A blue plaque has been unveiled in regional NSW during 2024 National Road Safety Week to recognise the contribution of Ken Thomas, founder of freight giant TNT and long-time campaigner for safer roads.

Mr Thomas (1913-1997) is being celebrated for his contribution to improving driver safety and campaigning for compulsory seatbelts in NSW.

The NSW Government has installed the blue plaque in his honour on the Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society Museum, which houses a collection of TNT memorabilia.

The Blue Plaques NSW program shares the fascinating stories of people and events that have shaped our state. This plaque in Harden is one of more than 30 across NSW.

Mr Thomas, born in the Harden Murrumburrah area, recognised the lucrative potential in hauling timber, and from his first five-tonne truck he went on to establish the interstate freight empire TNT.

An early advocate of driver welfare, Ken Thomas established stopping-off points where drivers could sleep, eat, carry out repairs and refuel. Those rest stops are now a common site on highways, benefitting drivers across all of NSW.

Mr Thomas was also influential in the campaign to make seatbelt-wearing compulsory in NSW.

He later established the 'Save a Life a Day' group with the aim of reducing road fatalities. The group lobbied to implement compulsory licence suspension and jail sentences for drink-driving offences.

The full story of Ken Thomas and more than 30 other subjects can be found on the Blue Plaques website.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Heritage Penny Sharpe:

"Ken Thomas' pioneering spirit in the trucking and logistics industry revolutionised the way goods were transported, leaving a lasting mark on the sector and NSW roads.

"Whether you're exploring Sydney or taking a drive off the beaten track to regional towns like Harden, there's a blue plaque for you to discover.

"The installation of each new plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards, and inviting those from further afield to learn more about the history of these communities."

Quotes attributable to Duty MLC for Cootamundra Stephen Lawrence:

"As we unveil this blue plaque in his hometown of Harden, we pay tribute to Ken Thomas' roots and celebrate his extraordinary journey from local innovator to industry titan.

"It's wonderful this plaque will adorn the exterior of Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society Museum, to mark his remarkable contributions to the transport industry and road safety."

Quotes attributable to Hilltops Council Mayor Margaret Roles:

"We welcome the Blue Plaques NSW program to Harden, and we're incredibly proud to see local Ken Thomas recognised and celebrated in this way.

His legacy lives on here in Hilltops, and around NSW, through safer roads and rest stops for drivers."