Community Leadership Award Finalists Revealed

The finalists in the Community Leadership category of HVIA’s National Awards have been revealed. The award honours members’ programs and projects that highlight the heavy vehicle industry as an essential, fundamental and generous part of every Australian community.

The 2024 finalists are:

• Eurocold
• Krueger
• Volvo Group Australia (UD Trucks Australia) (x2)

In 2024 HVIA and award sponsor Caltex will donate $2,000 to the winning community initiative.

Category finalists and national winners will be honoured at the HVIA National Awards Gala Dinner in Brisbane on Thursday 5 December 2024.

Tickets are available for purchase here.

The HVIA National Awards are made possible through the support of HVIA Principal Partners NTI, Category Sponsors Caltex, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and Wurth, and Event Partners Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and TAFE Queensland.

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NEXT WEEK: HVIA will commence announcing Apprentice Award category finalists

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Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital Partnership

Volvo Group Australia (UD Trucks Australia)

Since 2021, Volvo Group Australia (VGA) has partnered with the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital (BBWH) and its incredible work treating sick and injured native Australian wildlife, free of charge.

The hospital, located within the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in the NSW Northern Rivers region, was established in response to the devastating 2019–20 “Black Summer” Australian bushfire season.

Through its UD Trucks brand, VGA provides and maintains a Quon GW 6×4 Prime Mover – “Matilda” as she is now affectionately known – with the ability to mobilise the clinic in response to fire or flood-related natural disasters.

UD Trucks and VGA have remained a close ongoing partner of the BBWH including resourcing marketing and public relations activities to elevate the BBWH and its invaluable work.

VGA and UD Trucks said their corporate purpose is to “Shape the world we want to live in” and to “Challenge for Better Life”, respectively – and the BBWH initiative aligns seamlessly with these.

Matilda’s ability to be mobilised anywhere in Australia, truly reinforces her value and impact. Plus, having Matilda powered by one of the cleanest, most fuel-efficient and safest trucks on the road today is entirely fitting given Matilda’s mission.

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St John Eye Van Partnership

Volvo Group Australia (UD Trucks Australia)

Volvo Group Australia has partnered with St John Ambulance Queensland since 2013 to support their world-first Eye Van, taking professional ophthalmology services to rural and remote Indigenous communities across Queensland.

The initiative was established in response to the alarming fact that 1 in 3 Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders diagnosed with diabetes will also have vision loss – a condition that is preventable or treatable in 94% of cases when diagnosed in the early stages.

Complete with a trailer featuring a million-dollar state-of-the-art ophthalmology equipment fit-out, the Eye Van has treated 800 Queensland patients in the past year alone.

Currently through the UD Trucks brand, VGA provides and maintains a Quon GK 4×2 prime mover that powers the clinic across the state to deliver sight-saving services to those that need it most.

Since 2013, the St John Eye Van has:
• Treated 7000+ patients in their own communities
• Involved 37 outreach ophthalmologists and optometrists
• Held over 340 Clinics
• Travelled 650,000 km around Queensland and country Victoria

The partnership has grown further through VGA’s resourcing of marketing and public relations activities, including digital and social media initiatives.

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FairShare

Eurocold

A while back Eurocold had the opportunity to donate and deliver 640kg of pork to charity, and they were referred to FareShare. As they proudly declare, the partnership quickly became a perfect fit.

FareShare is a charity dedicated to delivering nutritious meals to vulnerable communities across Australia.

Eurocold has found all sorts of useful ways to contribute. When one of FareShare’s trucks broke down, Eurocold organised free repairs, preventing food spoilage. They fixed a broken windscreen on another FareShare truck and provided short-term hire trucks to support their kitchen relocation. When FareShare’s freezer transport truck was out of service, Eurocold provided a replacement for free, ensuring the timely delivery of over 28,800 meals to those in need.

The Eurocold team has even volunteered in FareShare’s kitchens.

Eurocold has helped amplify FareShare’s impact, showcasing a commitment to reducing food waste, keeping cold food moving within the community and feeding mouths in need. Thanks largely to Eurocold, the FairShare story was featured in Road Boss Magazine recently and it is quite a story!

Eurocold say the focus of partnership with FareShare is on making a meaningful difference.

“This approach not only aids FareShare’s operational success but also strengthens our ties with major partners who share our values.”

That is collaborations delivering practical, impactful contributions that foster positive, long-term change in the community.

Eurocold also offer crucial support during regional natural disasters, coordinating with FareShare to provide relief vehicles for meal distribution to vulnerable populations.

Jackie Maxwell, Corporate Partnership Manager at FareShare said it is great knowing the Eurocold team has your back.

“If an issue arises, Eurocold has solutions at hand, without delay, and with compassion.”

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“Need for Feed”

by Krueger

Krueger demonstrates its commitment to community responsibility through a partnership with Need for Feed, supporting volunteer drivers who deliver essential hay and fodder to flood-affected regions, playing a vital role in community recovery.

Through its National Service and Spare Parts departments, Krueger Transport sponsors drivers by providing servicing, parts, and refurbishments to their Krueger trailers, ensuring their older vehicles are in top condition.

Typically those drivers have full-time or part-time jobs in other industries but generously donate their weekends and public holidays to make these vital runs, carrying up to 40 tonnes of hay and fodder into affected areas.

Krueger says the decision to support Need for Feed was made swiftly and unanimously, with brief, yet impactful internal consultation achieving unanimous buy-in across the company, from the CEO to the workshop managers and staff.

The comprehensive maintenance and repair work, such as a recent instance where over $50,000 in work hours and repairs were invested into Mark Tuckerman’s trailer.

A grateful farmer shared his appreciation on Facebook: “Thank you Krueger Transport Equipment Pty Ltd; Mark Tuckerman and all the Need for Feed Australia crew do amazing work, which is made a bit easier when understanding, kind people and businesses throw their support behind them.”