The Newcastle and Hunter Region will celebrate the 20th running of its popular Road Transport Awareness Day on November 3.
By Greg Bush
| October 9, 2013
The Newcastle and Hunter Region Road Transport Awareness Group will celebrate 20 years of Road Transport Awareness Days on November 3.
The Newcastle event began back in 1994 and has grown to be one of the most popular convoys and truck show ‘n shine competitions on the Australian trucking calendar.
Many of the Newcastle and Hunter region’s proud road transport companies, from owner-operators up to large fleets, band together to make the day a positive promotion for the trucking industry.
As usual, the day will commence with a breakfast at Sandgate Fruit Markets in the city’s north where the trucks assemble before the convoy’s 9am departure.
Then it’s onto Foreshore Park, one of the most picturesque truck show venues in the state.
During the past two decades, the Road Transport Awareness Days have raised more than $1.3 million, which have been donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
Current chairman of the Awareness Group, Tony McGrath, has been involved in the event almost from the beginning. Although Tony says he is looking to step back from the top role in 2014, he has named a couple of able-bodied supporters ready to step up, namely Dean Rothapfel, the National Sales Manager from Tecalemit, and Mark Abell, National Products Manager for Mega Pacific.
The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) is also lending their support this year, sponsoring a yesteryear-style marquee for the Newcastle and Hunter region’s trucking industry veterans. McGrath says the marquee will provide the old-timers with the opportunity to catch up with friends and former associates, as well as providing an area of respite from the spring sun.
Paul Harrison, one of the Newcastle’s long-standing trucking operators and an inductee into the 2012 Shell Rimula Hall of Fame at Alice Springs, will lead this year’s parade with a three B-model Macks.
With plenty of entertainment for the kids, plus live music, trade stalls and some of the best looking rigs from the Hunter region and beyond, Newcastle is the place to be on November 3.