We gather in a place that holds deep meaning for many. The Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial stands as a place of reflection, remembrance and recognition – a place where we honour those who have given so much to the transport industry and to the broader Victorian community.
Today, 24 new names are added to this wall. Some represent lives lost recently, while others reflect long careers that have now come to an end. Every one of those names represents a person, a story, a family, and a life that mattered.
We particularly acknowledge the families and loved ones who have travelled from across Victoria to be here. We recognise the effort it takes to attend, and the strength it takes to stand in a moment like this. Your presence reminds us that behind every name is a much larger story – one that continues well beyond the road.
Truck driving is not just a job. It is a calling that demands dedication, commitment and sacrifice. Among the names added today are people who spent decades behind the wheel – some for 40 years or more – while others were at the beginning of their journey in the industry.
They represent the full breadth of the transport sector: livestock carriers, container operators, heavy haulage specialists, tanker drivers and logging operators. Their work may have differed, their loads and routes varied, but they shared a common commitment – to get the job done, safely and professionally.
For many, that meant long hours, time away from family, and travelling across state borders in often challenging conditions. It is a profession that asks a great deal of those who choose it. Yet these individuals gave that commitment willingly, day after day, year after year.
What we recognise today is not simply that these individuals were part of the transport industry, but how they lived that role – their dedication, persistence and professionalism.
It is important not to speak of people in terms of numbers alone. Numbers do not tell the whole story. Behind every name on this wall is a person with a life beyond the road – a personality, a history, and connections that extend far beyond their work.
And behind every name is a circle of family and friends whose lives have been changed forever.
For many in the industry, these realities are not abstract. They are deeply personal. Experiences of loss remind us that behind every incident is not just a statistic, but a life – and a network of people who carry that impact forward.
The effect of loss in this industry runs deep. It is not just an event or a moment in time. It stays with families, with communities, and with all of us connected to the transport sector.
That understanding reinforces something fundamental: what we do matters. The way we approach safety, training and support has real consequences. Every decision carries weight, because every decision ultimately affects people.
The Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial exists to ensure those people are never forgotten. It provides a place for families to reflect and remember, and for the industry to come together in quiet recognition of those who have gone before us.
It also serves as a reminder of the responsibility we carry forward. As an industry, we must continue striving to do better – to improve safety, strengthen training, and support drivers at every stage of their careers.
But today is also about recognition.
Recognition of the vital contribution truck drivers make every day. Recognition that the transport industry is built not just on infrastructure and equipment, but on people – people who show up, take pride in their work, and get the job done.
As we reflect, we remember the 24 individuals whose names are added today, and the many others already honoured at this site. We recognise their service, their dedication and their contribution.
And to the families here today, the message is clear: your loved ones are not forgotten. They remain part of the story of this industry, part of its community, and part of its future.
Their legacy continues – here at this memorial and in the work carried forward every day across the transport industry.
- These are edited remarks from VTA CEO Peter Anderson, delivered at the Victorian Truck Drivers’ Memorial in Alexandra on Saturday, June 6.