Transmission April 2011 - National Road Transport Hall of Fame

$5
Issue No # 14: APRIL 2011
2011 NT Achiever Award for Liz
New in the Collection
Hall of Fame CEO Liz Martin, OAM recently won
the 2011 NT Achiever Award. This prestigious award
was announced by the Chief Minister, the Hon Paul
Henderson, at the Australia Day Gala Ball in Darwin.
Katrina Fong Lim Executive Director of the Australia
Day Council NT said that “Liz epitomises the NT
Achiever Award. From a refrigerated truck business
to CEO of the National Road Transport Hall of Fame,
Liz has proven that determination passion and
vision are all that is needed to succeed in the NT.
Her award is for outstanding service to Community,
and in particular the road transport industry.”
And Life Membership
for Debi Robinson
Congratulations Debi Robinson
on being awarded an Honorary
Life Membership. Debi was in the
first group of five to sign up
membership in 1992 and has been
a loyal supporter and dedicated
volunteer ever since doing
everything from collating camel
history, book-keeping, planting
trees and cleaning toilets. Debi
was also recently elected Secretary
This AEC Matador is in running condition and recently
arrived from Murray Bridge where it was operated by
Burbidge Bros. It is fitted with a Hastings Deering Cab
which is a little unusual. It has a 1/2 sleeper mounted on
the back of the cab and fuel tank mounted crossways
on the chassis. It came with a spare motor and gear box.
Mitchell Mayhem
This diesel Bedford, fitted with a Commair body, was
donated to the Society by Peter Bryant from Mobile
Productions. It is set up as two green rooms which have
been used on various TV production sites and movie
sets around the country over many years
This D-Line International was used as a tree lopping
truck by a local firm in Alice Springs. The truck, fitted
with a Perkins diesel runs well and the bucket works.
It was far from fun and
games as the two Mitchell
families made their move
from Victoria to Alice
Springs in December last
year. It’s hard to believe just
how many things can go
wrong on one trip.
Thankfully Sid Mitchell has
a great sense of humour
and you can read all about
it inside on page #16.
Christmas Party
Our volunteers had a great
time dressing up for the
Christmas Party which was
held on the veranda at the
Old Ghan Train Museum.
The rule was if you didn’t
come in costume you had to
make a donation to the
museum. Left is Lee
Davidson and Gypsi Ball
proving that angels do come
in red. Right is Yvonne Ball
dressed in all white with
blinking Christmas lights
and glittering bling adorned.
Have You paid Your 2011 MeMbersHip ?
Transmission
Kenworth and Dealer
Hall of Fame in print!
As part of Kenworth’s 40th anniversary of Australian manufacturing in
2011, we have just released a children’s book featuring the Hall of
Fame, an all new K200 and the original Grey Ghost, K125CR chassis
40008, the first truck offline at Bayswater on March 2 1971. Entitled
Kenny’s Great Adventure, the story follows Kenny as he travels to
Alice Springs and the Hall of Fame.
In an interesting twist however, the Grey Ghost currently on display at
the Hall of Fame is actually heading for Bayswater in February for a few
weeks. It will share the limelight there with the outstanding new 2011
model range, as a tangible reminder of how far Kenworth has come in 40
short years.
Since chassis 40008 came offline, there have been almost 45,000 trucks
designed and manufactured at Kenworth’s Bayswater plant; 54 models
that have collectively covered billions of kilometres across Australia’s
harsh terrain and toughest applications. Many thousands of Kenworth
owners and drivers have shared these kilometres, and created countless
stories and legends along the way. Some of these stories adorn the
walls of the Hall of Fame, providing rightful recognition for the pioneers
of road transport in Australia.
Hopefully the new children’s book can help to spark a similar interest in
trucking amongst the next generation of youngsters; an interest that
may develop into a life long passion for our dynamic and diverse road
transport industry in Australia.
Order Your Copy Today
$20 incl P&H
Due for
Release in
April 2011
Board Member Profile:
James (JJ) Hurley
James John Hurley (JJ) was born at Kyogle, NSW in 1942. He
began school at The Risk, where his parents, Jack & Thelma,
were living. After completing his intermediate certificate in 1958,
JJ went to work at the family business, Brown & Hurley, as an
apprentice motor mechanic at Kyogle.
In 1963 he moved to Brisbane to appraise vehicles and arrange
repairs on used trucks. He moved back to Kyogle in 1965 after
marrying Clare Donaghy from Mullumbimby to take up a position
in sales as Jack Hurley (JD) became more involved with the
Brisbane operation. Today JJ holds the position of Managing
Director and has worked in the family business for 52 years.
JJ is well renowned for his passion for the truck industry, his
commitment to customers and generosity to his local community.
He is a respected innovator of the transport industry and
supports many worthy causes on a national level including
several road transport industry associations and organisations.
John James has served on the Kyogle Golf Club Board for 23
years, including a term as President of the Club, and has been given a life membership. He served 11 years on the Northern Rivers District Golf
Association as Vice President. Since 1974 Brown and Hurley have conducted a Charity Golf Tournament attracting up to 300 players and raising
approximately $300,000 for local charities. JJ has also served as Chairman on the Kenworth Dealer Council Committee. Continuing on from their
success over recent years, the future looks remarkable for both JJ and the Brown and Hurley Group.
They have already delivered their 8000th Kenworth, celebrated 60 years in business in 2006, have seen 3 new dealerships up and running at Yatala
(between Brisbane and the Gold Coast) in 2008, Toowoomba in 2009 and Townsville which was opened in May 2010. Today, JJ’s two sons are both
working in the company. Tony Hurley being Dealer Principal at Toowoomba Dealership and Paul Hurley Company Accountant/Secretary and
Dealer Principal at Yatala Dealership.
JJ is on the Board of the Road Transport Hall of Fame and an active participant in all things relating to the Road Transport Industry including
restoration of vehicles the company has sold over the years. JJ was inducted into the Alice Springs Hall of Fame in 2006 in recognition of his
outstanding contribution to the Road Transport Industry. JJ has been active over the years working with customers and Kenworth engineers in
Queensland and NSW to develop purpose-built Kenworth models to suit a wide spectrum of prime movers from road train down to relatively small
construction trucks . Following on from his legendary father Jack Hurley (JD), JJ jointly manages the Brown & Hurley Group which accounts for
more than 30% of Kenworth’s Australian sales. The Brown and Hurley group today directly employs more than 350 staff throughout New South
Wales and Queensland and has annual sales in excess of AUD $330 million.
Transmission
Notice reuNioN
Board 2011
Board of Management 2011
C.E.O.
Liz Martin OAM
PATRON
Lew Couper
Chairperson
Kelvin Davis
Vice Chair
Russ Driver
courtesy of
David Kent
Put it in your diary now Vice Chair (and SA)
Treasurer
Marie Harrison
Secretary
Debi Robinson
26 -29 Aug
Assistant
to
CEO
Sid Mitchell
in
Entertainment
Greg
Livesay
Alice Springs
Kenworth
Jim Hurley
BOOK NOW
Old Ghan Railway
Peter Dendle
Ph 08 89527161 Victoria
Graham Holmes
Queensland
Louie Deen
West
Australia
Max
Winkless
The official journal of the
New South Wales
Bruce Gunter
Road Transport Historical Society
Tasmania
*VACANT*
and the Old Ghan Train Museum
Correspondence To:
The Editor, Liz Martin
PO Box 8099, Alice Springs, 0871
Phone Contacts
Truck Museum
Train Museum
CEO’s Office
Caretakers Res.
08 8952 7161
08 8952 7161
08 8953 8940
08 8953 2955
Chairperson
Kel Davis
0421 771 412
chair@roadtransporthall.com
Managing Editor
Liz Martin
0429 201 549
info@roadtransporthall.com
Advertising Representative
Kate Mitchell
08 8952 7161
truckshop@roadtransporthall.com
Contributions This Issue
Liz Martin
Kelvin Davis
Brian Goulding
Debi Robinson
Gemma Petras
Sid Mitchell
Editorial
Enquiries to the Editor. All members
and friends are invited to contribute
*****************************
Road Transport Historical
Society Incorporated
The Road Transport Historical Society
Inc. is a community based volunteer
organisation dedicated to the
preservation and presentation of our
unique transport history.
The National Road Transport Hall of
Fame in Alice Springs is the main project
of the Society. It is a collection of old
trucks, vintage and veteran cars and
collection of photographs and
memorabilia representing the diverse
operation of road transport in Australia.
This includes the magnificent Kenworth
Hall of Fame where the history of this
fine company is exhibited in a state-ofthe-art museum and display that is
constantly being upgraded.
We are also responsible for the Old Ghan
Train Museum which is an integral part
of Central Australia’s heritage. This
division boasts a tea-room, museum and
hopefully, train rides in the near future.
The newest part of the Museum is the
Cameleers Garden and display in the
Ghan Museum honouring the role of the
early camel men who pioneered both our
road and rail industries.
$20.00 per annum for three consecutive issues. (: Transmission Newsletter
is FREE to members)
The affairs of the RTHS Inc. and all its
divisions are managed by a Board of
Management duly elected by the
membership. All members of this Board
work in a voluntary capacity.
Disclaimer
Roving Ambassadors
Annual Subscription
The statements contained in this
publication, while based on information
believed to be true at the time of print,
are not in any way guaranteed or
endorsed. No liability will be accepted
by the Road Transport Historical Society
Inc. for accuracy or correctness of
content of any article or member
contributions.
3
Mick Clausen
Frank Whiting and Lee Davidson
Ray Parker and Sandra Sauer
Dianne and Kevin Shay
Greg Whitford and Annette Bateson
Yvonne Ball and Keith Holden
Sandra Sauer and Ray Parker
Elaine Ball and Larry Doneman
FROM
THE
CHAIR
by
Kel Davis
The summer is over for another year and
we are heading into another tourist
season; this one will be an interesting one
due to what’s going on overseas and with
the floods and cyclones in Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria and Western
Australia. Western Australia has had a
double whammy with floods in the north
and fires in and around Perth.
With the cyclones in Queensland and the
Northern Territory I am hoping that the
publicity does not stop our visitors
coming from overseas, although it could
help us with the domestic market. I must
say to all of our members who have been
effected by our unusual weather patterns
over this last summer, we feel greatly for
you and wish you all a speedy recovery.
The Annual General Meeting is over for
another year with three new faces Debi
Robinson who at last fills the vacant
Secretary’s job, Graham Holmes who
comes on to the outer board to help with
his vast financial experience and to rep
for Victoria and young truck enthusiast
Bruce Gunter representing our
membership in New South Wales. It is
also great to see our tried and true team
back on deck for another year. Thanks
also go to Rick Chambers who now resides
mostly in Queensland and retired as Vice
Chair earlier in the year. Thanks to those
who attended or sent in their proxy forms.
Kate Mitchell is settling in nicely as the
Office Manager and I can already see
improvements in the office, with the staff
and the following up with enquires from
members and customers. We welcome Sid
and Trice Mitchell back to the fold on site
to ease the load on everyone, Sid is
helping Liz as Assistant to the CEO and
continuing his role as Volunteer Project
Manager and Trice is managing our one
line eBay shop and mail orders. Their two
boys, Dylan and Trav are also a great help
around the place.
In finishing I would wish all our members
a prosperous year and hopefully one
without the bad weather we have had
over the last summer. It is going to be a
trying year for much of our membership.
Our thoughts are with you.
Keep on trucking
and stay safe.
By
Kel Davis
Transmission
Meet Your Returning Elected Board of Management Team for 2011
4
Kel Davis: Chairperson
Russ Driver: Vice Chair #`1
Kel Davis has been involved with the
Hall of Fame since 1994 serving as
Chairperson for the last six years. He
started off his working life on the family
farm in Corowa, NSW before deciding
he wanted to drive trucks. He
eventually went to coaches becoming
the NT Manager for both Deluxe
Coachlines and McCaffertys Coach
Lines. Kel’s portfolios are Fleet
Management and Grounds.
Russ Driver has operated Outback
Vehicle Recovery in Alice Springs for
30 years specialising in roadside
assistance and vehicle relocation from
motorbikes to roadtrains. Russ has been
involved in the Hall of Fame since the
beginning and was our inaugural
sponsor. Russ co-ordinates and
undertakes retrievals from all around
the country and heads up our
Retrievals and Restoration Team.
David Kent: Vice Chair #`2
Debi Robinson: Secretary
David Kent lives in Port Pirie SA where
he operates Port Pirie Bus Service and
Spencer Gulf Coaches as well as a
mechanical workshop. He is as an avid
transport enthusiast of both vintage
cars and trucks – especially his prized
Commer TS3 and Kenworth SAR. David
has been a member since we opened in
1995 and is responsible for Staff and
Board Liaison. He is also our rep for
SA and the bus/ coach industry.
Debi Robinson is a foundation member
signing up in 1992 years before we
opened. Ever since she has been a
dedicated volunteer stepping in whereever its needed. Known locally as the
“Camel Lady” she can often be found
in some remote location in the desert
taking her camels for a workout. Debi
is our Secretary and the Board Member
responsible for collating camel history.
Marie Harrison: Treasurer
Greg Livesay: Entertainment
Marie Harrison first came to the Hall of
Fame as a volunteer about 13 years ago
and has served on the Board of
Management for the past ten. Marie and
her husband Barry operate a painting
contract business in Alice Springs
employing up to 20 people at a time.
Marie is our Treasurer but is also the
Board member responsible for the Old
Ghan Tea Rooms, our “new” Bed and
Breakfast and assists with functions.
Greg Livesay called into the Hall of
Fame some ten years ago to see if he
could stay for a couple of weeks and
do some volunteering work. He’d just
finished with the Airforce where he’d
served as a steward. Greg and wife Gina
operating an entertainment business
called Slowcoach Entertainment and
can always be found at our functions
singing and dancing with his group.
Greg is our Entertainments Director.
Sid Mitchell: Asst to CEO
Graham Holmes: Victoria
Sid Mitchell served in the Airforce
before working in the smelter in
Gladstone. He then bought a
motorhome to travel Australia with his
family. Sid was our Victorian Rep for
several years until he decided to move
to Alice Springs last year. Sid can
always be counted on for a laugh. He
is our Board’s Volunteer Project
Manager and Assistant to the CEO.
Graham Holmes is an accountant and
has recently retired after serving 37
years with PACCAR. He and wife Paula
are regular visitors to the Hall of Fame.
Graham has worked tirelessly behind
the scenes with our Kenworth museum
for seven years andPaula lends a hand
in the Tea Rooms while they are here.
Today Graham and Paula enjoy
travelling Australia in their Trakmaster
off road van
Lew Couper: Our Patron
Louie Deen: Queensland
L ouie Deen is a Mack enthusiast
Lew Couper is our Patron. He has been
a supporter of the Hall of Fame since
incorporation in 1992. Lew has a long
history in livestock having served on
local, state and national bodies. he is
passionate about the next generation
of truckies. Lew retired a couple of
years ago and put his beloved truck
White truck, Old Red” here in the
museum. Lew looks after Western Aust.
Liz Martin: Our Chief Executive Officer
Liz Martin has been involved with the Hall of Fame since 1992 when it
was just an idea. She has always been an advocate for industry. She
see
served as President for 13 years before becoming the Chief Executive
Officer in 2004. She has always been involved with trucks in one way or
other from working for the Road Transport Association to owning her
own roadtrains. Liz is responsible for management of the Society.
through and through. Louie is responsible for kickstarting our Mack museum
at the Hall of Fame. He operates
Sailmove, a heavy haulage transport
business in Brisbane operating six
trucks and prime movers in tri, quad and
dolly, low loader, drop deck and road
train configuration. Sailmove also
manufacture trailers and dollies
Other Board Profiles:
James (JJ) Hurley..... Page 2
Max Winkless............ Page 5
Peter Dendle...............Page 5
Bruce Gunter...............Page 7
Transmission
5
Board Member Profile: Max Winkless
Well known transport identity Max
Winkless has been involved in the
Hall of Fame in one way or another
since the beginning particularly in
his role of Dealer principal of Mack/
Volvo/UD in Perth.
Back in the early 70’s, whilst he was
Managing Director of Volvo Australia
Max participated in all the Bus related
happening connected to establishing
them into the Australian market
including delivery of the first Volvo
B58 Coach to Ken Grenda and the
handover of the Volvo B58 bus to the
City of Brisbane.
Soon after, together with CMV’s Jim Crawford, Max handed over
the first Volvo Buses to the SA Trust. The order was so big CMV
undertook the assembly in Adelaide. In that era Max also played a
role in establishing the link between Volgren and Hess, a Swiss
alloy coach builder but while Volvo set up the initial contact and
agreements it became obvious it was better for Volvo to bow out.
In the late 70’s Max stepped down from his role as CEO of Volvo
Australia and purchased their WA Dealership. He was successful
in winning a tender for 75 Volvo B59 rear end buses for the Perth
Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT) they advised that we had
been successful with our tender for 75 Volvo B59 rear engine city
buses. The B59 went out of production soon after but the MTT
wanted the same chassis they had studied in the South Australian
fleet. In 1980 Max became a director of JW Boltons, then a second
generation Bus Body Builder.
Over the years Max had worked with DAF on various projects so
when Volvo took their rear engine B59 out of production he went
to DAF as they had produced a rear engine bus. On finding that
DAF had also dropped production, he was introduced to Bova
Coaches of Holland. It is interesting to note that a partner in Bova
was Piet van Doorne one of the sons of the founder of DAF Trucks.
From that initial visit Bova designed their first three axle coach for
the Australian Market resulting in some fifty three Coaches going
into service in Australia, most going into the BUS Australia Fleet.
Approximately half of these were built in Perth. Like Boltons and
many others Bova stopped production around 1990 due to the
demise of the long distance express coach business.
Bringing the unknown Bova to the Australian market presented
Max with many challenges. His answer was to buy a small coach
company, run the Coaches for a period of twelve months, then get
out of the coach business and sell the now established brand to
other users. Max was well aware that operators do not want to
support an oppositions business by buying their product.
Board Member Profile: Peter Dendle
Peter Dendle Writes; I am a long term
volunteer. My wife and I live in NE Victoria
and been travelling to Alice Springs for a
good many years where we stay for 6-8
months. We stay at The Old Ghan, where I
maintain and restore the rolling stock. I
also work at the Freight Terminal,
servicing and repairing locos and rolling
stock on the main Adelaide to Darwin line.
I am excited to be part of the team that will
get The Old Ghan up and running again.
We both have a passion for trains.After many years in the Royal
Australian Navy, looking inside a loco is very much like looking in
the engine room of a patrol boat.I am a fitter by trade so I feel my
knowledge will be a great benefit to the Old Ghan Railway.
Max Winkless, well known for his role in the early days of both
Mack and Volvo Trucks, was also instrumental in bringing
Bova Coaches to Australia and setting up Bus Australia.
An interesting point is that when the importation of the Bova was
put into operation the Dutch Guilder was 3 to AUD$1. In the time
it took to land the first coach exchange had gone to 2 Guilders to
AUD$1; this meant the coach he had planned to put on the market
for $200,000 went to over $330,000, which then about the same
price as an Austral or Denning Coach. He knew he would have a
hard task ahead convincing owners to switch to the new brand.
A series of coach operations were purchased and pulled together
into one company, BUS Australia Ltd. This included Quest Group
Tours SA, Across Australian Coachline, WA, Parlour Cars WA,
Intertour Qlds, Briscoe SA and several smaller operators. By 1990
BUS Australia had some 100 Coaches operating. They were mainly
Bova and Volvo and the business had a turnover of some $33m per
annum. At the time Greyhound and Pioneer both had about the
same size business and all three were on the verge of going out of
business due to the dramatic downturn of business resulting from
airline deregulation. Max recalls that in the mid-80’s there was a
minimum of 23 scheduled east west departure each day, with around
seven operators running the service.
Around this time McCafferty’s Coach lines had a major crash on
the Pacific Highway and this had a dramatic impact on loadings.
In 1992 Max negotiated with Greyhound and Pioneer directors for
BUS Australia, the only publicly listed company of the three, to
take over both Greyhound and Pioneer. Part of the arrangement
was that Bus Australia would change its name to Greyhound and
that Alan Crawford and Mel Tipper would run the new Greyhound
business allowing Max to go back to running his Volvo dealership.
Max felt the business plan at the time of the mergings was very
practicable and achievable but that necessary structural changes,
identified in the plan, were never made. Max sold his shares and
resigned from the board some 18 months later on seeing that the
essential changes were not being put in place.
Today Max is largely retired but still plays an active role in the
family business in Perth. Max is working with the Mack/Volvo
group to get a better Mack and Volvo Truck presence in a new
museum at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.
Framed, Matt
Mounted
Prints
Retail or
Wholesale
Queries
Welcome
Greg Whitford
Redsand Photographics
Ph: 0407186487
whitty58@msn.com
OUTBACK PHOTOGRAPHY
www. outbackphotography
redsandphotographics.synthasite.com
6
Transmission
Chief Executive Report
Our Strategic Goals for 2011 to 2015
vby Liz Martin
Even though this is our quiet time of the
year and visitor numbers are almost nonexistent, it is always a very busy time for
myself and the Board of Management.
Between November and February we have
an Annual Planning Meeting, two Executive
Meetings, the AGM and, it was time to look
at our five year plan again this year.
2011
1. To enhance or on-site communication by installing a phone
network system and UHF radios in all offices and work areas
2. To upgrade our website to interactive level including a forum
for restoration and an on-line shop linked to our eBay shop
3. To close in the Archive Room and install proper shelving
4. To erect a skillion on the “Home for Bertha” shed for a “Trucks
at Work” exhibition which will double as a function venue
5. To complete the Vehicular, Locomotive Asset Registers
6. Plan, design and install new landscaping at the front entrance
I have to say I am always impressed with both the diversity and
of the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame
the
wideofrange
of expertise our wider Board of Management
Hall
Fame
Old Ghan bring
Museum
7. Put backings on the Rotinoff and Shell sheds so that themed
to the table. Being involved on any committee can be a big time
truck displays can be set up in them on a permanent basis.
commitment eg; for those of us on the Executive who live in Alice
8.
Extend
the Shell Shed by two bays and set up permanently as a
Springs, but I am really pleased that every-one of our wider Board
Fire-engine
display (we have four now and two more coming)
of Management made the effort to come to Alice Springs for a few
2012
days to attend the AGM and/or participate in our planning forums.
1. Relocate the R.T.H.S. workshop to the Ghan Maintenance shed
and ensure Worksafe Compliance (to alleviate duplication)
I am often surprised at how little our membership actually
understands about how we operate this organisation. It is managed 2. Erect a purpose built Bus and Coach shed and relocate all our
bus and tourism displays (we have eleven in our collection)
as you are all aware, by a Board of Management that is duly elected
at our Annual General Meeting. This Board is made up of two 3. Complete the Cameleers Garden, W924 Locomotive Consist
and outdoor displays at the Ghan Legends Museum
components; The Executive which is made up of five positions;
Chair, two Vice Chairs, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Beyond this 4. Complete new front entrance area in Buntine pavilion
we have what we tend to call “the wider board” which is made up 5. To initiate Stage #1 of the Old Ghan Railway track re-alignment.
of people who have particular expertise or represent our 6. Put rear wall on the back of the Mack Museum and properly
membership and activities in other states. This includes our state
seal a secure exhibition room for Mack memorabilia.
representatives and people like Jim Hurley and Max Winkless who
2013
are responsible for specific divisions in the museum such as
1.
To
have
the
Old
Ghan
Train
fully operational including our RSU
Kenworth and Mack respectfully. The full list of who is responsible
Accreditation
and
Rail
Safety
Management Plan (stage #2)
for what portfolios is on the previous page.
2. To have all leases on RTHS and GPS land properly transferred
and titled as one singular Crown Lease (instead of current six)
The wider Board of Management participate in our planning
3.
To
implement major improvements with interpretive signage in
process bringing forward their plans and ideas. The Executive is
and interactive displays in all museums and buildings
responsible for policy, setting budgets and prioritising projects.
As Chief Executive Officer I am responsible, through contractual 4. To increase the train consist by restoring and making compliant
the other carriages and wagons in our collection.
arrangements, for implementation of the plan as well as the day to
day management of all aspects of the Society. I report directly to 5. To investigate possibilities and initiative a funding drive for
construction of another major truck exhibition hall.
our Vice Chair David Kent who is the Board Member responsible
for Staff Liaison however I enjoy a good working relationship with 6. To get Bus and Coach industry actively involved in our new
Bus and Coach display by incorporating a “bus” component
all our Board Members in their particular areas of responsibility.
into our Annual reunions
This is especially true for Sid Mitchell who has been our Volunteer
Project Manager for years. Sid now fills the newly created official 7. Paint the floor in the Buntine Pavilion.
position of ‘Assistant to the CEO’. Sid and I have always worked
2014
well together and with Sid now residing in Alice Springs I look 1. Improve seating and rest areas all around the grounds
forward to a productive year. I am also happy to see Debi Robinson 2. To have extra containers and freezer type reefer van in place in
take on the role of Secretary. She has helped me with this for
preparation for ReUnion 2015
twenty years without any recognition. I was pleased this year to 3. To have ceilings completed in all the rooms in the Shell Rimula
present her with an Honorary Life Membership for her contribution.
Wall of Fame and to complete glass cabinet displays within.
4. To have the camping area behind the Old Ghan maintenance
Last year was a huge year for me with ReUnion 2010 and some
facility completed with roadways and trees
personal issues to contend with as well. 2011 will be a year of 5. To have road construction and tractor displays established
consolidation for us so we can complete many of the projects we 6. To have significant improvements in security in high risk areas
set aside to work on the reunion. This includes things like our Rail 7. To have doubled our seating and catering capacity for function
Safety Accreditation and the Collection and other Registers. Our
and events in all three of our function areas.
focus this year will be on A) getting our vehicular collection under
2015
cover and B) completing the many projects we have underway.
From a staff and volunteer perspective we are looking at customer 1. To hold ReUnion 2015 twentieth anniversary celebration
service and time management as those are two areas I have identified 2. To have Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame expansion completed in
as being areas we can improve in. Our staff have already attended
time for launch at ReUnion 2015
a couple of training sessions and workshops in this area.
3. To upgrade and improve displays in all themed rooms at the
Hall of Fame including sourcing sponsors for two new rooms
Our Strategic Goals for the next five years are listed on this page. 4. Erect small shed for vehicle display.
While this appears simplistic each of those goals is backed up by 5. To significantly increase the on-site representation of all road
a plan, a budget and a time-line which I have to develop and
transport manufacturers and suppliers
implement. Each line involves a risk management assessment and 6. To have fully completed external perimeter fencing all around
identifying opportunities for sponsorship or in-kind support. It
the Hall of Fame and Old Ghan precincts
then broken down into smaller achievable projects which are either
If you can assist us in anyway with any of these
outsourced or developed into volunteer projects in consultation
goals please call Liz on mobile 0429 201 549 or
with the various division managers. We have always tried to run
this place as a business and I believe
email her at info@roadtransporthall.com
Liz Martin
that is why we are so successful.
Transmission
Board Member Profile: Bruce Gunter
Staff Training and Workshops
Bruce Gunter Writes: I left school to
become a motor trimmer due to my
love of old vehicles. My Dad refused
to encourage me in any involvement
in the Transport industry, however,
he was my greatest influence and at
about eight years of age he gave me a
photo album which had, amongst other
things, a series of black and white
photos of his Commer taken in the
early 50s including photos of the
Tarcutta bog from the same period.
There began a love affair with the history of road transport. My
earliest memories are of riding with my Uncle Ken in his 1967
Commer. He was a subcontractor with Brambles and listening in
awe to its 4/71 GM as he smoothly wound it through the gears. A
car accident in the mid 90’s saw me break my neck and I was lucky
not to sever my spinal chord which would have resulted in me
being a quad. I ended up with severe back and chronic neck pain
which resulted in me closing my trim shop eighteen months later
and undergoing spinal surgery – seven weeks before I got married.
After 12 months of rehab I ventured into my lifelong passion and
got involved in the transport industry as an Allocator for a sand
and gravel company in Sydney before becoming a full time driver
with an excavation company steering a truck and dog. My back
pain became stronger than my enthusiasm and I had to reluctantly
hand the keys back. I then moved into management and, nearly
eight years later, I am Transport Manager for a tipper and skip bin
company in Sydney where I manage sixty employees and get to
spec and build new trucks.
Apart from my 1957 Commer Knocker, restored with the help of my
friends, I have a ‘Commer’ Dodge D2F prime mover with a 4/53
Detroit, very similar to my Uncles. It is about to be restored and
will hopefully be driven to the reunion in 2015. I am passionate
about preserving our road transport history and making sure that
the hard yards that these pioneers traveled are not lost in time.
Meet Kate: Our New Office Manager
My name is Kate Mitchell, and I
have been employed by The
National Road Transport Hall of
Fame in the newly created position
of Office Manager. This role is to
support and assist the CEO,
Elizabeth Martin, in the day to day
operations, and management, of
what is now recognised as the
largest road transport museum in
the southern hemisphere.
A little about myself, I’ve been married for 19 years to yes, the
other Sid, we have three sons. My eldest is Zachary 15 years old
then comes Ryan 14 and Joshua 11. Josh has become the Hall
unofficial junior apprentice as he loves helping around the grounds
with his uncle Sid, Kel or anyone that has a job for him to do. We
had lived in Melbourne for the past 7 years where both Sid and I
were working. After coming to Alice to volunteer for the re-union
2010 we fell in love with the place, when we returned home we had
a think about what we were doing with our lives and our kids.
We really didn’t have to do much thinking to come to the decision
that Alice Springs was the place we needed to be. A safer
environment to raise our boys and fresh air which Melbourne
could no longer offer. so here we are in the lovely Alice Springs. I
am so looking forward to meeting our membership, supporters,
sponsors and truck enthusiasts and hearing some to those
wonderful stories that accompany them.
7
The Hall of Fame staff have recently participated in several NT
Business Month and Volunteering Australia Workshops to give
them a better understanding of the importance of consistency,
time management and good customer service. Gemma and Jakob
have been tasked with writing about how they can translate what
they have learnt into their jobs at the Hall of Fame and Old Ghan.
People, Planning and
Productivity
by Gemma Petras
Our Guest speaker, Wendy Morison,
has a passion for life that she also
puts into her work. Wendy is a
regular speaker at conferences,
workshops and seminars. She
travels all over Australia and
overseas helping businesses become
stronger and more successful.
One of the biggest customer magnets is consistency. Good
customer service, friendly faces and stock etc. One of the most
important issues with a food handling business is the consistency
of the food and drinks, how it tastes is the most important thing to
a customer if something is really good they will want to come back,
if they come back and have the same thing only it had been made
by someone else and does not taste as good or is not the same
they will decide to go somewhere else next time.
How do we solve this issue?
Step 1: First we need to discover the issue and look at the different
factors and issues that have caused the issue.
Step 2: Brainstorm with your Employer/employees to come up with
different ideas on how we can resolve this issue so that everyone
has a clear idea on how it is made, how it tastes.
But how do we insure that the food will taste the same as the last
time? Using the data acquired from the brainstorm and previous
knowledge, write up a procedure’s manual that all employees have
access to and can understand clearly. We can also help this issue
by having a quick instructions list/ guideline put up on display
next to the appropriate equipment. This will insure that the person
making the food will be able to check that they are doing it correctly
while they are working on it.
Another good idea is when we are inducting the new volunteers
to sit them down and go through the procedures manual this will
insure that the new volunteer will know a bit on how things are
done at the Hall of Fame and Old Ghan Legends museum.
We should not just rely on new volunteers reading it for themselves
as some of them don’t do it and then don’t understand some
things about how we operate particularly with occupational health
and safety issues and risk management. A copy of the volunteer
handbook should be kept in the Museums, Ghan Tearooms and
the restoration workshops and anywhere that volunteers work so
that the volunteers can refer back to it when they are at work.
Customer service in any business is very important, in a food
handling business everything that you do or say will reflect on the
business and your self personally. If you are friendly to the customer
they will more than likely decide to come back and bring other
people with them. If you are rude and act like you would rather be
somewhere else they will not come back and most probably tell
their friends and family that the business is no good and the staff
are rude. This is how you will lose most customers.
Word of mouth is a very large advertising resource especially in
the transport industry and in tourist attractions like the National
Road Transport Hall of Fame and the Ghan Legends Museum. As
staff, we are the first and last face our customers see.
Transmission
Our Outback Tourism Exchange 2011
An initiative of the Desert Knowledge
Australia facility in Alice Springs the ‘Our
Outback Tourism Exchange’ presented an
opportunity for tourism business in
Outback Australia to develop cross
regional business relationships with their
counterparts in other areas.
The Outback Tourism Exchange group
listening to Liz’s presentation.
Tourism operators came in from all over the
outback to share industry development
initiatives and their experiences and
knowledge. The idea was to assist cross
regional relationships and introduce
participants to potential packaging
initiatives and cross promotional activity.
Several operators in Alice Springs were
invited to present to this group. Our CEO,
Liz Martin, hosted two groups with a talk in
the Kenworth Museum followed by a
guided tour around the National Road
Transport Hall of Fame and the Old Ghan
Train Museum. Liz said the Exchange gave
people the opportunity to explore business
networks within the diverse Outback
regions of the country.
Sue Bray from Tourism Central Australia
shows the Outback Exchange group
through the Kenworth cut-away truck
display in the Kenworth Museum.
This year the Society will also work with
the Battery in Tennant Creek with a
restoration program and the Stuart Caravan
Park in Coober Pedy in establishing an Old
Ghan display that will promote our Ghan
Legends Museum in Alice Springs.
We have been able to proceed with this
thanks to our fundraising Mack dinner at
ReUnion 2010 where we raised another
$10,000 towards the project. (We have
already spent $70,000 there) and still have
a way to go. If you have any Mack
memorabilia around, we are looking for
signage, banners and items for our glass
cabinets. Alternatively you can join up as a
“Mack Mate” or corporate member and get
your name on our founders Board of
Honour. There is an application enclosed
in this newsletter. If you are not a ‘mack
man’, please do us a favour and hand it on
to some-one in your area who is.
Stage #1 of our Mack Museum already
houses several B model and other mack
trucks that belong in our collection.
The building will also house visiting
Macks. This one belongs to David Walsh
in Port Pirie and has visited often.
Old Ghan Train
Museum
and Tea Rooms
Why not take the time while you are
here to have a look through our train
museum and browse around our bird
feeding area and Cameleers Garden.
The Bedford blower which will soon be set
up in the Hall of Fame grounds to promote
the Old Timers Mine in Coober Pedy.
We will be doing some more work on our
Mack shed this year including closing in
the back wall. Ultimately we will be closing
in two of the bays to house our growing
Mack Memorabilia collection securely.
The National Road Transport Hall of Fame
has been identified as a leader in this area
has good working relationships with
several like minded museums and tourist
attractions around the country including
Tennant Creek and Winton as well as both
the Old Timers Museum and the Stuart
Caravan Park in Coober Pedy, SA. Liz said,
“We have worked very well over the past
few years cross promoting our truck and
train museums with the Old Timers Museum
in Coober Pedy. We are now taking that to
another level with a blower truck display
promoting Coober Pedy in our grounds. We
will also be putting a display at the Old
Timers mine inviting travellers to visit our
museums when they get to Alice Springs.”
Trevor Berry from the Old Timers Mine in
Coober Pedy and RTHS CEO Liz Martin
are already firm believers in cross
promoting their tourist attractions.
8
Located right next door to the National
Road Transport Hall of Fame
*
*
*
*
*
*
tea and coffee
fresh baked scones
cake and cookies
fresh sandwiches
pies and pasties
cold drinks.
Transmission
Kurt Johannsen’s
1942 Diamond
T roadtrain and
self-track
trailers
new
truck
displays
for the National
Road Transport
Hall of Fame
9
Trucks In Action Workshop News
Display Gets Underway
and how you
can help us
Our 1934 AEC eight wheeler
“Government” roadtrain.
One of the things that has been missing from the Hall of Fame is how we display and
interpret our most precious roadtrains. We are fortunate to hold some of the world’s
rarest trucks in our collection. Not only are they unique but each holds a special part in
the development of the Australian Outback and modern multi-trailer combinations. We
are now going to ensure that these mighty workhorses of yesterday get a home of their
own and that their trials and tribulations are properly interpreted and presented.
We also have a situation where our “Home
for Bertha” shed is packed so tightly with
trucks it is almost impossible to walk
between them. We have done this to keep
the trucks out of the harsh Central
Australian sun but it is certainly not
conducive to visitors being able to take
photos or read the interpretive signage.
For this reason we have decided to extend
this building by another two bays which
will allow us plenty of room to show our
other roadtrains in all their glory. The
building already houses Bertha, Kurt
Johannsen’s legendary 1942 Diamond T
and self tracking trailers. She’ll soon be
sharing her space with Julie, our 1957
Rotinoff Viscount, our 1934 AEC
‘Government Roadtrain” and our White
roadtrain and cattle crates. The idea is to
show these trucks as they would have
operated on the highways complete with
loads they would have hauled. Several
semi-trailers will also be included.
While we have a fantastic collection of
trucks in our Buntine Pavilion most are
shown as prime-movers as there simply is
not enough room to display them with
trailers or loads. We see showing what
trucks do in our community as an essential
part of our role at the Hall of Fame and with
50,000 visitors a year we are ideally
positioned to do so. The new skillion on
Bertha’s shed will allow us to do that
complete with interpretative signage and
plenty of room to take photos. Visitors will
also be able to enjoy a good look at some
of the more unique features of these great
trucks in a
pleasant
area.
Vestey’s 1957
Rotinoff Viscount.
As members will be aware, we currently
house the AEC and the Rotinoff in separate
smaller sheds better suited to housing
smaller trucks. By moving them into a bigger
shed we can not only better display them,
and tell the story of the roadtrain, but it
frees up another dozen spaces for us to put
smaller trucks in under cover and better
interpret those as well.
The 1918 Maudslay bus we purchased at
auction in Geralka last year has been
tuned up and runs well. She has been
sanded down and repainted in our colours
and is just awaiting signwriting.
With four fire engines in our collection and
another two due to come in from interstate
we are going to convert our “Shell Shed”
into a fire engine display. The AEC shed
will house our small but growing military
vehicle collection and we are yet to decide
what would be best placed in the Rotinoff
shed as it has seven good bays.
During the next year we will also be
consolidating our earthmoving equipment
into a roadbuilding display in the grounds
and doing something with our tractors
which are just parked willy nilly around the
grounds without any real rhyme or reason.
How You Can Help
Work is progressing steadily on our S1
Kenworth with the chassis and motor
ready to go. The cabin and bonnet are in
Port Pirie with David Kent for completing
and painting. Special thanks to Shirley
Pomery (original donor) who dropped in
out of the blue with manuals, parts books
and photographs earlier this month.
It goes without saying that we always
welcome sponsors in developing any of our
projects but we understand that times are
hard and welcome your support in other
ways. Please contact Liz if you can assist.
Curtain Sides: one side of the building
will feature full length (60m) of curtain sides.
This is an ideal opportunity to show your
company logo in the Hall of Fame.
Turntables, Landing Legs and Dogs: The
new display will incorporate several smaller
displays showing developments in
componentry. We are looking for items to
like landing legs, turntables, ringfeeders,
and chains and dogs.
Photographs: Most trucking companies
around the country have a few old photos
laying around of their trucks in action. We
would prefer these already framed or
mounted. The more we have the better.
Beetle, as Liz has fondly nick-named our
three wheeled Scammell Scarab, has had
some initial work done in readiness for
restoration thanks to Mick and Ron. The
brakes have been repaired on the primemover and trailer and the locking
mechanisms operational. A full assessment
is now being undertaken.
16
Transmission
centre spar was ripped off so we had to tie the awning down
Look Out Alice - Here We Come! The
by wrapping rope around the whole bus. We looked like the
The Saga of the Mitchell Families’ Trip to the Centre
Sid Mitchell Writes: We decided last reunion that we couldn’t
stay away from the Hall of Fame, so after a family conference we
all agreed “look out N.T. here we come”. We left cold overcast
Country Victoria on the 20th of December Sid Jr driving 40ft
coach towing a 18ft caravan. Sid’s wife Trice followed behind in a
car then came Sid Snr and wife Kate in their station wagon towing
a trailer (with stretch marks) . Following them was a brand new
“P” plate driver with four of his mates, towing a trailer too. All up
our intrepid group of travellers consisted of four adults, nine
teenagers, six dogs and a pet rat.
Day #1: Made it to Dimboola which is about 200km down the
road, only to find the not so good welding job (done in Darwin) on
the bus tow bar, breaking off, so it was in for a repair which included
major welding of the tow hitch back onto the bus. We camped the
night at the local caravan park with a population of seven
permanent, four itinerants, us and 65,000,000,000 Mosquitoes.
Day #2: After getting rained on all night and eaten alive we
soldiered on. Only to get down the road to Nhil where the sides of
the caravan stated to slip down past the chassis (bugger). Another
visit to the local welder! Three hours later with 90mm angle iron
welded from front to back on both sides of the van off we went
again. Another hour down the track and off blew the caravan door
and some of our gear decided to jump while it had the chance, I
didn’t know any of this cos the family road train behind me were all
swerving and stopping picking up the gear. I was missing all the
radio calls telling me to pull over cos I got out of range, Oops!
One of the bags that flew out just so happened to be the beloved
Xbox, (that didn’t go down well). Trice (my wife) stopped and
picked up the door and had a bit of trouble fitting it in the small car
they were driving. Through the back windows it went and when
some emus decided to run out in front of them and one had to duck
fast or get its head taken off with the wing door. Ha Ha, it looked
like some sort of weird car/plane comin down the road when they
finally caught up with me. The door was then totally screwed on
and my patience starting to run low!! But on, on, on we go. With
no more unscheduled hold ups and a big day of stop start for the
kids and dogs to have a piddle at every passing tree we finally
made it to Loxton, SA for a well earned beer.
Day # 3 Looking at Loxton through the rear mirror, off we go again.
Through Berri and Morgan. The convoy stopped at the famous
Shoe and Undie Tree, which is about 70 klm’s west of Morgan for
a photo shoot. Some of the boys decided this was a great time to
trade in their shoes for some newer ones (bloody idiots), hanging
their old ones back up on the tree. By the time we got going again
the wind had picked up to a gale force and the caravan was being
blown all over the place. Next thing we know the 30 foot roll out
awning on the bus let go and ended up laying across the roof. All
I could say was “what the”!
Beverley hillbillys! Through Burra, Crystal Brook and Pt Augusta.
By now I am starting to get paranoid about every little noise and
kept a close eye on the caravan in the reversing camera. The road
east of Pt Augusta has a stretch with large dips in it and I am
watched the van go up and down and then....it didn’t come back
into view. Madly braking I pulled up and stuff me if the A frame on
the caravan hasn’t half come off the Chassis. After lots of
discussion the consensus is we can drill through the van floor and
chain the A frame to the Chassis and limp into Pt Augusta for yet
ANOTHER REPAIR. Try getting four adults, nine kids,six dogs
and a rat into a caravan park! We stayed the night at the Greyhound
Club (thanks guys for giving a bit of Christmas spirit to the needy)
The next day local welders did a great job of putting the A frame
back on and installing extra sub frame supports. This is starting to
look like a tank. Nothing is going to stop us now, yea right!!! We
then drove a four inch nail through a brand new car tyre which
couldn’t be repaired and had to change a tag axle tyre on the bus.
Day #4: Bye Bye Pt Augusta and another day of adventure starts.
The road trip with all its “events” was constantly being up loaded
to Facebook for all to have a laugh. Needless to say some of the
parents started to call to see if we are going to make it? YES, YES
WE ARE!!!!! I declare. Today IS going to be “ event free”. I was
saying just that on the UHF set as we passed Lake Hart lookout,
when we blew a tyre on a trailer. With that fixed the convoy headed
off again with a not a lot to be said over the UHF about breakdowns.
By late afternoon it was getting pretty hot so camp was pulled at
Glendambo for a swim and another well earned beer. The flies are
very friendly at Glendambo and by the way they got into our
dinner (before we could) they haven’t had a good feed in a while.
Great place to camp anyway when you have a big tribe travelling.
Day #5: We left Glendambo early, intent on getting a good start in
the cool weather. We pushed on making the most of our new found
good luck, WRONG!!! 100 metre from a roadside stop the caravan
disappeared from the reversing camera again and a mad yelling
noise came over the UHF from the boys behind. WHAT NOW!!!!
The supposedly indestructible caravan was all good except the
axle had broken sending a light truck tyre careering down the
highway with the hub still connected. Luckily no traffic was coming.
The boys said it was on fire when they went to pick it up. I was
starting to lose my cool only to find the rest of my crew laughing
hysterically and, of course I had to join. The axle was the only
thing not rebuilt and reinforced on the whole caravan.
Enough was enough and being in the middle of nowhere with a
broken axle, snapped stubs and only 2 leaf springs left on each
side (bitumen does wonders to springs at 80 Km/hr) I spat it. @#@@
the caravan! We unloaded the supposedly indestructible caravan
into the bus and that was no mean feat. Imagine a 40 foot coach
loaded roof to floor front to back. I could reach around from the
driver’s seat and touch all of my worldly goods, plus three dogs
who had been evicted from the other vehicles because of something
bad they had eaten the day before! At this point we decided to
travel on as far as we could or until lady luck abandoned us again.
At 11pm that night we finally pulled into The National Road
Transport Hall Of Fame only to be welcomed by all who were
living on site with some wally setting off fireworks and guiding us
in with aircraft beacons. As we entered the camping area a group
of ‘not to be named’ people welcomed us with their pants around
there ankles and a right royal brown-eye. What a welcoming party!
Unbeknown to me everybody at the Hall of Fame had been
following our daily sagas and were quite surprised we had actually
made it. Liz was the first to greet me with a big hug and a cold beer.
It’s great to feel so welcome here. That’s why we moved back!
Thanks must go to all the people who helped us get to Alice springs.
Of course, that is minus one mongrel troublesome caravan which
now resides along the highway for all to use as overnight
accommodation if they like.
Transmission
The Story of the Humble Wheel
17
One of the world’s greatest inventions. But who did it?
Every where we look today we see wheels. On all our planes, trains and automobiles as
well as in a myriad of other places. What could we move without wheels? As important as
the wheel is its not really possible to pinpoint an actual inventor. The oldest wheel found
was discovered in Mesopotamia in an archeological excavation. It’s over 5500 years old.
Early humans realised that heavy objects could be moved easier if something round, for
example a fallen tree log, was placed under it and the object rolled over it. They also
found that if logs and sticks were placed under an object they could drag it along.
In the beginning
Caoutchouc
Eventually the two were joined together Caoutchouc is natural substance that had
using several logs or rollers in a row. As been used for centuries before being
grooves the rollers it was found they rediscovered by Columbus and introduced
actually worked better. This was simple to westerncahwood.” Natural rubber was
physics, if the grooves had a smaller harvested from the sap that oozed from the
circumference than the unworn parts of the bark of a tree. The name “rubber” comes
roller, then dragging the sledge in the from the use of the natural substance as a
grooves required less energy to create a pencil eraser that could “rub out” pencil
turning motion but created a greater marks and it was used in many other
distance covered when the larger part of products but they became brittle in winter.
the log roller turned. The log roller was Many inventors of the era tried to invent
becoming a wheel. Humans then got the new uses for the substance and others tried
idea to cut away the wood between the two to develop a rubber product that could last
inner grooves to create an axle and the very year-round. Charles Goodyear was one of
those inventors. His experiments put the
first, albeit crude, carts were created
Goodyear business right into debt and
involved in several patent lawsuits.
First Carts
Wooden pegs were used to fix the sledge,
so that when it rested on the rollers it did Charles Goodyear
not move, but allowed the axle to turn in- Charles Goodyear received his first patent
between the pegs, the axle and wheels now in 1837 (US patent #240) for a process that
created all the movement. These were the made rubber an easier product to work with.
first carts. Eventually the fix axle developed However, this was not the patent Charles
where the axle did not turn but was solidly Goodyear is best known for. In 1843,
connected to the cart frame. Fixed axles Charles Goodyear discovered that if you
made for stable carts that could turn corners removed the sulphur from rubber then
better. By this time the wheel was considered heated it, it would retain its elasticity. This
process, called vulcanization, made rubber
a complete invention.
waterproof and winter-proof and opened
But what about the wheel in modern terms. the door for a enormous market for rubber
Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized goods. Goodyear was granted patent #3,633
rubber in 1844. It is this product that was for vulcanized rubber on 24 June 24, 1844.
later used for the first tyres. A year later That was not the end of it. Others claimed
Robert Thomson patented the first actual that Goodyear stole the idea.
vulcanized pneumatic tyre but while it was
acknowledged as working well it was far to The case ended up in the Circuit Court of
costly to catch on. It was over forty years New Jersey in 1852. In the case of Goodyear
later, in 1888, that John Dunlop invented vs. Day, for infringement of the patent,
and patented his design of pneumatic (air Goodyear was represented by Daniel
filled) tyres although, at the time they were Webster. Webster, in the course of his plea
only used on bicycles. Dunlop was a drew from himself the attention of those
Scottish veterinarian with a passion for hanging upon his words and pointed to his
cycling. It was Philip Strauss who, in 1911, client. Goodyear was a man of fifty-two but
first tried the combination of a rubber tyre looked fifteen years older; sallow and
with an air-filled inner tube. He sold these emaciated from disease. Webster claimed
through his business the Hardman Tire and Goodyear as inventor of the process which
Rubber Company.
put rubber into the service of the world.
Websters words have become well known.
By this time the Goodyear Tire Company
had already patented a tubeless tyre but it Daniel Webster’s Famous Words
didn’t really have any commercial success “And now is Charles Goodyear the
until the 1954 Packard. In 1904, mountable discoverer of this invention of vulcanized
rims were introduced that allowed drivers rubber? Is Charles Goodyear the first man
to fix their own flats and by 1908, Frank upon whose mind the idea ever flashed, or
Seiberling had invented grooved tyres to whose intelligence the fact ever was
which gave improved road traction and by disclosed, that by carrying heat to a certain
1910 the BF Goodrich Company were adding height it would cease to render plastic the
carbon to the rubber to extend the life of India Rubber and begin to harden and
the tyre. Goodrich also invented the first metallize it?
synthetic rubber tires in 1937 made of a Is there a man in the world who found out
that fact before Charles Goodyear? If
patented substance called Chemigum.
Mr. Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear did not make this
discovery, who did make it? Who did make
it? Why, if our learned opponent had said
he should endeavor to prove that some one
other than Mr. Charles Goodyear had made
this discovery, that would have been very
fair. On the contrary they do not meet
Charles Goodyear’s claim by setting up a
distinct claim of anybody else.
They attempt to prove that he was not the
inventor by little shreds and patches of
testimony. Here a little bit of sulphur, and
there a little parcel of lead; here a little degree
of heat, a little hotter than would warm a
man’s hands, and in which a man could live
for ten minutes or a quarter of an hour; and
yet they never seem to come to the point. I
think it is because their materials did not
allow them to come to the manly assertion
that somebody else did make this invention,
giving to that somebody a local habitation
and a name. We want to know the name,
and the habitation, and the location of the
man upon the face of this globe, who
invented vulcanized rubber, if it be not he,
who now sits before us.
Well there are birds which fly in the air,
seldom lighting, but often hovering. Now I
think this is a question not to be hovered
over, not to be brooded over, and not to be
dealt with as an infinitesimal quantity of
small things. It is a case calling for a manly
admission and a manly defense. I ask again,
if there is anybody else than Charles
Goodyear who made this invention.
Is the discovery so plain that it might have
come about by accident? It is likely to work
important changes in the arts everywhere.
It introduces quite a new material into the
manufacture of the arts, that material being
nothing less than elastic metal. It is hard
like metal and as elastic as pure original gum
elastic. Somebody has made this invention.
That is certain. Who is he? Mr. Goodyear”
Goodyear went on to win the case.
Transmission
BUY A BRICK
he
t
e f
Giv ift o
G
ip
h
rs
e
b a rick
m
M e or al B in
ri man e
o
m the r lif
e
M to you
Remember a loved one, an old
trucking company or era, pay
tribute to your mates or even an
old workhorse from yesteryear
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Road Transport Historical Society
PO Box 8099 (2 Norris Bell Ave)
Alice Springs, NT, 0871, Australia
Phone: 08 89527161 Fax: 08 89529895
Email: info@roadtransporthall.com
TRUCKS
Card Number
Expiry Date
Check Spelling and Dates are Accurate
Security Number
Amount $
TRAINS
Memorial Park
Date
Signature
in memorial to your loved ones
Name
CHEQUE / MONEY ORDER
Address
Phone
Email
TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP (AUD$)
Pensioner
$25 pa
Single
$65 pa
Friend
$22 pa
Corporate
$250 pa
Life
$1,100 life
Gold
$5,000 life
Platinum
$10,000 life
Inductee
FOC 1st yr.
Subscription
to newsletter
$27.50 pa
Memorial Park is located in the grounds of the
National Road Transport Hall of Fame in bushland
setting with large sand stones placed around a
small dam. It is the ideal serene setting to inter or
place a memorial to your loved one in a real
truckie’s place.
OPTION 1. The cost of any placement of ashes,
plaques or other memorial items in Memorial Park
is a standard $50.00 if you supply the item.
OPTION 2. If you want us to arrange the plaque
for you the cost is $200.00 for the supply of a
standard brass plaque (A5) which will be mounted
on the stone of your choice in the garden setting.
Please make payable to R.T.H.S and post to:
Road Transport Historical Society Inc.
PO Box 8099, Alice Springs, NT, 0871,
DIRECT DEPOSIT
Name: Road Transport Historical Society
BSB:
015881
Account: 2575 49867
1. Please use your name as the reference
2. Post forms to address at bottom of page
OR fax to 08 89529895 or 08 89538940
Your Details
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Address
Annual Subscription
for Transmission Newsletter
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OPTION 1 : Wording on your Plaque
(Maximum: 200 characters over 8 lines)
ew
n
($250 - $5,000. Call Liz for more info)
**************************
Mack Mates Club
Pay only $20.00 for the next four issues
of Transmission Newsletter. Price
includes handling, postage and GST.
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the Road Transport Historical Society
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RENEWAL.
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dates accurate.
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Thankyou for your Support
RETURN TO : Road Transport Historical Society Inc., PO Box 8099, Alice Springs, NT, Australia 0871
OR fax 08 89529895 OR email info@roadtransporthall.com OR for any enquiries call 08 8952 7161
Transmission
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THE HILLS OF ADELAIDE
ROAD RUN for 2011
11th & 12th June
Open to
to any
Open
any
commercial
commercial
vehicle
built
vehicle built
before
before1981
1981
You will enjoy steering your historic vehicle through
some of the most scenic country that South
Australia has to offer, from gentle rolling hills to
something a little more challenging.
We have chosen an interesting route through
quaint villages, secluded forests and lesser used
ƌŽĂĚƐ͙͘͘Ăůů ƐĞĂůĞĚ͘ >ĞĂǀŝŶŐ EƵƌŝŽŽƚƉĂ ŽŶ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ
morning, we travel to Lobethal for lunch and a
display open to the public, then on to Hahndorf for
our overnight stay. We can share our experiences
over a hearty country cooked meal provided by a
Hahndorf establishment.
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ENQUIRIES
Judy Craig
Judy Craig
08 8522 1055
08
8522 1055
judycraig8@bigpond.com
judycraig8@bigpond.com
Murray Langford
Murray Langford
08 8725 5809
08 8725 5809
We have another public display at the Hahndorf
oval on Sunday morning before leaving on our
return trip to Nuriootpa via Birdwood National
Motor Museum, a more easterly but equally
interesting route.
+ $ 8 / , 1 ¶ THE H U M E
O L D
H U M E
H I G H W A Y
R O A D
R U N ² A U G U S T
2 7 T H - 2 8 T H
2 0 1 1
3rd Hunter Valley
Commercial Vehicle Show
Free entry for vehicle exhibitors
All sizes and makes of vintage
commercial vehicles welcome. Contact
Scott Fayth: 0423 250 433
Paul Campbell 0419 430 825
r
e
t
s
u
M
k
c
u
r
T
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
14 -15th May 2011
Richmond Vale
at the Railway
Museum
Join us for a nostalgic trip retracing as much of The Old
Hume Highway as possible South out of Sydney and
WESTERN SYDNEY
HISTORICAL
TRUCK CLUB
relive some of the sounds, sights and smells of the preemissions era.
ORGANISERS
Ron Kirk
Phone: 0408 625 573
Email: shirlandron@hotmail.com
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Highway 31 down through Camden, up over Razorback,
Bruce Gunter
Phone: 0424 172 877
Email: bruceg@bingogroup.com.au
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picturesque drive through Mittagong, Berrima, Marulan,
Goulburn, and eventually into Yass.
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QLJKW¶ZKHUHVRPHKLVWRULFURDGWUDQVSRUWSKRWRVZLOOEH
shown along with first hand stories of life on the road.
Contact the organisers to
receive an entry form and
accommodation information.
Entry fee $25.00 per vehicle
Everyone with a love
of Australian Road
Transport History
welcome
Email
hvtruckmuster@hotmail.com
Web Page
www.hunteroldtrucks.com
A two day
event including:
• Vintage commercial vehicles
• Steam train rides
• Toy and model show
• Vintage farm machinery
Proudly hosted by the Hunter Valley Classic Commercial Vehicle Club
Transmission
25th -31st August 2010
New LiNeN tea-toweL or waLL HaNgiNg Just $15 iNCL. post
We have 1000 of these to go. All Proceeds go to our new “Trucks In Action” semi and roadtrain display in the Museum