Several transport industry luminaries were honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day Honours List.
Among them were Max Luff, founder of Border Express, who was recognised for service to the road transport industry and to the Albury-Wodonga community, and Gordon Simpson, owner of Alexandra-based Simpsons Fuel, who was honoured for his services to the local community.
Other notable transport industry recipients included Paul Scurrah, former CEO of Virgin Airlines and Pacific National – and now Managing Director and CEO of Fiji Airways, who was recognised for significant service to the transport, logistics and freight industry; and Dr Gillian Miles, who was honoured for significant service to the transport and infrastructure sectors, including stints at Roads Australia, Transport for Victoria, TAFE Victoria, NHVR, NTC and the National Women in Transport Network.
Additionally, former Tasmanian Transport Council president and Australian Road Transport Federation member Kevin Watkins received a medal of the OAM in the general division for his service to the community of Launceston.
Border Express, which is now owned by Freight Management Holdings, a subsidiary of Singapore Post, paid tribute to Luff on its LinkedIn page.
“Max’s recognition reflects a lifetime of dedication to Australian freight, built from the ground up through hard work, innovation and a deep respect for the people who keep goods and communities moving. His career began behind the wheel, and over decades he went on to shape one of the country’s most respected logistics businesses, Border Express.
“Founded by Max Luff in 1981, Border Express grew into a nationally recognised logistics network – a legacy that continues today under the ownership of FMH Group. The values Max embedded from the beginning – reliability, strong relationships and a people-first approach, remain central to the business and its ongoing success.
“The OAM recognises not only Max’s entrepreneurial achievement, but his broader contribution to the transport industry and regional Australia. It honours a legacy built on leadership, resilience and a genuine commitment to service – qualities that continue to influence Border Express and the industry more widely.
“We congratulate Max Luff on this well-deserved national honour and thank him for his lasting contribution to Australian logistics.”