Vale John ‘The Ferret’ Moran

In-depth

29 July

You would have to be a pretty young truckie, not to have heard of John Moran, aka The Ferret. John graced the pages of Truckin’ Life and Big Rigs for many years with his stories of a life in trucking and comment upon the industry. His columns were often the first page people would turn to.

The Ferret wrote with humour and humility and his work struck a chord with truckies from all over the country. I was a ‘come-lately’ into Johnny’s life – meeting back in 2012. From that meeting came regular phone calls, chatting about trucking in general or him commenting on something I may have mentioned in one of my articles or columns.

In every phone call the conversation would at some point turn to his beloved wife, Margo. As he spoke of her, you could hear his heart melting, such was the extent of his love and, I suspect, constant amazement that this lady, beautiful in heart and soul, had chosen to share her life with him.

There will be much written in coming days about John ‘The Ferret’ Moran from people who knew him and his life more deeply than do I, so I shall leave it to them to chronicle the details of his life in depth.

A few short weeks ago, on May 18, the phone rang. It was The Ferret. I wrote of that conversation the same day in Life with Kermie and I repeat it here:

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This is a column I don’t want to write. I got a phone call the other day. It was from my mate and yours, John ‘The Ferret’ Moran. I picked up the phone and said, “Hey old mate. How are you?”

“G’day Kermie, mate. I’m in hospital and I’m buggered, mate.”

With The Ferret’s blessing, it is my sad duty to inform the transport industry that he is in hospital on the Sunshine Coast with a return of the non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma that he had about two years ago. At that time he underwent six months of chemotherapy and survived it.

It’s come back, as Johnny himself said, “To bite me on the arse. The doctors have given me four months to live - maybe.”

It appears that the non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is in 61 spots in his body. He knows he is not going to come out the other side. Typically, he is more upset for his adored wife, Margot, then he is himself. As he said to me he has had a long, colourful, varied and very gratifying life.

The Ferret changed this industry’s perception of itself and to the wider world. Johnny is 88 and if this industry has its icons, he is way, way up the totem pole. He kept truckies entertained for decades, via Big Rigs and Truckin' Life, with both his wit and his wisdom. His knowledge of the trucking industry and the people in it are second to none.

Commencing his writing career with Truckin'Life, Ferret walked out the door when an upstart deputy editor told him that his words "Weren't proper English". He was welcomed with open arms by Big Rigs and wrote in these pages for a time until, one day the editor told him that regretfully he would have to let him go as he was not a qualified journalist and the other 'qualified' journalists weren't happy. As Ferret puts it, "I write - therefore I am a writer."

His style resounded with the readers who made his columns the most popular of any in the publications in which he was published. He went beyond the pages of those publications, writing both songs and poetry which were released in book and CD form.

**The Brisbane Convoy for Kids of which Johnny was Patron**

Along with his writing, Ferret is the patron of many Convoy's for Kids around the country, co-founding the original event based in Brisbane in 1989. For his charitable work he received recognition in the form of an Order of Australia (OAM) Medal in 2014. He was also inducted into The Hall of Fame in 2002. For many years he loved packing up the caravan and heading for truck related events around the country with Margo.

From carting pineapples out of Yeppoon, to stock carting, through general haulage to tankers, Ferret pretty well did it all, and his writings drew on those experiences. To this day he continues to be bemused and humbled by the obvious esteem in which he is held. He related a story of attending a function of which he was patron. A couple came up to him and sheepishly asked if he was The Ferret. They then, even more sheepishly, asked if it would be ok if they could have a photo taken with him. They heard he would be at the do and had flown over from New Zealand just to meet him. "Couldn't bloody believe it!"

He and I have met just the once face-to-face, at the Brisbane Convoy for Kids many years ago. Like the NZ couple I asked if we could be photographed together as I am a great admirer of his writings. To my surprise and pleasure he returned the compliment. That photo sits on my desk to this day and we’ve kept in touch since.

Although in hospital, facing the biggest battle of his life, he took the time to call and have a chat. Ours is a more recent friendship than many but John Moran does not count friendship by years.

Ever the one to thank others he said, “The nurses and doctors pop in to see me to make sure I’m comfortable but there’s not a lot else they can do. The way they treat me is just wonderful.” As though he doesn’t deserve such care. That’s our Ferret.

The entire industry will be thinking about you, John, and collectively praying for peace to you and yours in the coming months. We love you mate.

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John Moran embodied all that is great about the trucking industry in Australia. But more importantly he has been one of the few who presented and represented the industry to the wider Australian public though his work with Convoy for Kids. That is possibly the greatest legacy he has given the industry.

The Ferret’s words will live on. His actions in bringing joy to so many ill children will live on. His generosity, giving and humbleness is something we can aspire to. His spirit will stay with us who have known and loved him.

For the final time, wherever you may be now, please Take care of You. Love ya mate.