LIVESTOCK transport industry stalwarts Col and Marie Porter, Hervey Bay, have been honoured with life memberships at the Livestock Transporters Association of Queensland 30th anniversary celebration at the Sebel and Citigate Hotel, Brisbane.
Col and Marie founded Porters Livestock Transport (now Martins) in Kingaroy and was an inaugural LTAQ member and a long time delegate.
Queensland Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk (ALP, Inala) praised the efforts of the LTAQ during its 30-year history, pointing to Queensland's envied volume-loading system for livestock as one of the organisation's greatest achievements.
Ms Palaszczuk also thanked the LTAQ on behalf of the Bligh Government for the transport industry's effort during this year's flood and cyclone crises.
However, LTAQ stalwart Bruce McIver said: "What everyone can do is get involved and get behind Campbell Newman and get Queensland going again."
The Brown and Hurley Kenworth, NTI and Haulmark Trailers 30th Bull Carters Ball followed the LTAQ's annual general meeting. During the AGM Gary Willoughby, Eton, was elected as the new president, replacing Liz Schmidt, Schmidt's Livestock Transport, Townsville, who served in the top position for four years and is now the association's secretary. The other new board member was Bert Dillon, Clermont Transport, Clermont. The evening also farewelled from the board immediate past president George Johnston, Johnston Livestock Transport, Toowoomba.
The AGM also agreed to change the constitution to the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Queensland, to allow other rural transports operators full membership. LTAQ also formalised a renewed alliance with AgForce to progress industry industries.
An auction at the Bullcarters Ball raised $96,000 for the LTAQ, including a Haulmark dolly, which sold for $34,000 to Clermont Transport, a Stoodley Bullbar for $10,000, a Herd Bullbar sold for $8500 and a Byrne Trailers stainless steel cattle deck for $12,000. Mick Grant, Cloncurry, was the auctioneer.
Mr McIver, who was inaugural LTAQ president from 1981 to '87 and now is LNP president, appealed to the audience to throw their support behind Campbell Newman's bid to become Queensland Premier.
In his address, Mr McIver said rural and regional Queensland had been for too long ignored in terms of infrastructure and services. He said he was sick of Roma being described as South West Queensland because "it is still well in the South East".
"I do not need to tell anyone here there is a lot more of Queensland west of Roma that need roads and infrastructure as much as any other area.
The evening's MC was highly respected former land transport executive director of Queesland Transport Paul Blake.
The next LTAQ delegates meeting will be held during August in Townsville.
