AUSTRALIAN livestock transport industry lifetime achievers and rising stars were honoured at a gala dinner celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association in Canberra on Saturday night.

The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has opened nominations for its 2025 Rising Star Award, which aims to celebrate the next generation of leaders in the livestock and rural transport industry.

The association was founded in 1985, initially as the Australian Livestock Transporters Association (ALTA), with the mission to unify and advocate for livestock transporters across Australia.

In 2011 it changed its name to ALRTA as its focus activities broadened to advocate for all rural transport operations Australia.

Today the ALRTA provides a strong and unified voice representing transporting companies from single truck owner drivers to large fleet operators across every corner of Australia, drawing attention to issues and importance and championing innovation and safety within the industry.

On Saturday night the ALRTA also recognised the contribution to the industry of several industry stalwarts, while also recognising young leaders already making a difference in the industry.

Awards presented included:

Bruce McIver Award: The late Jack Mitchell, Mitchell’s Livestock Transport, accepted by his son John Mitchell.

Bruce McIver and Jack Mitchell were driving forces behind the initial development of the ALTA, and both served on its inaugural committee as President and Vice President respectively. Jack passed away in 1989 aged 57. John Mitchell acknowledged his father’s hard work and his strong friendship with Bruce McIver.  (Keep an eye on Beef Central’s Top 25 Livestock Transport feature in coming days for an upcoming profile on Mitchell’s Livestock Transport).

Australian Livestock and Rural Transport Industry Woman of the Year: Pauline Kearney, Barooga NSW. Pauline started her journey in the transport industry aged just 15 washing trucks and now with her husband Glen and three sons they operate eight trucks servicing all aspects of rural transport. Including Pauline having a long-time hands-on role driving trucks all over rural Australia.

Icon of the Road: Craig Congram, Congram Livestock Haulage, Finley, NSW.

When presenting the award Athol Carter of the ALRTA likened Craig to the “modern day Swaggy” often spending days and weeks on the road just for the love of what he does. An emotional Craig was just “blown away” that the industry viewed him insuch high regard. “I simply love carting livestock, and I love driving trucks,” he said.

LBRCA Life Membership: Joe Sepos, JS Transport Group.

Life Membership recognises operators who have performed outstanding service to ALRTA and the rural transport industry. The LRBCA of NSW presented Joe Sepos a Life Membership. Joe heads up the JS Transport Group of companies
which includes Stocktrans.(See Beef Central’s profile on Friday on StockTrans, the cattle transport division of JS Transport Group).

ALRTA Rising Stars: Kyle Nicholas, Edmonds Transport, Naracoorte, SA and Isaac Davis, Southfork Transport, Tasmania.

Several industry icons were also on hand to celebrate the 40th anniversary milestone for the ALRTA, with executive director Anthony Boyle leading a fire-side chat on stage with Ross Fraser OAM from QLD, Gordon Martin, NSW, Peter Berwick, Tasmania, Gavin O’Sullivan, Vic, Joe Sepos, NSW, and the first Executive Director of the ALRTA Robert Gunning.

The panel described the journey and challenges they overcame to build the association into the respected organisation it is now. The audience sat in silence for the duration and gave the panel a standing ovation at the completion of the event. Anthony Boyle described the task of hosting the chat as “extremely daunting, but equally rewarding” to be able to honor the people that have established the pathway for the ALRTA’s 40 year existence.