WA Transport History

The History of the West Australian Road Transport Industry

By Russell McKinnon

Perth 1969

1969

WRoots and H Gorman were appointed at the request of the Director General of Transport as Association representatives to a committee formed to investigate the operational and mechanical feasibility of utilising triple bottom units north of Meekatharra.

The Road and Air Transport Commission stated that transport permits would be granted for the movement of overseas containers requiring transport from Fremantle and country centres.

The March 11 Meeting of the Furniture Removers’ Division expressed concern regarding Hertz Truck Rentals advertising: “In a manner considered to be detrimental to the professional furniture removalists”. A letter was to be dispatched.

An Education Promotion Committee was established at the Executive Council meeting of April 23 for the purpose of promoting the road transport industry and careers within. The committee comprised Messrs Cox, Rowe, Samson and two delegates from the Customs Agents’ Association. The CAA agreed and offered to help pay for the costs of a book to be given to school leavers.

The Government was to appoint a committee for the purpose of examining the Road Maintenance Tax legislation. However, the Association failed to get a representative on board.

At the Annual General Meeting on August 21, outgoing President F A Manford touched on the following topics to the 30 attendees at the Association premises: • Divisional activities; • Industrial relations; • Kewdale terminal; • North-West transport; • Containerisation; • Branch activities; • Transport Advisory Council • ARTF.

On August 30, the trolley bus service made its last run — toting 400 children to a picnic at Perry Lakes. The first trolley bus service began in 1933. This marked the last competition for the motorbus after nearly 70 years of competition.

The official opening of the sealing of Eyre Highway was undertaken and attended by Vice-President F L Samson on the Association’s behalf at the border with South Australia. Bitumen had to be hauled nearly 1500km from Kwinana and water was tanked more than 700km to the waterless plain, where it was stored in temporary containers that started life as suburban swimming pools. The Eyre Highway was named after the first white explorer to traverse the desert between South and Western Australia. The South Australia side of the Eyre Highway was not completed until 1975.

The Quarterly Meeting of December 11 was advised of the recent visit by the President of the American Trucking Association and the hospitality expended by the Association, including a sightseeing trip in a Bell Bros aircraft.

Recent changes to the constitution allowed for Associate Membership, which had been taken up by several companies with close ties to the transport industry, with the hope of more to come.

Mr H A Robinson resigned from the Executive Council on December 10 due to ill health and replaced by J A Gillott.

The Hay Street and Murray Street Malls in Perth were closed during December and January for the purpose of pedestrian traffic only. These were deemed a success and the Lord Mayor of Perth sent a letter of appreciation to the Association for its assistance.

ASSOCIATIONS

LIVESTOCK AND RURAL TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION OF WA

THE VOICE OF WA RURAL TRANSPORT SINCE 1980 - PROMOTING SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY & EFFICIENCY

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REPAIRS

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