 trucks on display, including nine trucks from local transport company Schumann Transport, six trucks from Kiwik Cartage, five trucks from National Transport & Distribution (NTD), five trucks from J.D Interstate Transport, four from Bratan Engineering, two from Eziway Concrete (including their Butterfly Truck supporting ant-bullying charity Dolly’s Dream), and numerous single truck entries.

Eziway Concrete’s Butterfly Truck was at the event, spreading the message for anti-bullying charity Dolly’s Dream. Image: Eziway Concrete

Trucks travelled from as far north as Wollongong and as far south as Ulladulla.

“A special mention must go to Brayden Betts from Bratan Engineering as he picked up his new Kenworth T909 from Brisbane, drove it all night and arrived in Nowra at 6am on the Sunday morning. He washed the truck and got it into the show by 9am,” revealed Pig.

The 15 trophies presented on the day were sponsored by Danny Sheen from Royan’s Transport Accident Repairs.

Truck of the show went to Dennis & Kerry Radburn at Kerden Haulage, for their International D1910. It was presented with the Shannon’s Insurance Best Overall Award. While the People’s Choice Award went to Kranworx Crane Trucks’ Iveco Stralis.

In the Best Historic (1931 up to 30 years) category, this White 9000 from Hitchcock Haulage took the prize. Image: Hotcard Photography

Among the highlights of the day were a B-double log demonstration, and a chain saw timber carving demonstration from Phill Cassells from The Pioneer Timber Cutters & Vintage Vehicle Club from Penrith, who carved several truck name signs on timber slabs, then donated them for the afternoon auction.

There was also plenty of food and kids’ entertainment including a jumping castle.