Celebrating the return of Castlemaine. #1 Troy McLean

In-depth

20 Nov

It’s been a long time coming – here in Victoria at least. But finally we are having a truck show.

After a hiatus, Castlemaine returns on Sunday, November 28. Yes, it’s officially only one day instead of the usual full weekend, but I’m betting a whole bunch of show-starved truckies will turn up on the Saturday to be ready for the Sunday morning convoy through town. The toilet facilities will be open – and totally unrelatedly, I will also be there on Saturday looking for a good story or three. (Not in the dunnies!)

I have a special relationship with Castlemaine as it was the first truck show I attended. It was also at Castlemaine where I orchestrated the unveiling of Rig of the Year on behalf of Truckin’ Life magazine. Great times indeed.

To celebrate the show’s return, this week we revisit some of the trucks and the people who make Castlemaine what it is ….

2014: Troy McLean (Kenworth T908)

**Roger, Bradley, Troy, Jackie, Rachelle and Sarah.**

Troy McLean is a third generation truck driver. That's three generations who have all lived and worked in and around the Castlemaine (Vic) area. It began with Grandpa, Max (who couldn't be here for the photo), running a 1954 Bedford tray truck. Max would cut timber by swing saw, hand load it onto the Bedford and run it from the Castlemaine district down to Melbourne where he would hand unload. Max went on to granite, slate and other things and worked until the ripe young age of 73.

Dad, Roger started driving full-time at the age of 22 with tippers and agitators with Malcolm McClure a local earthmover. From there it was on to semis and then fuel tankers. At 64 he is 'semi' retired. When school holidays came around Troy would be jumping up and down, hounding Roger to come out on the road with him. "He rode in the tippers and agitators when he was young and he loved the semis when I moved on to them," said Roger. "He drove the tanker around the yard when he was nine or 10."

At 39 Troy reckons he couldn't have grown up any better. "Dad and Pop were great teachers. I started driving young, and working young underneath them; they taught me the right way – old school, where you help each other."

Troy started out similarly to many young blokes; greasing, oil changes, etc, at the age of 10. School holidays were local and interstate trips with his Dad and Pop. Troy gained his truck licence at 18, and was given dispensation by Vic Roads (with much lobbying) to drive within a 750 km radius, instead of the 125 kms they wished to enforce. This allowed him to drive to Adelaide for his employer Leech Transport.

"Dad had driven for them and they had known me all my life, but it was really good of them to give a young fella a break. I had some training behind the wheel when I was younger. Drove some good stints from Perth when I was 14, but don't tell anyone."

Troy drove for Leech's for some years then moved to David Parsons, then on to Keith Thompson's outfit – all Castlemaine companies. Then it was back to Leech's, Geoff Fry and Geoff Chapman. "I pretty much drove for everybody in this town."

Whilst with Geoff Chapman the opportunity came for Troy to buy his own truck. "All the people I drove for were terrific employers but I couldn't settle down with anyone, so when the opportunity came to buy my own truck I jumped at it. That was 10 years ago."

Troy's wife, Jackie jumps in, "We had talked about it for years and came close a number of times. One day he bought it up again and I said, do it now or never bring it up again. And here we are."

One of Troy's mates told him of a company looking for someone to cart their freight. Troy had not yet bought his own rig so he borrowed one off a mate, and a trailer off another mate and fronted up offering his services. He still retains their business 10 years later. A cousin tipped him into another job opportunity and the rest has grown through word of mouth. These days most of the work is local. "You can't beat it. You still work bloody hard but you get home at night to your own bed."

Troy's first truck was an LTL Kentucky which he wishes he still had. After a couple of years on the Adelaide run, he decided to go for something a bit more comfortable and traded to a 1999 Aerodyne. "That was a fantastic truck! We then added a Western Star, truck and dog tipper. We also had a cousin's truck that he wasn't using. At that time I was aiming to have a fleet of six. Then Jackie made the point that, 'You're at home, but you're never with us'.

"What do you mean?" I replied. "I'm at home all the time."

"Yes, but you're always down in the shed with the trucks. You're never with us."

"I thought about it the whole week and realised that she was right. We got rid of everything superfluous, and went back to one truck – And us. It was like a massive weight had been lifted from our shoulders. I'm glad I never continued down that path."

Troy's current truck is a 2008 Kenworth T908 with a 620 Cummins and 854,000 km on the clock, which he has owned for 2 1/2 years. He bought the truck from the same David Parsons that he had worked for as a kid. David had bought the truck new, and Troy knew its history. "This is the truck that I've worked for my entire life. This truck is what I always wanted."

Apart from lights on the tanks and some pin striping, Troy has done very little to the rig. At the recent Castlemaine truck show he won Rig of the Day on the Saturday, against some very stiff competition - a testament to the care he takes in its maintenance and presentation.

Troy's days are usually spent between Melbourne and Bendigo which suits him just fine. "We are working to live, not the other way around. The work is plentiful, the truck's a ripper and life is all good."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Will tickets be available at the gate? Yes, but if you pre-buy your tickets you will be fast-tracked on to the ground.

Do I need to register my truck? When you buy your tickets online, simply list the number of trucks you are bringing (no fee to enter, or details required.

Do I need proof of vaccination for COVID-19? Yes, this is a prerequisite for admission.

Is there camping Saturday night? Only for trucks from out of town.

ADMISSION: $5 per person (Children under 15 free)
ALL TRUCK SHOW PROFITS BENEFIT COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Click here to:

PRE PURCHASE TICKETS

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TRUCK SHOW 'N SHINE
A very simple registration process will commence at Halford Street before the parade and continue at the grounds. No fee to enter. Entries close at 11.00am. Announcements at 1.30pm. Winners will receive a $450 voucher to spend with Sullivan Sketching

TRADE SITES welcome BOOK A TRADE SITE (non food) $50 + GST

(Click the above link)

AUCTION @ 1.30pm
Another quirky original artwork, donated by the very talented Geoff Hocking, will be auctioned at 1.30pm on Sunday 28 November.

A collectors item sure to go straight to the pool room!

RAFFLE TICKETS: $2 ea OR 3 for $5.

**Ist Prize: MACK Bar Fridge valued at $500. Sponsored by CMV Truck and Bus**

**2nd Prize: CAT Merchandise valued at $360. Sponsored by William Adams**

**3rd Prize: Hot Stone Massage for 2 valued at $350. Sponsored by Endota Spa, Daylesford**

**4th Prize: Dinner Voucher valued at $100. Sponsored by the Railway Hotel, Castlemaine**

As well as celebrating the valuable contribution of the trucking industry, funds raised by the Castlemaine Rotary truck Show will benefit community projects and youth.

Thank you for your support.

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Ring Rod Aiken on 0408 754 300

to secure yours.