ATA will use National Trucking Industry Awards to recognise acts of bravery during flood crises in Queensland, NSW and WA
January 13, 2011
The nation’s peak trucking lobby will use this year’s National Trucking Industry Awards to recognise acts of bravery during the flood crises in Queensland, NSW and Western Australia.
Flooding has left 75 percent of Queensland declared a disaster zone, while towns and roads in northern NSW are being cut off from rising waters. The Gascoyne region in Western Australia is also being buffeted.
Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Chairman David Simon says the group will partner Continental Tyres to present a bravery award to those drivers who have gone beyond the call of duty to help people.
“Australians are always at their best in times of crisis. There will be many stories of tragedy and heroism from the floods, and the ATA and Continental Tyres have joined together to make sure the bravery of Australia’s truck drivers is suitably recognized,” Simon says.
He says the ATA is seeking stories such as the one of the John Kelly & Son Transport driver who helped rescue a motorist during the flash floods in Toowoomba on Monday.
“The driver displayed remarkable bravery in driving his truck into the flood water to rescue a woman at the corner of James and Kitchener streets,” Simon says.
“I’m sure there are many more stories of drivers who have put their safety at risk to help people in need.”