Rick Finning

I would like to thank the families of the board members of the National Road Freighters Association. Every time board members are on phone conferences, attending a meeting on behalf of the NRFA that means time away from loved ones, thank you for your understanding.

National Road Freighters Association Board member’s l would like to thank you all for your unconditional devotion and time attending meetings, phone conferences, talking to ministers, potential members and Communicating between board members, during 2011.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous new year to you all.

 

 Rick Finning

 

Rick Finning,  National Vice President  Bendigo, Mob: 0428-510-101

Hello to the reader.

The year 2008 would turn out to be a big change in my career as an owner driver, The Rudd, Gillard government where introducing the new work diary, Truck driver’s where not happy with the changes let alone the new level of compliance, 8th of June 2008 I would be asked to make contact with a Fellow in far north Queensland, Based in a town call Richmond a owner driver who drives a Mack pulling triples with livestock out of the Gulf of Carpentaria, He says it’s gods own country!          

 Hello! Mick Pattel here can you arrange the RSL, they are the best venue, Get the word out there, work out a date and I’ll come down and speak, can you do that?, YEP JOBS RIGHT, I hung up the phone and told my wife what he said, Holy shit he’s coming to Bendigo, He’s full on, and by the 15^th of June we would have the forum, By the 2^nd of November 2008 in Toowoomba National and State Delegates were elected.

As a National Road Freighters Association (NRFA) delegate for the state of Victoria, l attended forums talked to other Association delegates, Government ministers, enforcement officers, arrange venues at state truck shows and the best thing is l am allowed to have a say as a owner driver from a owner driver point of view, I was receiving the information first hand from taking time to attend these forums.

2011 has been a big year National Heavy Vehicle Regulators has been high on the agenda, when work permits l attend as many meetings as possible. At the Victorian Road Freight Forum, Phil Lovel who is the Victorian Transport Association’s Vice President were asking for transport drivers to trial the Electronic Work Diary (EWD), They had eight of their own Multi-National and small fleet owner members trailing the (EWD), and were looking for other participants, another owner driver and myself choose to join in on the trial, this is what the (NRFA) is all about, being seen, being heard, being involved, rubbing shoulders with the big boys.

Trouble was brewing; the Gillard/Swan Government would close down the live cattle export to Indonesia from Australian shores, Hundreds of businesses from station owners to live stock trucking companies would be affected and even forced into financial l ruin, the introduction of the carbon tax was also being forced onto Australian industries, the cost of living is going to go even higher, the cost of manufacturing is going to escalate, and it will be hard for Australia to compete with other countries like CHINA, US, INDIA, as they are not even going to consider a tax on carbon, once again the Australian Government has assisted in creating an uneven playing field, the quality of life for the Australian worker is under threat, something needs to be done.

The National Road Freighters Association delegates from all states would take a vote of no confidence Convoy in the Australian Government to the steps of Canberra, Eleven convoys in total, eleven owner drivers small business’s placed their lives and businesses on hold to do something for their country.

The date was set 22^nd of August, on the bright sunny Sunday morning of August 21 all participants would meet on the outskirts of Bendigo. The convoy leader’s T950 Kenworth with its Barker drop deck trailer with signage of local businesses zip clipped to the gates in support of the convoy glimmered like a nickel in the sun, the crowed built and other trucks, Utes, mobile cranes, cars and motorbikes arrived, people from a 200km radius would join in Paramedics, Police, Mechanics, and Nurses stepped forward to offer their expertise, the salt of the earth people.

 Destination by 5.30 tonight at Wallendbeen NSW.  30 thousand signatures are collected, local newspapers from the towns were taking photos digging for a story picking the brains of the convoys eleven leaders for information so they could keep the towns people up to speed. People joined in and dropped off all day, at the Wallendbeen motel the BBQ is alive, Adelaide convoy arrives, Perth convoy not long after, the town of 200 is about to receive the cash injection it deserves because of the Convoy of No Confidence.

Monday 22^nd  bacon and eggs beaky, brief the conveyers’  let’s roll convoys’ convoy eleven sets out again only this time with Adelaide, Perth convoy added on, making the convoy 8 kilometres long, though the town called Harden people waving/cheering what a feeling, out the other side a voice on the UHF, “There’s a double bubble out the other side of town”, a voice answers, “thanks for that”, double bubble comes into sight, “copy convoy leader”, “got you go”, “If anybody gives you a hard time, drives like a idiot just let me know l’ll tag along on the tail for awhile” convoy leader reply’s “thank you, what’s your name in the blue light”’, “Dave”, “Thank you Dave, convoy leader: we have a Smokey in the convoy so let’s behave and get the job done” “That’s a 4 a voice replied”. As we meandered along the Riverina HWY onto the Hume HWY some criticism about the convoy but we didn’t care because we have got ourselves a convoy.

Exit on to the Barton HWY down to the ACT Boarder, Enforcement officer mirror sun glasses leather jacket boots gun gloves and the NSW/FEDERAL leather police cap steps out onto the HWY, Looking very much like Arnold Schwarzenegger on the movie The Terminator. Convoy comes to a holt, UHF lights up, “What the hell have we stopped for us tail enders are sitting ducks”, “Yep stay cool Police road block”, Macho police officer advises me to behave and gives me the third degree, “Follow that patrol car to the roundabout and tack on behind the 5 kilometre long convoy” No 10 from Colac Victoria to Coolac NSW. The Port Headland, Cairns, Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Rockhampton had already made their presence felt, but they were escorted off to the EPIC centre out of sight, out of mind.  

Single file the convoy moves down to the Northern road traffic lights, Police motor bikes skirting the convoy making shore the convoy was uninterrupted by protesters, the convoy has hit the state circle, It is up to the remaining convoyers VIC, WA, SA, NSW and  ACT convoys to turn on a show for Australia and the world to see, and turn on a show we did, 20 kilometres long over Lake Burley Griffin Bridge left exit to the state circle, UHF comes to life, the dog has caught up with its tail, three lanes of the state circle chock-a-block full the overpass exits full of people cheering, waving capturing the history in the making on their cameras, a ute jump into the inner lane making the right hand lanes go anti-clockwise, phone rings, it is the Port Headland convoy leader and the co-ordinator liaising with Federal/NSW police, RTA, building on the relationship which would later prove to be appreciated by the authorities, he made it work like clockwork for all of the convoys.

There are two thousand protesters and this morning convoy drivers up on the state lawn in front of Parliament House. Tony Abbott, Alan Jones and a host of other speakers voicing their concerns in this government, Gillard/ Swan have not got the guts to show, we need to hear you, blow your air horns, then one Voice come over the UHF, “let’s go hunting ranga” Despite the government placing a media blanket on the Convoy of No Confidence and lying about the numbers saying it is a flop, and saying the (NRFA) left small towns with unpaid bills which is not true, tells me somebody had concerns about their political career. I will always remain convoy leader number eleven no matter what they say, this all started because of one phone call on the 8^th of June 2008 to the fellow in far North Queensland who lives in gods own country.

Gotta keep moving!!

27^th August Brisbane would be the host of National Road Freighters Association AGM, a big thank you to Ken & Dot Wilkie for a well organised event, guest speakers on the day included Minister for Police and Corrective Services, Mr John-Paul Langbroek,  Leonard Clampet, representatives from Sharpwatch and JLT insurance made the trip to attend the AGM and answer any questions, now retired truck driver Mr Ray Gilliland’s had some stories to tell about his life on the Highway and the AGM gave him opportunity to promote his book (My way on the highway).

Dr Robert Noakes, Dr Noakes is a transport Economist, The National Road Freighters Association have appointed Dr Noakes to help  gather information from the (NRFA) members and interested non members, to prepare a submission to the Government to increase the 19 metre rule to 20 metre’s. Over the coming weeks every NRFA member will receive a questionnaire in the mail or via email. NOTE: The Questionnaire relies on high numbers/participants to provide data to help Dr Noakes prepare the submission, Please make the time to fill out the Questionnaire and return it via fax to 03 54423917 before the 28^th of February, Thank you.

The AGM gave the (NRFA) a chance to have an election: Inaugural President Mick Pattel stood down and Darryl Pedersen was elected President, Victorian Delegate Rick Finning would move up to take the role as Vice President, Willy Davis also retired, Steve Smith and Russ Martin are now a QLD delegates, assisting Ken Wilkie.

 NSW delegate Dallas Brookfield gained an ally when James Newton from Narromine became a NSW delegate; my right hand man Noel Porter was not alone for long, (NRFA) welcome’s Mr Maxwell Hutchins to assist him in the state of Victoria.

I would like to thank Noel for his devotion, advice and time assisting me while we played the roles as the NRFA Victorian Delegates, we have achieved so much like setting up the stand at the Melbourne truck show, meetings with ministers, attending NHVR meetings and travelled the highways together, there is still much more to be achieved. 

 All of the newly appointed delegates bring with them years of experience from various sectors of the road transport industry, and you will still see them today travelling the roads and highways pulling one, two, or three trailers across this great country.

 The event finished at 5.30 and the dinner began at 7.30, the people talked amongst themselves, the beer was flowing so were the tall stories as the big miles were talked about, overweight records were broken as the room filled with the black sooty carbon from all the Klms been talked about.

 Mick Pattel our first and founding president would be thanked and handed a plaque at the dinner for his endless devotion of time, no fuss to travel anywhere in this country to have a say on the behalf of the owner drivers and driver’s of the transport industry in which l believe lead to formation in the the early stages of the National Road Freighters Association being founded.

NRFA Vice President

Rick Finning.

 

########################################

#########################

Rick Finning, Victorian Delegate.

 Hello valued member.

I am a professional owner operator juggling family life and the everyday commitments in running a small family transport business.

Yes I am human, I do make mistakes and I always put my hand up when I do so.

Family first, common sense, saying no, enjoying the job, showing a profit is always worked for our family and family business.

Something this government and the multi-nationals have really lost sight of.       

I would like to take the time to let you, the member, know that being the Victorian NRFA delegate has been a huge learning curve in which I have enjoyed the highs and lows that comes with this responsibility.

 Please don’t think for one moment that when you don’t hear or read about the NRFA that we are not working for you.

After all as a newly founded association we all have to crawl before we can walk. 

Delegates in each state are working at all times behind the scenes talking to ministers & government authorities to bring common sense profit and enjoyment back in this once great industry.

I for one have this year been attending meetings so I can be seen and slowly be recognised by people who make the sometime good and mostly bad decisions.

    Meetings I attended are: 

 

1. (Regulatory impact statement.) RIS meeting Melbourne Feb-4-2009.  

1. (Regulatory impact statement.) RIS meeting Albury NSW Feb-6-2009.

1. Spoke to Peter Taylor Vic Roads about( IAP) in Victoria June 11-2009

1. Had interview with Bendigo Advertiser. Article published on page 2 of local newspaper. (A year later rules still irk.) July 29^th 2009.

1. Freight 2009 Regional Safety Forums July 29^th 2009.

1. Spoke with Task Force officer & ABC about the transport Industry Aug-3-2009.

1. Contacted by local journalist to do an article in the Bendigo Enterprise Business Review edition 11. August 6^th 2009. Released date Sep 2^nd 2009.

1. The Central Victorian Transport Industry Alliance 12^th Aug 2009 9-30 am meeting.

1. The Central Victorian Transport Industry Alliance 12^th Aug 2009 7-30 pm

1. (Road safe) Central Victoria Community Road Safety Council. 19^th Aug 2009.

1. Also talking to transport businesses to come on board with the NRFA.                                        

12. Out of the blue phone call from (ATN) Brad Gardner (NTC conducting survey                                                  

     on Truck drivers at grass roots level for depression. 27^th Aug 2009.

 So as you have just read I have been out there talking to the decision makers where the other associations in the past have failed to at a great cost to the way we live. 

 So as a NRFA delegate I would like you to consider becoming or continue to be a member so we together can bring back family time, common sense, profit and enjoyment in the trucking industry.    

 There are some other issues which have come to my attention apparently there are some other drivers who are not happy with the NRFA and the way we are doing things.

There will always be these people out there ready to criticise those people who are trying to improve the industry we are in.

And it would probably be fair to say that these people are most likely the reason why the enforcement and road transport industry is the way that it is. We are all paying for it dearly now thanks to these few gentlemen.

  If you know of these gentlemen ask them to ring an NRFA delegate, they are in nearly every state across the country.

We are always open to suggestions thank you.

 Regards

Rick Finning.

Vic Delegate

 Ph 0428-510-101