Heart of Australia soon to gain two new DAFs

Fourth and fifth members of the fleet to start work in 2021

 

Paccar is bolstering its support for the Heart of Australia health initiative in Queensland, pledging two DAF prime movers.

With industry support, the charity already has three trucks, two Kenworth K200 prime movers and an Isuzu FSD260, the latter known affectionately as the “Baby Truck”.

Each is designated with the HEART prefix and the aim is to deliver specialist medical care to rural and regional communities.

HEART 4 will service the expanding Northern Route, and HEART 5 will be the new dedicated medical imaging truck.

Both trucks will begin operations next year.

The charity, inaugurated in 2014 after six years of planning, is headed by cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes.


Read how Heart of Australia kicked off operations, here


Paccar Australia MD Andrew Hadjikakou, whose firm provided HEART 1, observes that there is a strong desire across the company to play a significant role in making Heart of Australia a reality, and helping it to expand and serve more communities in rural and regional Australia.

 “When we heard Dr Gomes talking about trucks being the potential solution vehicle to take medical services to rural and regional Australia – we knew we wanted to be a part of it,” Hadjikakou says reflecting on the relationship.

“Many of our customers reside in rural Queensland and we hear firsthand about their challenges accessing health care.

“People might not automatically link the trucking industry and health care but when you look at what Dr Gomes is doing, it’s a natural fit.

“There is much the trucking industry can do to support.”

Gomes says the commitment that the trucking industry has shown for reducing health inequity for people living in the Australian bush continues to impress and inspire.

“It’s been clear since the very beginning that the trucking industry is with us on this journey to deliver specialist medical services to the bush,” he adds.

Every kilometre we travel – they’re supporting us to be there.”

“Every time we step up to do more, expand the service, help more people, the trucking industry steps up with us – just as Paccar Australia did this week by donating the prime movers for both HEART 4 and HEART 5.”

“Good news like this lifts the whole team. Industry sector support fuels our commitment to do more, help more, and dream big. Knowing companies are with us makes each kilometre that little bit easier to travel.”

Other industry supporters include Black Truck Sales – Isuzu, which donated the Baby Truck.

Regional, rural and remote fuel supplier IOR provides the fuel required.

Bridgestone donates all the truck tyres needed.

Brown & Hurley provides truck maintenance services .

Frasers Livestock Transport makes a financial contribution each quarter to help towards the cost of drivers wages.

 

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