Friendship, collaboration and alignment in values.
That sums up the success of the signature community event undertaken by Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS) over the past couple of years.
We’re talking about Convoy for the Cure, where NSS has taken the position of lead vehicle two years in a row by virtue of raising the most funds.
Main image: Todd Martin (Convoy for The Cure) , Darren ‘Wildy’ Burgess (Hot100), Mark George (Northern Stevedoring Services)
NSS GM Mark George will tell you he was inspired to support the effort after witnessing the trials of old friend Ren Pederesen and his daughter Amy, who died of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in 2007.
Ren has been a tireless campaigner to raise funds for research ever since.
Mark helped corral friends, family, staff, suppliers, owners and clients for support, which has resulted in more than $80,000 raised over two campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
One of those he brought into the fold was Kev Amedee from C&H Recuitment, which supplies services to both Qube and NSS.
C&H has donated over $10,000 and director Mr Amedee said it was a done deal after meeting Ren Pedersen.
“There was a meeting at the (Townsville) Metropol Hotel and we were taken by it and we wanted to get involved as much as we could. Anything we do with local communities, we really try and put as much weight behind it as we can.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to make a contribution to the cause which was backed so enthusiastically by NSS.
“NSS is part of the logistics community whose members are generally down-to-earth people. I think that they’re willing to look after the community. They’re on the road all the time as well, so they probably want people looking out for them at times.
“And they’ve probably been given a knock over the years, but when push comes to shove, they really rally around each other and get stuck into it.”
Mark George said the C&H contribution was among the largest recorded for the event.
“We appreciate all the sponsors and Kev and his company’s contribution was outstanding. The fact that we go back so far as workmates and collaborators only makes it sweeter.”
More than 280 trucks and motorbikes participated in the mid-year Convoy in Townsville this year.