Roads Australia
An evening with ARF
170 industry leaders from 71 road transport companies and organisations attended the official summit dinner on 22 March.
The evening included the 2005 John Shaw award, a special award to Shell and a stimulating address by the Hon Paul Lucas, Minister for Transport and Main Roads (Queensland).
The John Shaw Road Transport Medal is awarded by the Australian Road Forum for meritorious contributions to the Roads of Australia. The award has a long history and is recognized as one of the most significant achievements in Australian Road Transport.This year’s winners were Mr. Dick Wharton and Dr. John Oliver. The selection committee, which comprises previous recipients of the award, decided to recognise two medallists this year – they were unable to separate Dick and John.
Shell achieves 52 years of membership
A special Medal was struck for Shell in recognition of 52 years of continuous service to the ARF and the road transport industry in Australia.Shell was one of the 14 foundation members for the Australian Road Federation in 1952.
Thank you to the sponsor of the John Shaw Dinner
Australia's prestigious Road Transport Award
The John Shaw Road Transport Award is granted by the Australian Road Federation for meritorious contributions to the Roads of Australia.
The award has a long history and is recognized as one of the most significant achievements in the Australian Roads Sector.
Recent recipients of the award have been:
- Peter Balfe, VicRoads
- Neil Doyle, Queensland Main Roads
- Rod Payze, Department of Transport SA
- John Bethune, AAPA
- Maurie Benveniste, Transport SA
- Tom Wilmot, Director, Stabilisation Services Ltd
- Geoff Youdale, Consultant, formerly with NSW RTA
- Robin Underwood
- Erik Finger, Chairman Queensland Motorways
- John Gilbert Marsh
- J McIntyre
- Arthur Sims
- Dr EJ Dickinson
- Keith Johinke
- DH Aitken
Who was John Shaw
John (JAL) Shaw was recruited to the service of the then recently established Main Roads Board of New South Wales soon after graduating in civil engineering at Sydney University in 1925.
In 1928 he was included amongst the first six divisional engineer appointments made by the Board, taking up a posting at Glen Innes. He served in Newcastle and Sydney before enlisting for service with the AIF in 1940.
During his military service, Johh Shaw won the Distinguished Service Order.
He was captured by the Japanese and spent several years in Changi Prisoner of War Camp where he won the respect and affection of his fellow prisoners through his special efforts to improve their lot.
On returning to civilian life after the cessation of hostilities, John Shaw resumed duties with the then Department of Main Roads. He rose to Commissioner, holding that office from 1962 to 1967.
He was Assistant Commissioner and Commissioner during the period of reconstruction which followed the war years, and was involved in many of the exciting works such as the Gladesville Bridge which were undertaken during that time.
After his retirement John Shaw served as a Commissioner of the City of Sydney and was National President of the Australian Road Federation. He is the only Australian ever to have been honoured by the International Road Federation as "Man of the Year".
The John Shaw Award, which was initiated in the Queensland Region of the Australian Road Federation, acknowledges his outstanding contribution to roads.
2005 John Shaw Award Winner
Mr Dick Wharton
Dick Wharton has spent his entire career in the service of Queensland’s and indeed the nation’s roads. In 1959 he was awarded a Main Roads Engineering scholarship and, after graduating as a Batchelor of Civil Engineering went to work with the Queensland State Government.
He went on to rise through the ranks of Queensland State government engineers to become the Commissioner of Main Roads in 1988 on the way working on projects as varied as the “Beef Road” and the early Riverside Expressway project, and in areas as varied as the Cloncurry region which covers 311,000 sq k of the state of Queensland and Brisbane itself.
With Commissioner Erik Finger, he was a major driving force in developing the first strategic plan for the Department.Until 1994 he worked in a number of Executive Director roles most notably in charge of Infrastructure Development. He then left the public service to establish a private practice but was recalled to head up Main Roads.
During all these busy years he represented the State at National and International levels as Chair of Austroads and ARRB and undertook post graduate studies both in Australia and overseas. He is vigorous in his promotion of roads in and for Queensland and has recently completed (along with Prof Allan Layton and Alan Morton) The Roads Solution which was commissioned in response to the massive population increase in South East Queensland and the subsequent pressure on road infrastructure in that area.Just think of the benefit which Queensland and Australia have derived from that scholarship first awarded to Dick in 1959. Dick is a leader whose vision has
affected the daily lives of all Queenslanders. He is a worthy recipient of the John Shaw Medal for 2005.
2005 John Shaw Award Winner
Dr John Oliver : ARRB Group
Dr John Oliver has been the Chief Scientist with ARRB Group since 1987. He began his career at ARRB in 1969 after coming to Australia from Great Britain.
He is being recognized today for his work with bitumen. His interest in bitumen began when he was studying for his PhD at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
John has played a leading role in the development of
During his career John has promoted the development of expertise in road authorities and the asphalt industry in various ways including:
Publishing over 150 papers in this field
Supervising Phd and Masters students at the University of Technology Malaysia and RMIT (Melbourne) and examining PhD at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and has been a visiting Professor at UTM
This record of achievement places John among that handful of contributors who have made a real difference to our industry and our nation. Tonight we recognise that contribution through the award to John of the 2005 John Shaw Medal.
170 Guests enjoyed this prestigious dinner and were able mingle with colleagues and meet new ones.
71 various road related industries were represented:
AAPA
Abigroup
AC Events
ACEA
Albury City Council
Aramira Pty Ltd
ARRB Group
Australian Automobile Association
Austroads
Basic Construction Services
Baulderstone Hornibrook
Bielby Holdings Pty Ltd
Bilfinger Berger
Bitelli
BMD Major Projects
Boral
Buloo Shire Council
CCF
Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia
City of West Torrens
Civdec Constructions
Commonwalth Bank
Connell Wagner
CSIRO
Dean Ash Constructions Pty Ltd
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Dept of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources
Engineers Australia
Frostdale Pty Ltd
GHD
Gold Coast City Council
Hyder
Ingal EPS
Ipswich City Council
John Holland
Kyogle Council
LGAQ
Logan City Council
LSE
Maddocks
Main Roads
Main Roads WA
Matthew Bros Engineering
Maunsell Australia
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
Mouchel Parkman
NRMA
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Pioneer Road Services
Queenlsand Motorways
Queensland Rail
Queensland Transport
RAA of SA Inc
Reed Construction
RTA NSW
Sarina Shire Council
Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd
Shell
Skilled
SKM
Southern Councils Group
Tenterfield Shire Council
Thiess
Transfield Services
Transport SA
Transurban
TWU of Australia
Universal Publishers
VicRoads
Weathered Howe
Westlink Motorway Ltd
If you wish to make any special requests, modify or cancel your booking please contact Roads Australia directly.