For the family and friends of those inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame this year, Truckin With Kermie is proud to list them here.

With over 60 being inducted, I have listed them in alphabetical order, so you can just scroll down to your ‘legend’.

I urge all who see this to have a scan through the recipients’ histories. It will give you an insight into their world of road transport.

Congratulations to all the inductees.

ALLAN – Janice (RIP)

**Janice’s award accepted by daughter, Hayley**

Janice was born in 1951 in Cromwell, New Zealand. After moving to Australia, she became a pilot vehicle driver before obtaining her MC license. Jan was involved in hauling large conveyor frames from Perth to the Loy Yang Power station in Victoria. The frames were 24-metres long x 3.6 metres wide.

Jan stood out from many other truckers, not just for raising her daughter Hayley on the road, but for wearing a bikini as she drove around Western Australian, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Jan passed away suddenly in 2013.

ATKINS – Stephen

Stephen was born in Coffs Harbour. Growing up in the pioneer logging town of Dorrigo, he started out working in Briggsville with his father. Stephen first stepped into an ex-army Ford Blitz at 15 years of age. He worked in cranes, getting his tickets to become a dogman, rigger, and eventually a crane operator. In 1969 Stephen went to work for Highway Haulage. He had a wonderful relationship with his boss Arthur Gillott. Not only did he have number 1 on his door, but he also joined Arthur in a Kenworth advertisement.

BADENOCH – George (RIP)

**George’s award accepted by friend, Leon**

George was called for national service before obtaining his truck licence. One trip George often recalled was when he was carting woodchips from Gippsland, Victoria back to Mount Gambier. He was up on top of the load sorting out the tarp when he lost his footing and fell about 9 feet. Although George was in significant pain, he drove home to find he had broken his ankle. After 6 weeks in a cast, he was back in the truck. Not bad at 67 years of age! George passed away in 2020.

BAULCH – Andrew ‘Ryans Truckie’

Andy always wanted to be a truck driver, so after the birth of his children he approached Frank from Ryans Removals in Warrnambool. In 1976 he began working as a furniture van driver. He continued for the next 35 and a half years, becoming known as ‘Ryan’s Truckie’ to his family. One particularly memorable trip involved Andy and a colleague being sent to remove a piano from a 2-storey building. In the end it took 9 men to remove the piano. They later found out the piano had been installed through a window, by crane, prior to completion!

BEER – John

John was born in Essendon, in 1946. In 1978, after driving for his father, John and his wife Melva started their own business, carting livestock. Livestock was to become a huge part of John’s career, seconded only by his passion for driver wellbeing. John lists his greatest accomplishments as leading the way for a ‘Ramp Guidebook’, the ‘Ramp Standards’ as well as the ‘Effluent Code’ released this year. He worked on the first ‘Save the Diesel Grant’, ‘Working from Heights’ and was part of the committee that secured $15 million for saleyards and abattoirs to improve safety for drivers.

BILATO – Frank

Franco, known as Frank, was born in Darwin. Frank started driving before legally allowed and began an apprenticeship. But that just didn’t compete with driving big rigs! After driving for Gulf Transport, Frank joined his brothers, Robert and John, in purchasing G&S Transport in Alice Springs. A memorable trip for both Frank and his son Ryan, was when his back trailer broke through the road and got bogged. Getting the truck out meant walking a grader 130km over 3 days, to dig out the trailer. Ryan helpfully remarked “Dad, I don’t think you should’ve driven into that hole!”

BLACK – Jodie nee Goulthorpe

Jodie Black, nee Goulthorpe, was born in Orange. In 2006, Jodie purchased her own brand-new Western Star and began her career. Jodie was determined to stand on her own two feet, and that was displayed one night when she blew an inner drive tyre. Whenever someone pulled in, she would turn the torch off, and wait until they left, determined to change it herself. After four hours Jodie was proudly and independently back on the road. Jodie tried running businesses and driving tractors but the pull of the road always won. She’s back driving the big rigs she loves.

BLACKER – Wes

Wes was born in Blackall, where he attended school until 1962. He left school for his first job with a Scrub Pulling/Dam Sinking Contractor working in the Blackall, Warrego and Maranoa regions. Wes learnt how to ‘do it tough’ on that job. In 1969, Wes took a job driving trucks, which was his dream. Wes mainly carted cattle, so had many trips around Queensland as well as into the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales. Wes was delighted to drive the first W Model Kenworth purchased by Blackall Freighters.

BLAKE – Robert ‘Bob’ (RIP)

Robert, better known as Bob, was born in Heyfield. He first worked in a timber yard in Gippsland, where he fell for the smell of petrol, then diesel, carting logs up and down the mountains in an old one eighty Inter. Bob moved to Stawell where he spent most of his years working for John Carson Transport. He tried his hand at working for a few others and twice at being an owner operator. Unfortunately, ill health saw Bob sell up early to enjoy retirement with his wife Bet. That was not too be. Bob died suddenly at home.

CHERRIE – John

John was born in September in Wellington New Zealand. At age 23, he decided to come and try driving in the Aussie outback. John thoroughly enjoyed the trip from Brisbane all the way through Quilpie to Eromanga, Queensland in the early 80s. He was delivering the first dongas and food supplies for an oil rig camp. After they struck oil John delivered the tanks. John recalls wet seasons were interesting as the roads were a mixture of bull dust and black soil which became sink holes. The dry season was just as interesting and the bloody flies were unbelievable!!

CRESSWELL, OAM – Merv (RIP)

**Merv’s award accepted by his wife and daughter**

The Cresswell name is synonymous with passenger transport in Tasmanian history. Merv began Ace Bus Service in 1938, later known as Ace Coaches. Amongst other notable awards, Merv was a recipient of the Order of Australia medal in 1981 for his outstanding service to the Tasmanian bus industry and community. Merv was instrumental in the creation of numerous transport associations. Many even said that Merv had a back door into the Transport Division where he “assisted” in many decisions!

DARCY – Brian ‘Darc’

Brian, known as Darc, was born in Camperdown, Victoria. He and his brother Brendan, now deceased, started Darcy Brothers Cartage in Cobden, Victoria. Originally, they started carting hay but over the years Brian went on to cart a variety of freight. One special trip was when Darc invited his girlfriend of the time, to accompany him to Melbourne so she could see the city lights. He ‘forgot’ to mention that they would be carting a load of pigs to the abattoirs. Luckily Margaret forgave him. They were married for 55 years.

DEWEY – Geoff (RIP)

**Geoff’s award accepted by Graham Trill**

Geoff was born in North Sydney. Geoff enlisted in the Australian Air Force and learnt to fly Tiger Moths before going to the UK where he flew the Bristol Blenheim Bombers Mark 1&4. Flight-Sergeant Geoff was captured and incarcerated as a Prisoner of War. After a long and difficult rehabilitation Geoff realised his ambition of becoming a bus company proprietor. Geoff not only built a large and successful company, but he also supported associations such as the NSW Bus and Coach Association, serving as president for 8 years and becoming a life member. Geoff died in 2014.

DUELL – Allan

Allan was born in Mt Gambier. In 1973, Allan and his wife, Sandra, started a transport company. Allan carted goods to and from the railway, sometimes it was furniture when the workers of the railways were moved around. This spiked an interest and so began Duells Furniture Removals, ‘The Gentlemen of Moving.’ Allan decided to paint his first truck purple because he liked the colour and thought it would stand out. His father quickly said “You may as well close the doors now, no one is going to trust a purple truck’. Fifty years on Allan is still growing his purple fleet!

EATTS – Jeffrey ‘Eatsy’

Jeffrey, known as Jeff or Eattsy, was born in Adelaide in 1940. Vestney’s road train sits at The Hall of Fame. Jeff was carting cattle at the time, but he’s also carted uranium, rabbits, explosives, including leaky gelignite, furnace oil, gas and a boxed up helicopter! On one memorable trip to Darwin, Jeff became bogged after an electrical short circuit ruined the batteries and damaged the cabin. He was bogged near the rocket range at Woomera.

FEHRING – John

John nicknamed John Boy or ‘JB’ for short, was born in 1964 in Mooroopna, Victoria. John started driving in 1984, delivering fruit to the canaries in Shepparton. In 1996 John and his business partner owned a fleet of 5 trucks, each a different colour, so the company was nicknamed ‘The Wiggles’. John later went on to drive road trains and large equipment in the mines. If John’s face is familiar perhaps it’s because he chatted with you while serving meal at the Numurkah Roadhouse, which he purchased on return from the mines, before once again hopping behind a steering wheel.

GIBSON – (Fredrick) Laurie (RIP)

GIBSON – Pat (RIP)

**Laurie & Pat’s award accepted by grandson, James**

Fredrick, known as Laurie, was born in 1929 to a sawmilling family. While working there, Laurie noticed an opportunity for delivering firewood in colder months. Over warmer months, Laurie delivered stock-feed to local farms. This was the beginning of F.L Gibson Transport. In 1952, Laurie married Patricia and the two continued running the business. When it was time to hang out with the grandkids Laurie and Pat’s three sons, Rob, Graham and Ian took the reins. Laurie passed away in 2010 and in 2011 the sons rebranded the business as Food Boss, which continues to thrive. Sadly, Pat passed away in 2021.

GLEESON – Glen ‘Joe’

Glen, known as Joe, was born in Blackall Queensland, in 1947. After driving a mail run and freighting wool, Joe turned to carting livestock. In 1980, Joe attended the first meeting of the Livestock Carriers (now Queensland Livestock Carriers Association). He served as a delegate for 13 years. As well as owning various businesses involving carting freight, driving side tippers on the Thompson River Dam Project and more, Joe has also been branch manager and foreman across sites, co-ordinating and organising other truck drivers.

GOODFIELD – Desmond ‘Des’

Des was born in Beverly, Western Australia. At 19, Des was employed by the first bulk grain transport company in Western Australia, Southern Transport in Albany. Over the 29 years of working for them, friendly rivalry was created with his peers due to his determination of being on time. On one occasion Des jumped out of the truck, landing on a nail that went right through his foot. Determined to be punctual, he continued to drive until the pain became unbearable. Des then found a stick long enough to hold the accelerator down and still made it back on time!

GOULTHORPE – Craig

Craig was born in Hay. Craig would go on regular trips with his dad. Along the way Craig learnt to change tyres, tarp a load and do mechanical work. One day, while his parents were out, Craig took a phone call telling his dad the wheat was ready to be loaded. So, Craig went outside, put the tyres back on the truck and started driving down the highway. He was halfway to the wheat when his parents met their own truck coming towards them. They were stunned. Their 15 year old son was proudly driving towards them.

GOULTHORPE – Garry ‘Gilly’ (RIP)

**Gilly’s award accepted by children, Craig and Jodie**

Gilly was born in Wagga Wagga. He bought his first truck in 1972. Gilly’s most memorable trip was when he became bogged in the Pilliga scrub, not too far from home. His only option was to jack up all wheels, pop a railway sleeper under each, then walk the truck out. Then, he’d get bogged again and out would come the jack! At the end of each day, Gilly walked about 12kms to where his wife would be waiting. She’d drive him home and drop him back the next morning. It took him 21 days to get the truck out!

HANNANT – Phil

Phil was born in Laidley, Queensland, son to Adrian and Gay Hannant. Being the son of transport company owners, it wasn’t surprising when he followed in their footsteps. In 1981, Phil took over the management of Hannant’s Transport. In 2005, Phil took on the role of transport operations manager, working for two different companies, before settling into a role at Nolan’s Interstate Transport, where he worked until his retirement this year. Although it has been suggested he doesn’t quite understand the meaning of retirement, as he continues to drive as often as he likes – which we are told is almost daily!

HARLAN – Roy ‘Inspector Gadget’

Roy, known as Inspector Gadget, was born in Tambo, Queensland in 1940. Roy was only 12 when he started driving trucks, his first job lasted about ten years. He used a pillow to see over the steering wheel when he first began. Roy later went on to be a bore engineer. He created history by putting down the first mono pump in the Northern Territory. One of Roy’s special drives was much later in life when he was asked to drive the John Flynn Bicentennial truck which was built for the Beebe Brothers and won Truckin’ Life’s rig of the month.

HATCHMAN – Derek ‘John’ (RIP)

John was born in 1961. John, who was profoundly deaf, couldn’t wait to leave school. The day he turned fifteen he started working around his dad’s trucking yard. In 1984, John was offered a position with Richers Transport and so began a 30 year partnership. John had a real sense about his trucks, while he didn’t hear the engine the way others did, he recognised vibrations and changes in tones, and adjusted his driving accordingly. Mechanics admired how well he looked after them. John was driven to his final resting place in 2022 on the back of a Richers truck.

HAYES – Gary ‘Stack’

Gary, known as Stack, not because of his driving skills but due to the size of the pipes on his truck, has been driving since he was 17. He has worked for several companies around the Australian Capital Territory, including TNT and Readymix. Gary also went further afield, carting grain in regional New South Wales and Queensland before buying in to the One Steel Business in Hume. Some of Gary’s favourite memories are of cruising the highways with his best mate and taking his dad on trips to Young, in NSW, in his D series Ford.

IRVING – John

John was born in 1947 and raised on a farm near Wagga Wagga. Like many others, John found school work uninteresting but unlike others, John spent the day drawing bullbars on trucks – even though trucks hadn’t started using bullbars. John built a bullbar for his C-Line International and as soon as others saw it, the requests for bullbars started pouring in! John and his brother, Philip, took loads of bullbars to WA and then set up a factory over there. People assumed John’s surname was Bullbar, so Mr Bullbar became the brand, and continues in Wagga Wagga 50 years on.

JONES – Nellie

**Nellie’s award accepted by her daughters**

Nellie was born in Kalgoorlie. Nellie’s resilience, determination and strength were the backbone of HTS, Hampton Transport Services, which she worked tirelessly alongside family to establish in 1977. Nellie worked behind the scenes in office management for more than three decades. She provided guidance and support to anyone who walked the office corridors and continued to keep the wheels moving at Hampton until the age of 83 when her health led to a reluctant retirement. The loads Nellie carried throughout her career weren’t freight or livestock, but the welfare of her many employees and family members.

KING – John Christopher ‘Kingy’

John, known as ‘Kingy’ to his peers and ‘John’ to friends and family, moved to Victoria from Queensland in 1965 and took up a mechanics trainee position. In 1970, John finished the apprenticeship, acquired farming land in Coleambally in southern New South Wales and also decided to become an owner driver. John proudly owned, drove and maintained five trucks across his career. John recalls his most unusual load as being the haulage of “a load of feral goats” from Cobar to Deniliquin during the 1960s. John refers to himself as ‘semi-retired’ and has no intention of parting with the remainder of his fleet.

LEAHY – Jimmy (RIP)

**Jimmy’s award accepted by Frank Bilato**

James ‘Jimmy’ Leahy was born in 1912 in Colac. Jimmy hauled onions from Colac to Sydney, a three day trip labouring up a notorious hill known as Pretty Sally, in first gear at 5mph. In 1939 Jimmy purchased a cattle truck, one of his regular loads was the Coragulac Football players.

During the Second World War the army commandeered his trucks. Jimmy complained so loudly and for so long about “no truck, no income” the army eventually bought him a brand-new truck. At his death in 1967 Jimmy left a fleet of 80 trucks which his son Robert took over.

LEESON – Gary

Gary was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria. He went to work as a young man for his stepfather, Lindsay Crawford, a logging contractor in Bairnsdale. By 1980, Garry and his wife Vicki had purchased the business. Garry became known for being the first in the area to introduce new equipment such as B-doubles for carting logs, Tri-Axle trailers and much more. But perhaps the truly unique achievement for Garry and his team was ending up in the Moomba Parade! They were delivering logs from Gippsland to Colac when they became lost in Melbourne and ended up in the parade!

LOPEZ – Tommy

Tommy was born in the early 1960s, and discovered his passion for all things trucks when he started working as a station hand on cattle properties in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley in 1978. After driving for others, Tom purchased his own trucks in the mid ‘90s and ran Darwin and Alice Springs for over 14 years. When asked by a news reporter if he usually drove north, Tom quipped, ‘Except for when I’m coming home.” Tom currently works for MLG as a Production Supervisor at West Gold, running the haulage operation.

MARLEY – Georgina

Georgina, known as Georgie, was introduced to the transport industry when she wed Frank Marley and moved to the small town of Nangeenan, WA. Georgie and Frank needed drivers as Frank was too young to drive so Georgie was cook, bottle washer, secretary and load scheduler for them all. In her spare time Georgie ran the local telephone exchange! Georgie has been hands-on throughout all the years ensuring the company had enough drivers, organizing livestock, grain and fertiliser loads as well as maintaining the household. We hear Georgie is still the driving force that keeps everyone in line!

MAUGHER – Matt

Matt was introduced to the transport industry in 1973 when he started working for Dunnings, then Sawyers Valley Traders, carting drums of fuel from Fremantle to Sawyers Valley. Much of Matt’s years have been spent carting livestock throughout the top end of WA and interstate. Matt remembers a time when, with the help of a co-driver, he completed 50 trips in 53 weeks across the WA border carting livestock to anywhere between Swan Hill in Victoria and Penang in South Australia. He also remembers that the sheep crates were rather heavy, so they had a busy time avoiding the weigh bridges. Matt would like it known that Maugher is pronounced ‘Major’.

MCKEAN – Andrew

Andrew, known as Andy, began driving in 1978. Most truckies have at least one unique story to tell but unfortunately, Andy has one to top most. He was hijacked while driving interstate, held captive for five hours, interrogated by police until they were convinced he was not involved, then asked by the company to drive himself back to Melbourne. When offered professional support, Andy humbly said, “Others need it more, I can wait.”

Thankfully, the professionals ignored his selfless offer and with support of family, friends and councillors, and with grit and determination, Andy overcame immense anxiety to return to the work he loved until semi-retiring in 2020.

MCKINNIS – Trevor ‘Grumpy’

Trevor known as Grumpy, was born in 1946 in Stawell, Victoria. As a young fella, in the small rural town, Trev first got the taste for trucks by carting wool off the farm to the Port of Geelong. He did this in an old Thames trader.

It was year’s later, working for Frew of Stawell, that Trev earned his nickname. With a month shy of 30 years spent working there, he was often tasked with passing on wisdom to the young blokes -some accepted help and others didn’t – and I’m sure you can guess which of the two categories made Trev ‘Grumpy!’

MILNER – Ray ‘Plugger’

Raymond, known by all as Ray or by his close mates as ‘Plugger’, was born in Warragul, Victoria in 1937. Ray and his uncle Phil Osler went into an agitator business together before Ray went interstate driving. Over the years Ray ran a number of businesses but in the end his favourite job was driving buses, which he did for 19 years. The family would often joke with Ray and call him Stan, a reference to the hit TV show, ‘On the Buses’. Ray reluctantly retired last year, apparently because his wife Desley, would not allow him to renew his licence.

MOFFITT – Allister ‘Macca’

Allister, known as Macca, was born in 1954 in Masterton, New Zealand. Macca entered numerous truck competitions, culminating in being crowned New Zealand Truckie of the Year before moving to Australia in 1990. Since then, Macca has driven for many companies driving different configurations of trucks. One of Macca’s highlights was a trip to the Kenworth factory in Melbourne to pick up the ‘Queenslander’ a 909 Kenworth for Jason Hartwell Haulage. This was hooked up with a float, towing 4 rows of 8 and a dolly, with 2 rows of 4, which had been refurbished by Drake Trailers and Scotty Reid.

MOORE – Stewart ‘Nipper’ ‘Stewy’ ‘Old Man Rivers’

Stewart was born in Manly in August 1963. Over his 43 years in the industry, he’s collected a few nicknames: Nipper, Stewy and Old Man Rivers. Stewart obtained his truck licence in 1981 and this was when his passion for truck driving began. He started collecting milk from the farms around the Illawarra region, before commencing interstate truck driving. In 1989, Stewart found his forever job, with the company known today as Park Pty Ltd. Stewart was involved in the successful push that saw this company be the first to introduce Ethanol into the Australian fuel market.

PARREY – Craig

Craig was born in Redfern, New South Wales in 1961. Craig’s love of trucking started when his mate’s father began a transport business, Ross Transport. Craig worked for that company for 6 years, went away for 7 years then re-joined them in 1993. He has experienced every type of job - from washing trucks to accident recovery jobs, oversize loads, special loads, dangerous goods, logging, steel and general freight. If ever there was an odd job, something the company needed trialled or was unsure about, Craig would step up and have a go. Craig now finds himself working as their Workshop Manager.

PICKERING – Daryl

Daryl went to university and after completing his Bachelor of Business, Accounting, spent three years teaching. He then returned to Swan Hill and began working full-time in the finance division of the family transport company. Daryl has had to contend with the Global Financial Crisis and Covid 19. Daryl is greatly respected for the stability and level headedness he brings to the company. Daryl has been chairman of the Australian United Fresh Transport Advisory Committee and was on the board of the Transport Super Fund. In 2018, Daryl become CEO of Pickering Transport, as well as their Chief Financial Officer.

PICKERING – James

Jamie was born in Melbourne to parents George and Betty. At the time, George was part owner of Lake Boga Transport so Jamie, naturally, became involved in the transport industry. In 2009, Jamie and his family moved to the Riverland to open a depot. Soon after, PTG (Pickering’s Transport Group) purchased Dyers Riverland Transport, so Jamie became involved in all transport matters from Renmark, where he is currently based. Jamie is known for encouraging others to step outside their comfort zone with loading unusual or over-dimensional loads. One of his unusual loads were rhinoceros which he moved from the Adelaide Airport to Monarto Zoo!

PICKERING – Peter

Peter was born in Swan Hill. After a short career driving trucks Peter decided transporting people was his true calling. Peter and his wife Sue, own Swan Hill Bus Lines, which he has been managing director of for 35 years. Peter supplies buses for various emergency services so, one night, when he was asked to transport a load of police officers he didn’t think much about it. Until they asked him to drive to the destination without headlights. He was then told to lie down in the back of the bus with the police dogs– certainly not your average day at the office!

PICKERING – Roger

Roger was born in Swan Hill and is married to Jill Pickering. Together they are co-owners of Pickering Transport Group, along with Roger’s brother Daryl, and cousin, Jamie. Roger’s career started with loading trucks before graduating to driving, where he was running predominately between Mildura and Adelaide. Roger gave up driving to go into managerial roles. To give back to the industry, Roger served for several years on the board of Natroad, and as its president from 2005 – 2008. Roger has been known to sing along with ‘Bat out of Hell’ to keep him awake on long drives home.

PITT – Brian

Brian was born in Maffra, Victoria and has worked in the trucking industry since obtaining his articulated licence through Dyers Transport in Sale. During his years with Dyers, Brian spent some time as yards man and scheduler but he missed the road too much. Brian approached another local company, Bedggood’s and was back in a truck within a few days, heading interstate. As so many of you know trucking can be a lonely job and sometimes scary. Brian remembers driving up the Cann Valley at night, solo, after bushfires, watching the smoking trees wondering if any would fall. Luckily none did.

POUT – Bob

Bob was born in Queensland but raised in Victoria by his aunt and uncle. After heading to Queensland, becoming a farrier and jack of all trades Bob ended up in Katherine with a broken down ute and empty pockets. Bob walked into Noel Buntine’s yard and got a job changing tyres. After 6 months Bob got his first drive, a run down to Alice Springs with a road train. Six months later, he and a mate, drove to the police station, parked their road trains and that, decided the policeman, was proof they could drive! So they got their licences.

ROGERS – David (RIP)

**David’s award accepted by Nick Lubransky**

David was born in 1957, here, in Alice Springs. By 14, he was involved in the industry via RPM Transport, which was jointly owned by his father, Martin Petrick and Joe Mengel. Over the years, David earned a reputation for his hard work, willingness to stop and help anyone and his ability to get almost anything mobile again! After his parents retired, David and his brother, Alan, took over Tanami Transport until 1986. This experience stood David in good stead, for when he returned to Alice and once again, bought a truck and began his own business. David died unexpectedly in 2022.

RUSSELL – Ed

One of Ed’s most memorable trips was in his own International ACCO 345 Petrol V8. Before leaving he was simply told - drive 40 miles north of Meekatharra, turn left through Mul-gul Station, ask the way when you get there, about 100kms. The road was so bad Ed had to back up and take a run at several creek crossings. The dry banks were between 15 – 20 feet high and very steep. Ed finally got to the drilling camp to be told, that his was the first 2-wheel drive truck to make it in there.

SHELTON – Ron ‘Wood Pecker’

Ron, known as ‘Wood Pecker’ or ‘Woody,’ was born in Mt. Gambier. Ron went ‘bush’ spending 30 of his 45 years carting logs. A highlight for Ron was when he drove a custom built early 70s model Atkinson. ‘At the time the vehicle was the most modern, the smartest looking and the fastest on the road,’ recalls Ron. The majority of log trucks had 4 cradles - Ron’s had 14, so other drivers never wanted to get caught behind him in the loading line. Ron particularly enjoyed the years of driving with his four legged best mate, Buddy.

SMART – David ‘Smarty’

David Smart was born in Beechworth, Victoria, in 1963. He was helping his dad by using the forklift to unload 44-gallon drums of diesel by the time he was 8. After driving interstate for many years, David moved to Brisbane, where he and his wife, Sharon, opened ‘Smartys Bobcat and Tippers.’ As well as being an astute businessman, David is very creative. He built a rather large-scale model of a Kenworth Aerodyne – so large it carries 24 cartons of drink (I’m sure that’s soft drink) It can reach speeds of 80km an hour and looks just like the real thing!

**David (L) and Graeme Smart - holding each others plaques**

SMART – Graeme

Graeme was born in 1933 in Yackandandah, Victoria. As a young man, he worked with his father in a local timber and wood business. At the age of 14 Graeme started his life and love of driving. Diesel is in his blood. In 1959 Graeme purchased his first truck which he would run up and down the southern part of the Hume Highway. Graeme also owned the local taxi business carting people wherever they needed to go. Graeme is proud that he is one of the 5 generations of his family to be involved in the transport industry.

. . . . . . .

SMITH – David

SMITH - Terrence

David and Terry Smith were born in Cloncurry. Terry joined his parents in 1978, with David joining the family business in the mid-1980s. David carted general freight around the Gulf region of far Western Queensland until 1997, when Terry handed him reigns of the cattle carting business. For twenty years, David concentrated on that side of the business while Terry focused on side tippers. Since 2017, Terry and David have worked together, sharing the tipper and cattle carting work. They are currently still living the dream as owner/operators, along with their mother Shirley, of Cloncurry Smith’s Transport.

STANES – Bruce

Bruce, known as ‘Stanesy’ was born in 1948 and grew up on Erldunda Station. He has spent much of his working life on or driving to remote parts of Australia. Bruce carted refrigerated and dry general freight on unsealed roads, throughout the A-P-Y lands, hand unloading on arrival. Bruce has also carted cattle, operated machinery and overseen the building of remote roads, including the Tanami. In 2008, Bruce left his job to support his son Mark, in his business.

At 74, Bruce is described as ‘the most beloved, hardest working, toughest no nonsense just get it done member of the Stanes Transport team’.

SUTTON – Graeme

Graeme was born in Numurkah in 1960. In 1984, Graeme bought an Atkinson to run interstate. He was carting general freight from around the Goulburn Valley to anywhere they wanted him to go. Watermelons were carted in straw, so upon arriving at the market the buyers would rummage through the straw and retrieve the watermelons. Graeme would go to the tip, empty off the straw and find multiple watermelons that had been missed.
In the next stage of his career, he had to off load his passengers far more accurately, you see, he had become a coach driver for Deluxe Coachlines.

SYMES – John (RIP)

John was born in Harcourt, Victoria in 1954. He often travelled with his father in their Maple Leaf Chevy to the Queen Victoria Market, carting produce from their orchard. John also loved trips with his older brothers traveling in Diamond-T and Commer trucks. In the ‘70s, John began a business with his brother Greg. Ten years later John went out on his own, opening John Symes Transport Harcourt. John’s son Dean joined him, Dean did interstate runs while John carted between Bendigo and Melbourne. John passed away in 2020. His two sons, Dean and Shawn, have continued his legacy.

SYMES – Michael ‘Greg’

Michael, known as Greg, was born in 1952. Greg was brought up in the family business as an orchardist, but while delivering the family produce found his real passion, driving! Greg and his business partner and brother, John, won a courier contract and delivered Caterpillar parts all around Victoria, as well as delivering overnight to the Dartmouth Dam project. In 1980, Greg and Jan continued the business as Symes Transport. After a setback in the early 1990s, Greg worked hard to win back business, and today, is proud to have a business that services Central and Northern Victoria.

SYMONDS – Robert ‘Symo’

Robert, known as Symo, was born in South Australia before moving to Perth. Symo has carted bricks, driven fire trucks, bought in and out of business, including a sheep station. But the driving bug soon bit again. Symo bought a Mack and started paddock carting for local stations. The station carting business grew and before long Pastoralist Locky McTaggart partnered with Symo, and Bennalong Transport was formed. Symo is respected for his willingness to teach anyone looking to learn and his ability to get a load anywhere. Symo was known for saying, “Mate if we’re not on time, we are early.”

TREGEAR – Brent (RIP)

**Brent’s award accepted by wife, Lorna**

Brent was born in Moreland, Victoria. He had an exemplary career both in vehicles and behind the scenes. Brent started as a local driver in a Diamond T before hopping into an 8-wheeler and hitting the Hume Highway. Brent served as a TWU delegate and as a member of the Long-Distance Drivers committee, with the national branch of the TWU. After clocking up over 8 million kms Brent became regional manager of Toll Linehaul then Head of Operations for all of Toll Interstate and more. Brent retired and spent time with his family and playing golf before passing away in May this year.

TRICKEY – Ian ‘Trick’

Ian, often known as Trick or Trickey was born in Maryborough, Victoria. Shortly after his marriage in 1972, Ian began in the trucking industry. He carted many loads of hay to the Bega area after they suffered severe droughts. Ian believes that he was fortunate to drive in the era that he did, as there was true comradery on the road. Perhaps he was also lucky to be driving back then, as he regularly loaded his truck with steel at Westernport before popping back to Maryborough to ‘top off’ his load, maybe pushing his luck with the scales, just a little.

WALTON – Leigh ‘Grinner’ (RIP)

**Leigh’s award accepted by Charlie Burke**

Leigh, known as Grinner, was born in Brisbane in 1949. Leigh left school in Grade 9, and went on to do a carpentry apprenticeship. Leigh started driving trucks fulltime as soon as his apprenticeship was completed. He married Don-ella and they had 4 children. Leigh’s first job was for McMillan’s Transport, before going on to driving for Simon’s Transport carting freight from Brisbane to Darwin. This became especially busy after Cyclone Tracey hit. Later in his career, Leigh went on to manage McIver’s Transport at various depots. He worked there from 1988 until he passed away aged 49 in 1999.

WHITE – Phil ‘Rocket’

Philip, known as ‘Rocket’, was born in Melbourne in 1954. Phil has had a long and distinguished career as an interstate and linehaul driver. Phil was proud of his achievement to become Ansett Freight Expresses youngest linehaul driver. Phil had the privilege of driving the 3 thousandth Kenworth built in Australia, which was also the 105th purchased by Ansett. Another of the many highlights for Phil was being awarded the inaugural Mobil driver of the year award in 1999. Phil continued working until 2019, when he gave away driving to spend time at home.

WILLIAMS – Garry ‘Rover’

Garry, commonly known as Rover, was born in Albury, in 1956. During his career, Garry drove for many companies carting a huge variety of freight. He also drove a wide range of trucks. When driving for The Overnighters, his favourite truck was a twin steer Kenworth K100E rigid, which would run Sydney to Melbourne. As they were geared to pull through the hills, he would often assist other trucks up the hills and then later paint the bullbar to cover up the scratches! Garry also had a stint driving buses, but returned to truck driving before retiring in 2022.

YATES – Dennis

Dennis was born in Gloucester, New South Wales in 1949. As a kid, he would accompany his father, ‘Pikey’ carting logs to sawmills. Due to his mother’s pestering, Dennis gained a trade, however it was hauling logs that remained his passion, so back to Gloucester he went. When the decline in carting hardwood hit, Dennis diversified, carting pine frames and trusses as well as contracting to hardware and building suppliers. After 50 years of driving and due to declining health Dennis reluctantly retired in 2020 – although he still holds his licence, just in case he’s offered a load!

YEOMAN – Kevin

Kevin was born in 1935 in Snake Valley, Victoria. Kevin worked for the Ballart division of the Country Roads Board driving dozers, loaders and graders for several years. In 1970, Kevin went to work for English China Clay at their Kaolin Mine, a job that lasted 41 years. Kevin has owned and maintained several vehicles during his career. One of his favourite was his brand-new 1989 Volvo F10, but no matter what vehicle, he hated selling them when the time came. At 89, Kevin is contemplating retiring, but he’s not in any hurry to make that decision.

ZARB – Emmanual ‘Casey (RIP)

Emmanual, known as Casey, emigrated from Malta when he was 11. His family settled in the Pioneer Valley outside Mackay, on a cane farm. Cane was to become a major part of his and his family’s life. Casey developed a working relationship with the Mackay Sugar Industry where he assisted in the improvements and development of the transportation of sugar cane into billets. Casey was instrumental in other changes that improved the productivity of both the milling and transportation of sugar cane. He handed his business to his son, David, who continues to run it today. Casey passed away in 2018.

INDUSTRY ICON

BRUCE McIVER OAM

Bruce was born into and grew up within a road transport family, starting his career in road transport in 1969, aged 19. After completing a motor mechanic apprenticeship, Bruce began as driver/manager for the McIver Bros Trucking business which was started by his father Stan and Uncle Guy, at Bell in Queensland.

In the mid-1970s the business began a stock crate manufacturing and design business, with the first smooth sided cattle crates designed and manufactured in Dalby. Other subsidiaries of the company included livestock transport, crude oil tankers, bulk haulage and road trains.

In 1987, Bruce took over exclusive ownership of the family business. In 1997, Bruce pioneered the logistics solutions for BHP’s new mine at Cannington in Northwest Queensland. The unique road train units developed were dubbed the “ICONS” (Innovative Combination of the North).

Bruce played a leading role in the development of Industry Associations in Queensland and Australia. He was founding President of the Livestock Transporters Association of Queensland, founding President of the Australian Livestock Transporters Association known as ALTA from 1985 to 1991. Bruce was also one of five founding members of the Road Transport Industry Forum, later known as Australian Trucking Association. Bruce also served on several Government Advisory Bodies. Bruce’s leading role in the establishment of transport industry associations gives him a profile and record that few, if any, other truck operators have achieved.

After selling his business in 2003 Bruce went into politics. In 2019 Bruce was awarded an AM – Member of the order of Australia, for his contributions to politics and the transport industry.

We congratulate Bruce on being awarded the Shell Rimula Industry Icon of 2023.

HISTORY MAKERS AWARD

RAZORBACK BLOCKADE:

TED ‘GREENDOG’ STEVENS (RIP), SPENCER WATLING, GLORIA WATLING, CARLE GOODFELLOW, BELINDA GOODFELLOW, COLIN ‘CB’ BIRD (RIP), BARRY ‘SLEEPY’ GRIMSON, JACK ‘DYNAMITE’ HIBBERT.

“It is the role of museums to display the past and our culture; in The Road Transport Hall of Fame’s case, the culture and past of the transport industry. The lessons we learn from the past are priceless as long as we listen and share them.

“New inventions come from adaptations of what someone before us created and we see examples of that all around us as we wander the museum grounds. It is our duty, as the keepers of history, to record and display not just the material inventions that have come from learning the lessons of the past but to also record and share the stories of achievements, struggles, changes, and events, which have contributed and forged us into the industry we are today.

“Therefore, this year, it is the Road Transport Historical Society’s great privilege to introduce the History Makers Award.

“The story behind this year’s History Makers Award winners has all the characteristics of the great Australian yarn. Every day, hardworking blokes, that no one was willing to listen to, took on the politicians and won!

“We invite the delegates of the Razorback Mountain Blockade, the inaugural winner of the History Makers Award, and their representatives to the stage. We welcome Spencer Watling, and Carle Goodfellow along with Kelly Zelvis and Ben Stevens on behalf of their father, the late Ted Stevens. Until just a few days ago Barry Sleepy Grimson was expecting to be here, however, Due to health issues, Barry Grimson unable to join us. His award is being accepted on his behalf by Chris Moore from Unanderra Tanker Hire.

“The late Colin Bird’s daughter, Donna Britton, also expected to be with us, but due to her step-dad’s poor health Donna has asked Kath Gilbert, the author of our Razorback display, to accept on their behalf. All attempts to locate Jack Hibbert or a representative have sadly been unsuccessful.

“The people on stage today represent six hard working blokes from the Western Suburbs of Sydney who saw wrongs in the transport industry within which they and their families had worked for decades. They were well educated on the issues and attempted to change the system through meetings, letter writing and conversations, all to no avail. These men said, ‘Enough is enough.’

“On the 2nd of April, 1979, the six men parked their trucks across Razorback Mountain and the Menangle Road and began the blockade Neville Wran later described “as a protest blockade which [has now] almost reached civil insurrection.’

“While these men are the first to say they would have gotten nowhere without the drivers who supported them on the Mountain and throughout hundreds of blockades across the country, we can also say, that without these six men kicking off the fight, there would have been no-one to stand behind. Today, we acknowledge the six men for taking their history making stand.”