More than 227 drivers, operators, and industry representatives crammed into the Gisborne Cosmopolitan Club on July 28 for a rollover prevention seminar.
According to the Road Transport Forum, only 100 were initially expected but with free attendance and support from local transport companies the event just kept growing into a new attendance record.
Dozens of trucks parked up and down the street were a sight to behold according to RTANZ Area Executive and Poverty Bay & East Coast Secretary Charlene Kerr.
Kerr says she was thrilled with the turnout and praised the local industry for its support.
“People like Alaister Gray from Farmers Transport, Mike Treloar from Pacific Haulage and Steve Weatherell from Weatherell Transport went to great lengths to make sure their staff had the opportunity to attend as well as looking after programme presenter Jeff Fleury,” says Kerr.
“In fact, Alaister drove all the way over to Opotiki to pick Jeff up the night before the seminar,” she says
“The Eastland Wood Council must also be acknowledged for their contribution and sending a whole lot of their people along as well.”
Fleury, who has presented at each of the 42 seminars held so far around New Zealand, says he was blown away by the Gisborne event.
“For a provincial centre such as Gisborne to have such a turnout is a real feather in the cap for the programme and it sets a pretty high bar for some of the larger metropolitan areas to aspire to,” says Fleury.
“I can’t thank Charlene, Alastair, and all enough really. All around the country I have had people from the associations and transport companies drive me around between presentations and help put on the events, but this Gisborne seminar was something pretty unique,” he says.
“These seminars are all about one thing, and that is making sure our drivers have the best possible information to help them get back home safely to their families each night,” says Fleury.
“Whether I give the presentation to 20 people or more than 200 as happened in Gisborne it doesn’t matter. Each driver is important to us, and every effort is being made to give them an opportunity to learn something that may end up saving their lives,” he says.
