Peter Rocke

A number of organisations have expressed their condolences after the passing of Peter Rocke, a former chairman of the Port of Melbourne Authority.

Rocke served as chairman from 1987/88 to 1988/89 during a period of trade growth at the port of Melbourne, particularly in containerised cargo.

"It was also a time of change. Reform and restructure of the waterfront industry began and Swanson and Webb docks were being developed," says a statement from the Victorian Ports Corporation, which extends its sympathy to Peter's family.

The Executive Council and Secretariat of the Victorian Transport Association has also extended sympathies and condolences to family and friends, describing Peter as "a doyen of the road transport industry and a significant supporter of the VTA".

He served as president of that association in 1987, when it was known as the Victorian Road Transport Association.

"Peter was also heavily involved in related industry groups and spent much of his working life advocating for better conditions for freight operators through his involvement with the VTA, and later the Australian Trucking Association, the Road Transport Federation and the National Freight Forwarding Association," according to the statement.

Peter joined the family business E.A. Rocke in 1955 at the persuasion of his father, Gerald. He remained with the business through its eventual acquisition by transport company F.H. Stephens, which was later acquired by Mayne Nickless. Peter worked in numerous senior roles with Mayne Nickless including Victorian operations manager, general manager of international operations, director of operations, and regional director, Victoria & Tasmania.

In 2003, his sons formed Rocke Bros. and he served as chairman.

VTA CEO Peter Anderson says road freight operators owe a debt of gratitude to Peter Rocke for his lifelong service to the transport industry.