Excellent voice for industry
Lifelong service noted
WARWICK businessman and long-time advocate for the livestock transport community Ross Fraser OAM of Frasers Livestock Transport, has been recognised for his lifelong service.
The multi-generational livestock transporter was honoured with the prestigious Industry Excellence Award at the Queensland Trucking Association awards night, in Brisbane at the weekend.
Mr Fraser was a founding member of the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association in Queensland (LRTAQ) in 1981 and has spent more than 50 years in the industry.
The peak body, which grew from an initial meeting between operators in Roma, has gone on to fight for carriers and their needs from the south-east to the far north of the state.
“Who would have ever thought we would have achieved what we have achieved in those 30-odd years,” Mr Fraser said to the awards audience.
“I remember the first council meeting we had in Brisbane, and a police inspector turned up.
“He walked into the room and here were these rough looking livestock carriers, all with ties on and jackets. I think they got a hell of a fright when they turned up to see us and saw we were serious,” he said, laughing.
“We really benefited from that, and the initial leadership of Bruce McIver.”
Mr Fraser also went on to become a founding member of the Australian Livestock Transport Association (ALRTA) and serve as the chairman of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) from 2004–06.
He considers his chairmanship of the country’s peak industry body to be a highlight in his half-century in the sector.
Today Mr Fraser still runs Frasers Livestock Transport as managing director with his two brothers.
The company, now in its 73rd year, has grown from a single Ford truck to a fleet of more than 50 prime movers, transporting more than four million head of livestock across the nation annually.
“We have weathered the storm and we are still here, and we now have the thirdgeneration family member in the business. Hopefully that will increase and continue on,” he said.
In 2009, Mr Fraser was also awarded an OAM in recognition of his leadership of industry sector organisations and contribution to the road freight industry through his business and personal involvement.
Mr Fraser thanked his family, his long-term staff and his wife for their support.
“To my family and staff, thank you, it is impossible to do what I have done without their support,” he said.
“To my family, particularly my immediate family; I guess when you put the hours into the job like we all do, you are away from home quite a lot. We have a lot of long-term staff, some third-generation staff, which make the whole thing tick.
“And my wife Donna – I probably wouldn’t be standing here without her support.”