Stalwarts and newcomers recognised at sparkling awards dinner
The Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) announced a range of industry award winners at its annual gala awards dinner on November 16.
Among the recipients were retired Brown and Hurley Group managing directors Rob Brown and Kev Hurley, honoured with the Industry Recognition Award.
A new award looking to the future of the industry was the inaugural Peter Langworthy Future Leader Award, which was presented to Madeleine Wahrbichler from Cummins South Pacific.
Some of the winning initiatives recognised on the night were East Coast Bullbars’ Lilac – ERP Business Management Software (Eastern Region winner of the inaugural Productivity Innovation Award) and Bulk Transport Equipment’s Steerable Semi Agitator (Product Innovation Award).
The Community Leadership Awards went to Cummins South Pacific for its Technical Education in Communities (TEC) project and MaxiTrans Industries for supporting RU OK Day and distributing food for Soup Bus and SecondBite.
The full list of award winners includes:
HVIA Industry Recognition Award
Rob Brown and Kev Hurley from the Brown and Hurley Group
National Apprentice of the Year Award
National Winner and Eastern Region Winner: Evan Jones (pictured) – Volvo Commercial Vehicles Brisbane North (Qld)
North-Western Region Winner: Thomas Mitchell – Cummins South Pacific (WA)
Southern Region Winner: Keegan Templeton – Cummins South Pacific (Vic)
Peter Langworthy Future Leader Award
National winner and Southern Region Finalist: Madeleine Wahrbichler (pictured) – Cummins South Pacific (Vic)
Eastern Region finalist: James Allison – Cummins South Pacific (Qld)
Community Leadership Award
National Winner and Eastern Region Winner: Technical Education in Communities (TEC) Project – Cummins South Pacific
Southern Region Winner: Support for RU OK Day and Food distribution for Soup Bus and SecondBite – MaxiTrans Industries (Vic)
Productivity Innovation Award
Eastern Region Winner: Lilac – ERP Business Management Software – East Coast Bullbars
Product Innovation Award
National Winner & Southern Region Winner: Steerable Semi Agitator – Bulk Transport Equipment (Vic)
Eastern Region Winner: Heat in Transit Bitumen Tanker – Holmwood Highgate (Qld)
HVIA chief executive Todd Hacking says the awards reflected the past, present and future of the industry with recognition for industry stalwarts right through to the newest entrants.
“You can’t help but be optimistic about the future of our industry when you see and feel the passion that was in the room tonight,” Hacking says.
“We were thrilled with the quality and the quantity of the nominations from all parts of Australia.
“Congratulations to both the regional and national award winners, and thank you to those people that took the time to prepare such impressive testimonials.
“All nominees deserve acknowledgement; while not everyone can take home the prize, we saw a range of skills and commitment that should inspire their colleagues, peers and the broader industry.
Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting attended the event and reiterated the state government’s commitment “to supporting and enabling manufacturing productivity”, HVIA says.
“We are extremely proud our industry’s contribution to the economy,” Hacking says.
“The heavy vehicle industry provides invaluable jobs and skills growth that are vital to a vibrant community.
“Tonight, we saw apprentices and young leaders coming through with the promise of great career paths, as displayed by the amazing achievements from our esteemed industry veterans here tonight.”