Transmission July 2008 - National Road Transport Hall of Fame

Transmission
$5
Issue No # 6 : June - August 2008
Thanks Trafalgar!
Volunteers: our “wow” factor
Liz and Kel travelled to Victoria in their
F8000 fifth wheeler to attend Trucks in
Action as guests of the Trafalgar Truck
Restorers Club. As usual the hospitality
was amazing. Thanks to John, Liz, Delsa,
Jim, Max and all concerned. Also there
were members and fellow enthusiasts ......
Its a hive of activity at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame
and Old Ghan museums as we ready ourselves for ReUnion
2008 and the Annual Shell Rimula Wall of Fame inductions.
CEO Liz Martin said she was “We aim to hit our membership
again amazed at the calibre of with a “Wow Factor” every year
inductees to the Shell Rimula and this year is no different.”
Wall of Fame for 2008.
Chairman Kel Davis said that
“This is truly an extraordinary members who haven’t been for
industry”she said, “we seem to a couple of years are going to
have a never ending wealth of be knocked off their feet. There
worthy pioneers out there from are work groups everywhere.
Bob Imlach with his beloved ‘84 W Model
all sectors of industry and all
areas of Australia and I am
continuously staggered that
Australia’s mainstream scribes
and historians have by-passed,
downplayed and even misrepresented the contribution of our
pioneering road operators.”
Liz said the inductions would
be slightly different this year as
the Wall of Fame area was in
the middle of a major upgrade
so that more wall space was
being created for frames.
Welcome Reena & Gemma
ByJakobKlunyk
Jim Bury in his prized Studebaker
We have two new
people who have
joined us. They are
Reena Vazhayil in
the Old Ghan
Museum (left) and
Gemma Petras in
the Hall of Fame
office (below left) .
These two young
ladies are doing
traineeships and
have very quickly
become part of our
museum family.
Ian Lathan’s Diamond / Inter crossbreed
INSIDE: why red & yellow? Why the shell?
Max Devlin’s immaculate 30cwt ’28 Dodge
“At the moment we have thirty
volunteers working flat out and
as we lead up to the reunion we
will have around fifty. They
not only create our wow factorthey are our wow factor. We
could not do it without them”
TOP PHOTO : Vicki and Reena
in the newly created Old Ghan
Souvenir and gift Shop.
LEFT PHOTO: Paul, Annette
and Judy put some real elbow
grease into concreting the floor
of the Shell shed
Vale Ken Leake
By Alan Cousins
People right
throughout the
national road
transport
industry were
saddened last
month by the
passing of well
known identity
Ken Leake.
Ken began his working career in 1942 as
an apprentice motor mechanic working at
Cheney’s in Melbourne. In 1951 he
purchased the Border Service Station in
Buronga and from that humble beginning
he founded Buronga Truck Sales &
Service Pty Ltd which in 1981 saw
relocation and expansion across the river
and a name change to Mildura Truck
Centre. Ken was a man of uppermost
integrity who earned the respect of all.
The RTHS Board of Management, staff
and volunteers join people throughout
the industry in extending their sincere
condolences to Ken’s wife Valli and the
Leake families.
Transmission
Brown & Hurley Kyogle has won the prized 2007 Kenworth Dealer
of the Year award for the 6th record-breaking time.
The Kenworth Dealer of the Year award is regarded as the industry’s
highest accolade. Recognising overall dealer excellence, the award is
based on a points system across four main areas including general
dealership performance, truck sales, parts sales and service.
At a ceremony held at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort in Adelaide,
Kevin Hurley, Dealer Principal of Brown & Hurley Kyogle and son of
the co-founder, said his dealership was delighted to be acknowledged.
“It doesn’t matter how many times we win the Kenworth Dealer of the
Year award, it’s always a great honour to be recognised for our
achievements and commitment to our customers and the industry. It’s
also wonderful to work with Kenworth, both the company and its
range of trucks. Kenworth supplies us with such durable, reliable
products and excellent support, it makes our job easier.”
In presenting the award, Kenworth’s Managing Director, Joe Rizzo,
said Brown & Hurley Kyogle continued to excel, setting a strong
example for other dealers not only within the Kenworth network but
the industry as a whole. “Kyogle was the first dealership in the Brown
& Hurley group, and it continues to be a force to be reckoned with.
The dealership continues to win the Kenworth Dealer of the Year award
because it continues to focus on the most important factor in business
– customers – and provides them with the highest standards in service
and professionalism. Kenworth awards foster and encourage
excellence in all of our truck dealers.
They provide a win-win for all parties, particularly the customer, who
benefits from a professional network of truck dealers second to none
in Australia,”
Kyogle is a relatively small town in northern NSW, but it has become a
transport hub that is only 90 minutes from the Gold Coast, Darling
Downs, Grafton and the Tablelands. Brown & Hurley Kyogle services
a broad area, extending east to the Pacific Highway and as far west as
Mungindi on the NSW-Queensland border and as far south as Grafton.
The dealership features also features sixteen service bays which can
also accommodate B Doubles. It has a full-length drive through pit, a
number of hydraulic hoists, a range of diagnostic equipment for
Caterpillar and Cummins engines as well as specialist PACCAR
diagnostic equipment for the DAF truck range.
In recent years, the Kyogle dealership has undergone a number of
improvements, including a new drivers’ lounge and library, expanded
undercover parking and a larger supermarket-style parts facility.
“Because we are close to several major areas, our customers use
Kenworth trucks for a wide range of applications. We sell trucks for
plantation logging, sugar and livestock haulage in the east, bulk tippers
in the west and general interstate freight along the coast,” Kev
commented. “The lion’s share of our customer base is in small fleets.
We also have some larger fleets of 50 or more trucks as well as ownerdrivers. It doesn’t matter what size our customers’ businesses are,
they are all treated with respect and prompt service. And that’s made
easy by working with Kenworth. Their trucks are Australian designed
and built, so they suit any customer in any industry, particularly those
with demanding applications.”
At the Presentation L-R ; Peter Langworthy - Kenworth
National Truck Sales Manager, Rob Brown - Brown & Hurley
Dealer Principal Brisbane, Kev Hurley - Brown & Hurley
Dealer Principal Kyogle, Jim Hurley - Brown & Hurley Group
General Manager, Joe Rizzo - Kenworth Managing Director.
Kevin said the secret to Brown & Hurley’s success was the calibre of
staff employed. “Our staff are extremely dedicated to the business and
to our customers. All of our departments work extremely closely together,
so that they provide a seamless service for our customers. “And that
dedication extends to our employees’ families.
A lot of our staff spend extended periods away from home, and it’s all
made possible because of the support of their families. They’re the
unsung heroes in this business and they deserve the credit for this
award. We should know. Brown & Hurley is a long established family
business, and we couldn’t achieved what we did without the support of
our families as well,” Kevin added.
Established in 1946 in Kyogle, the Brown & Hurley Group has full
Kenworth and DAF dealerships in Brisbane, Kyogle, Coffs Harbour,
Townsville and Rockhampton, with satellite parts outlets in Toowoomba,
Gold Coast and Tamworth. It has plans this year to open a new dealership
in Yatala (between the Gold Coast and Brisbane).
In addition to the Kenworth Dealer of the Year award, Brown & Hurley
Kyogle has won a number of other PACCAR and industry awards,
including the 2007 DAF Parts, Dealer of the Year award. Kenworth trucks
are designed and manufactured in Australia to meet the world’s
toughest applications.
Kenworth, a division of PACCAR Australia, is market leader in
heavy duty trucks in Australia. Its trucks are also exported to Papua
New Guinea and New Zealand. PACCAR Inc, a Six Sigma company, is a
worldwide manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks under the
Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF nameplates. It also provides financial
services and distributes truck parts related to its principal business.
Transmission
The official journal of the
Road Transport Historical Society
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 8955 5047
08 8953 8940
08 8953 2955
Chairperson
Kel Davis
0421 771 4 12
chair@roadtransporthall.com
Managing Editor
Liz Martin
08 8952 7161
info@roadtransporthall.com
Advertising Representative
Jakob Klunyk
08 8952 7161
truckshop@roadtransporthall.com
Contributions This Issue
Liz Martin
Sid Mitchell
Gemma Petras
Alan Cousins
Kelvin Davis
Jakob Klunyk
Reena Vazhayil
Kevin Monti
Editorial
Enquiries should be made direct to the
Managing Editor. All members and
friends are invited to contribute
Annual Subscription
$20.00 per annum for three consecutive
issues. (PLEASE NOTE : Transmission
Newsletter is FREE to members)
Disclaimer
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 ant article or member contributions.
it’s time foR the
Hall of Fame’s
annual raffle
1st Prize
2nd Prize
3rd Prize
4th Prize
5th Prize
CEO
REPORT
by
Liz Martin
O.A.M.
ReUnion time again. If I didn’t know
better I would say that some-one has
switched diaries on me. The years just
seem to go faster and faster or as my
good friend and RTHS Secretary Marie
says “there are just not enough days
left in my hours anymore”.
We have been as busy as anything again
and are really pleased to report that we
have erected our stand alone sheds for
the AEC and the Rotinoff. It has long
been a goal of ours to display these two
most historic roadtrains in their own
sheds. We have a way to go in terms of
funding the power and interpretive
signage in these buildings the biggest
expense has been the sheds themselves.
And, thanks to you we have been able
to achieve this. This is literally your
reunion dollars at work ! Thank you all.
I am pleased to say that our two new
apprentices, Gemma and Reena have
settled in very well and we are happy
with their progress. Reena is doing a
superb job in the Old Ghan Tea-Rooms
with sales and with co-ordinating the
volunteers and Gemma has slid effortlessly into her role as my personal assistant. I have to say they are very willing
and able students and I am really proud
of their achievements to date.
I am also excited that construction has
started on my new office. Fifteen years
ago I sat in an old silver bullet in the
middle of an empty block of land with a
head full of dreams. It had bullet holes in
the wall and no floor covering. It was
equipped with mobile phone and a
battery operated fan because we had no
power. As the saying goes “we’ve come
a long way baby”. Take care on the roads
and catching you at the reunion if you
make it this year.
Liz Martin
3
FROM
THE
CHAIR
by
Kel Davis
Summer’s over for another year and the
annual tourist season has arrived with a
vengeance keeping us all on our toes. Liz
and I had a great trip to Victoria in the
“Mile High Hilton” to attend Trucks in
Action and as usual we were treated by
like royalty by all our members in Vic,
NSW and SA along the way.
We barely had a day when we were not
guests of somebody or a club so special
thanks to all including the Trafalgar Truck
Restorers Club and East Gippsland Field
Days Committee who were our hosts for
Trucks in Action. I have to say my lovely
wife Liz surprised the life out of me when
she took to the stage and launched into
song with John the Chair of the Trafalgar
Club! She has steadfastly refused to even
get involved in Karaoke before!
Then it was up to Ballarat to attend the
Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia’s
chapter meeting there in association with
the swap meet. Again we were spoilt rotten by our hosts. We went on to visit
members in Corowa NSW and all along
the Murray and up the Stuart Highway
back to Alice.
Special thanks go to all the clubs that
welcomed us with open arms, the boys in
Corowa, Ian in irymple, Trice in Evoca,
Dean and carleen in Morgan, Dave Walsh
and Dave Kent in Pt Pirie. We cant wait to
do it all again!
We arrived back in Alice just in time for
Liz to nominate for the town council.
Some issues had been annoying her for a
while so she thought she’d have a go
from the inside. She was elected with the
highest vote of all 18 candidates.
Well done Liz from all of us at the Hall
and Old Ghan.
Kel Davis
We need a new widescreen television !
It’s that time of the year again that we ask you to help us out through
purchasing tickets in our annual raffle. As usual we are trying to raise
$5,000 and this year it will be used to purchase a widescreen TV for our
continual play video room. We have recently carpeted and airconditioned
the room and it looks great - the only thing missing is a TV screen so we
$500 Shell Fuel Card can play DVDs and videos for the many people who visit our museum.
$350 Aboriginal Art
$200 Car Care Items A ticket book is enclosed or you can call 08 8952 7161 to get some more
$100 Gift Voucher
sent to you or to make a donation. It will be drawn on Sunday 24th
$50 Cash
August 2008 at 8pm at the ReUnion. Thankyou for helping us with this.
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 addition of the
magnificent Kenworth Hall of Fame
in 2005 where the history of this fine
company is exhibited in a state-of-theart museum and display that is
constantly being upgraded.
Just recently the Society also became
responsible for the operations of the
Old Ghan Train which is an integral
part of Central Australia’s heritage.
This division of the Society boasts a
tea-room, museum and hopefully, train
rides in the near future.
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.
Board of Management
C.E.O.
PATRON
Chairperson
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Kenworth
Retrievals
Committee
Committee
Committee
Liz Martin OAM
Lew Couper
Kelvin Davis
Rick Chambers
Marie Harrison
VACANT
Jim Hurley
Russ Driver
Sid Mitchell
Max Winkless
Greg Livesay
Roving Ambassadors
Frank Whiting and Lee Davidson
Ray Parker and Sandra Sauer
Diane and Kevin Shay
Greg Whitford and Annette Bateson
Keith Holden and Yvonne Ball
Transmission
REGISTER NOW
4
Diary
Dates
ReunioN
2010
Don’t Miss
Out !
its going to
be truly
AMAZING
Its on....its started, I’m talking about the
stampede for our reunion in 2010. Liz
and Jakob have done a pretty good job of
holding it at bay until now but now its
time to start getting ready. Dont be late!
membership
If you are a member of this Society then
you will automatically get updates about
what is going on through this newsletter
and other forums over the next couple of
years. We recommend you join because
priority will go to members for mail outs.
registration
for Annual ReUnions
Start planning your trip for any of the
next three Truckie ReUnions in Alice
Springs. Every year there’s an exciting
theme to the event. All ReUnions are
held the last full weekend in August
every year and two of the main features
are the prestigious Shell Rimula Wall of
Fame pioneer induction ceremony and the
exciting Cummins Cup Truckie’s race day.
ReUnion 2008
Help us celebrate the trials and tribulations of the road transport industry at the
13th Annual Truckie’s ReUnion in Alice
Springs. Help us celebrate the opening
of several new displays and join in the
McDonalds Transport ReUnion
McDONALDS
TRANSPORT
REUNION
Whether or not you decide to become a
member we recommend you register your
intention as early as possible citing the
number of people and what types of
vehicle you are bringing. This enables us
to keep on top of things like catering and
insurance as the event gets closer.
volunteers
It is impossible for us to operate any
reunion without volunteers but 2010 is
going to be gi-normous. We have limited
powered sites available for volunteers
and priority will be given to regulars. If
you are coming then REGISTER now.
Once the sites are gone they are gone
and it will be first in first serve. For those
who are self contained you must register
even though we have a separate area.
for information please call
Bill Brunton 08 8556 8441
Liz Martin 08 8952 7161
OR
ReUnion 2009
AEC Roadtrain’s
75th Birthday Party
sponsorship
Our regular sponsors are great and we
usually know well and truly beforehand
what we can expect from them but the last
couple of big reunions we had a last
minute scramble from sponsors wanting
to get involved at the last minute. Its just
too hard as time is at a premium those last
few months. Think ahead about how and
what you can do and discuss it with Liz
or Kel. There are plenty of opportunities
for everybody and we need everybody!
Help us celebrate the 75th birthday of
the AEC roadtrain’s arrival in the Alice
Springs and the Red Centre.
ReUnion 2010
15th Birthday of the Hall of Fame. Join in
Australia’s BIGGEST EVER truck parade
and reunion. This is only TWO years
away - start planning your trip NOW!
Transmission
Jakob Klunyk
Reports on Progress
The Transport Heritage Precinct is taking
great steps towards the future with work
happening both inside the museums and
in the grounds. With the help of all our
volunteers we have new rooms going up
in the Hall of Fame’s Shell wing. Each will
serve as a home for a vintage car and as
home for the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame,
making it easier for people to find a
particular frame as each room will hold a
different state.
Reunion goers will be hit with the WOW
factor again this year when they see the
new sheds that have gone up in the yard.
The first shed, which is for the A.E.C. has
been completed and now houses the
legendary truck. The second of the new
sheds will be for the Vestey’s Rotinoff and
is expected to be completed soon.
For those of you who attended last years
reunion or who have read previous editions
of the Transmission Magazine you will
remember the Memorial Gardens, well they
have really come to life, excuse the pun,
this year as they have taken hold and we
have several very dedicated volunteers who
have tended to them, and other areas this
includes some date palms that we had
transplanted around the property last year.
We have started a new garden at the Old
Ghan called the Roger Vale Memorial Garden
and we need some support to finish it.
The Old Ghan Historical Railway is also
beginning to flourish this year as we have
made some extensive changes to the set up
of the museum and tea rooms including a
new gift shop and counter for the museum
entry and purchase of the souvenirs.
Help needed with Roger Vale Memorial Garden
The new Roger Vale Memorial Garden in the grounds of the Old Ghan Museum is looking
great. Roger passed away a few years ago but is widely regarded as the founder of the Old
Ghan Museum. The Ghan Preservation Society decided many years ago to build a garden
in his honour but it had not been started. Donations of desert plants, train memorabilia
and reticulation equipment will be greatly appreciated. Call 08 89527161
Note the lovely new fence behind it which separates the grounds for the tea rooms from
the grounds for the museum. It also means that visitors to the tea rooms are able to access
the amenities without having to go through the museum. Many thanks to all the blokes
who worked on it.
The replica railway gate is a masterpiece in itself and was cause for much discussion and
debate in the construction phase. One of the local schools in Alice Springs is now working
on painting a train mural along the fenceline. The long term plan is to have a small mini golf
game on the western fence that adjoins this at rightangles.
5
O RING
SEAL
of the
CENTURY
The o-ring, as we all know, is a solid rubber
seal shaped like a doughnut and when its
pressed between mating surfaces it is used
to block the passage of liquid, gas or air.
Independent inventor, Niels Christensen is
credited with perfecting the o-ring while
developing automobile brakes. However,
there was a Swedish patent for a much
cruder version in 1896 which never took off.
Christensen patented his o-ring in 1937 but
manufacturers were not particularly
interested in this invention until the aircraft
boom of World War II. After several
successful tests by the military, including
some on a Northrop plane, Christensen was
able to sell his o-rings to the airforce and
the humble o-ring is credited with enabling
much more complex technology to advance.
Early uses of round, resilient rings for
dynamic applications were in long grooves
in between sliding telescope tubes or on
pistons where the rings were not confined,
allowing them to slide back and forth.
These were not effective. Large crosssection India rubber rings were used as
gaskets in counter-bores for water-works
piping in the mid 19th Century and Edison’s
1882 light bulb patent shows a round rubber
ring at the neck of the glass bulb to keep
the mercury in and the air out.
By the early 1940’s, Christensen’s o-rings
became the standard seal for the Air force
hydraulic systems. This established the
basic sizes and design information. In the
1950’s, came acceptance for industrial
hydraulics, farm equipment, passenger cars
accessories, plumbing, appliances, pumps,
valves, and many other devices. Today,
billions of o-rings are sealing every
conceivable apparatus all over the world,
in the air, on land, and sea, and outer space.
The o-ring is the most widely adapted seal
in history because of its simplicity, low cost,
ease of installation, and small space
requirements without supporting
structures. It is suitable for dynamic or static
seals within the temperature limits of
elastomeric materials, Successful use
depends upon proper groove dimensions
and selection of the right compound, or
from one’s prior experience with similar
applications.
Job well done to Neil Christensen!
Transmission
6
WD40
if at first you
don’t succeed
WD 40 was invented by the Rocket Chemical Company of San Diego USA back in 1953.
At the time the company was working on a range of industrial products, rust inhibitors,
degreasers and solvents for the growing aerospace industry.
According to company records WD-40 The most popular was into aerosol cans for
literally stands for Water Displacement 40th consumer use and sold to the general public
attempt and the name came straight out of in 1958. In 1969, the Rocket Chemical
the laboratory note book used by the Company was renamed after its only
chemist who helped develop it. Norm Larsen successful product ; WD-40.
was attempting to concoct a formula to
prevent corrosion by displacing water and WD-40 has been used for many purposes
his persistence paid off when he perfected over the years since but some of the more
unusual include a bus driver in Asia who
the formula on his 40th try.
used WD-40 to remove a 20 foot python
WD-40 was first used to protect the outer snake which had coiled itself around the
skin of the Atlas Missile from rust and undercarriage of his bus, and police officers
corrosion. It was so successful that five who used WD-40 to remove a naked burglar
years later it was repackaged.
trapped in an air conditioning vent.
A Brief History of
TIMKEN BEARINGS
Henry Timken was a well known carriage maker who spent countless hours researching
ways to reduce friction in carriage axles. As a result he eventually invented the Timken
tapered roller bearing. The new tapered roller bearings worked with both radial and
thrust loads and immediately found a place in the axles and hubs of both horse drawn
carriages and the newly invented automobile. His two patents were issued in June 1998
Just earlier, in 1895, with the help of his two
sons and a nephew, he began experiments
to make a better bearing. He developed
tapered roller bearings to bear heavy side
loads and just a year later he formed the
Timken Roller Bearing Company in St Louis
building axles fitted with his new bearings.
As a teenager, Timken became an apprentice
to a leading carriage and wagon maker.
Eventually, he established his own carriage
factory in St. Louis. In 1877, Timken
converted the factory to make the “Timken
Buggy Spring” which was in world demand.
Henry Timken died in 1909 at nearly 70 years
of age but his invention lived on. In the
1920s, The Timken Company was making
90 percent of America’s bearings and by
the early 1990s, they supplied nearly a third
of the world’s tapered roller bearings.
In 1898, he received two roller bearing
patents, and in 1899, he established The
Timken Roller Bearing Axle Company in a
corner of his factory. The company grew
so quickly that Timken decided to build a
plant and relocate to Canton, Ohio to be
near the emerging automotive industry.
Born in Bremen, Germany, Timken and his
family immigrated to the U.S. when he was
seven, settling in Missouri.
Henry Timken is in the USA Inventors hall
of Fame which is where this information was
sourced from.
Congratulations to Hall of Fame Board
member and long term volunteer, Greg
Livesay, who just recently announced his
engagement to the loverly Gina Sutton!
Transmission
7
it’s all in a days work for our volunteers
We’ve always said we wouldn’t
be here without the dedication
and sheer determination,
hard work and skills of our
volunteers and here’s the proof.
Photos : Jakob Klunyk , Gemma
Petras and Sid Mitchell.
ABOVE: Greg Livesay preparing the
footings for Liz’s new (at last) office which
will be up on the mezzanine floor and twice
the size of the existing office.
RIGHT: The Ghan Tea Room ladies Cheryl, Christine, Anne, Marg and Jackie
after a hard day baking date cakes and
learning to use the new coffee machine.
BELOW : Charlie and Graham have been
doing all sorts of jobs around the
grounds including building the
childrens playground on the Old Ghan
lawns which is becoming a popular spot
for local playgroups while Mum’s enjoy
a coffee and snack from the Tea Rooms.
ABOVE: The Finke Desert Race created a
great opportunity for volunteers to help out
at our first annual Dancing in the Dust
Festival at Ewaninga (30 klms down the Old
Ghan Line). It poured with rain the first
night but after that you couldn’t wish for
better conditions for the racers. Pictured
above is Bernie who helped out monitoring
the campsites with Paul and Anita (behind)
who assisted with set up and cooking.
ABOVE : Sid Mitchell was on duty in our
Fargo fire truck for the Finke weekend.
Fence builders and painters extraordinaire
are Barry and Jim. Not only have they
been building fences everywhere but they
have painted them a lovely heritage green.
LEFT : Ros and Jim Meehan of Menu
Magic are doing a great job with all the
delicious fare in the Tea Rooms.
RIGHT : This hard working trio - Dean,
Annette and Judy have ensconced
themselves in the Shell shed. The girls
have been preparing and cleaning up
the storeroom and cool room and Dean
has been building partitions from some
slat doors donated by Dave Mortimer.
“memories”
The following photos and story were sent
in by aTerry via Tony Petras.
Transmission
Roller Driver Man
by John Daley
Oh, I’m working for the Highways
As a roller drover man
Out bush on the Old Strzelecki
With the rest of the Highway’s clan
And the old machine I’m driving
Does three miles to the hour
And when I hold the truckies up
their faces are long and sour!
They climb down from their cabins
Say I shouldn’t be on the loose
But I just sit there smiling
and take in the abuse.
We get paid more attention
than a race horse when it wins and,
when we’re bogged in drifting sand
thats when the fun begins
While rolling granite boulders
last week I came to grief
the old machine bucked round so much
I lost my set of teeth.
Terry writes .....
NSU’s 53 & 64 were heading to Alice
Springs with a loaded rail train
when NSU64 failed with an electrical fault
between Rumbalara and Engoordina.
NSU53 working alone eventually stalled on
the climb to Engoordina so the train was
cut and 53 worked its dead mate and half
the train up to McDonnell and then set out
running light engine in reverse
to retrieve the rest of the train.
At Deep Well a bloke who was going to
lease the area at the siding after the old
Ghan line was demolished was
doing some clearing with a borrowed tractor
and “ran across” NSU53 running at 30 Klm
ph. He was thrown clear and suffered
severe shock, lacerations and bruising.
The remains of the tractor were cleared off
the line and 53 resumed its journey to
recover the rest of the train. I
was on the engine at the time and had one
of my cameras with me.
WANTED
Any item from
the Arnotts
Delivery Truck
Collection
I suggested getting seatbelts
to hold me to the wheel
Or an RM Williams saddle
to ride this hunk of steel
And the tourists stare in wonder
You’ll here them say “gee whiz
Just look whats coming up the track!
I wonder what it is?”
8
Colour In Book
You can help us
put a childrens
colouring in
book together
for just $500
Our CEO Liz Martin, and Patron Lew
Couper, have had this project planned for
several years but it got put on the back
burner with the
launch of our very
successful book,
“Stories from the
Road”, last year.
Now, its back on the agenda and we need
your support to help make it a reality.
Targeted at children between 3 and 8 the
book will aim to put a human face on the
industry and show just what trucks do in
the community by featuring real people
with real trucks in the sketches. For $500
you can ensure that your truck and yourself (or one of your drivers) is featured on
an A4 page along with a short story.
The book will be a minimum of 20 pages
depending on the number of sponsors we
get. It will be sold at the National Road
Transport Hall of Fame sealed in a plastic
wrapper complete with a small set of
colouring in pencils. Each sponsor will get
30 x colouring in books
for their support.
There’s others wear disgusted looks
some laugh til they almost cry
But the old Ford Country 6 and I
we keep on rolling by
Oh, I’m working for the Highways
As a roller driver man
You’ll know me by my whiskers
and deep Strzelecki tan:
Lew Couper, who has worked in road
safety with heavy vehicles for many years,
will also be working with his wife Bev, a
school teacher, to ensure that subtle road
safety messages are included in the text.
I’ve earned myself a nickname They call me “Back and Forth”
I’m the transport driver’s hazard
on the beef roads way up north.
Each page will have around 50 words of
text and Liz Martin will be doing those
interviews in February and March for a
May release so the pressure is on.
Got an interesting poem?
Send it to Liz so it can go in
the next newsletter...
New ColleCtioNs
we’ve just st
aR
ted
staR
aRted
For more information, or to register your
sponsorship please call Liz on 08 89527161
Call Liz 0889527161 if you can help.
aNy tyRe
memoRabilia
oil CaNs
In any size or shape
tiN tRuCKs
Arnotts Biscuit Tins
BACK COVER $1200.00
INSIDE COVERS $1000.00 ea
CENTRESPREAD $1500.00
( all in full colour )
CALL LIZ 0421 771 412 NOW
Transmission
My first visit to the
Old Ghan Train Museum
by Reena Vazhayil
9
meet our two new apprentices
In the last six months we have employed two great young ladies as trainees in our
organisation and they have both settled in extremely well and we are proud of their
progress. Reena is doing a certificate in Tourism and Hospitality and manages her
own little souvenir shop and entry station in the Old Ghan Train Museum. Gemma is
doing a Business Administration course and has proved a great help as assistant to
our CEO Liz. As part of their training one of their projects has been to write an
article and construct an advert for this newsletter. Next issue they will be doing a
book review each so keep watching this space for their regular contributions.
In The Truck With Dad by Gemma Petras
PHOTO : This is me in my little gift shop.
I graduated Year 12 last year and I wanted
to do an apprenticeship in tourism. So, I
registered in Group Training Northern
Territory (GTNT). Soon, I got a call for an
interview at the Transport Heritage Precinct.
I was excited and nervous at the same time.
As soon as I got the message, I ran off to
my room and read-through the my school
handouts about how to attend an interview.
Ever since I can remember I was going on trips in the truck with my father. We lived in
a small country town called Mypolonga around 80k from Adelaide and my father was
away in the truck a lot which sucked, He had driven for a couple of different transport
company’s before he started driving for Collins Transport which is an Adelaide based
company. I will never forget the day he asked me to go in the truck with him. My first
ever trip to Alice Springs - I was so excited it was like looking forward to Christmas.
And in no time, I was on the interview with
Kel Davis, the chairman. He asked a few
questions which I knew would be asked and
I was ready to answer. Soon, he took me
and my parents for a short tour around the
Truck and the Train Museums. After the
interview, we went home and I was worried
if I will get the job because I would love to
work in the tourism industry. The following
day, I received a call from GTNT telling me
that I got the job and can start working the
next day. I became so happy.
Soon, I met Liz Martin, (wife of Kel Davis)
the Chief Executive Officer of the Transport
Heritage Precinct. She introduced me to two
other apprentices, who work in the office of
the Truck museum but were doing different
courses to me.
I liked both of the museums; they show a
lot of history about Alice Springs. I have
lived in Alice for four years from India and
didn’t even know that there were historical
museums about Trains and the Trucks, until
I attended the interview. Mainly, it was
because the museums are out of town. Now,
I think the Transport Heritage Precinct is
the best tourist attraction in Alice Springs.
Before long, I received customers. I served
food in the Tea Rooms and sold some
souvenirs in the gift shop. I worked one
week in the front counter, with two other
volunteers who were working there.
In a short time, Liz separated the gift shop
from the tea rooms. And I ended up taking
the entrance fees off customers who visit
the Old Ghan Museum, telling them about
the Old Ghan Train and selling souvenirs in
my little gift shop.
I am enjoying working here serving tourists.
I am glad I chose to do tourism which is a
simple and easy job without stress. I enjoy
meeting new people. And I think the Old
Ghan Train museum is a great place to work.
We made it to Alice in perfect time. It took a
while for the men to get everything out of
the trailers and then refill it and that’s pretty
much all I can really remember about being
in Alice Springs but the trip back I will
always remember.
ABOVE : This is me with my Dad today.
He is the business manager at Ausfuels in
Alice Springs and this is one of their huge
roadtrains which I love.
BELOW : This is me helping my Dad wash
his truck when I was a little girl.
It was late at night and the road seemed to
be stretching longer and longer, The Bee
Gees were playing through the speakers as
I dozed in the bunk bed sinking into the
mattress and loving the feeling of the
beautiful leather padding around the bunk.
I will never forget the smell of the truck. It
smelt sort of like leather with a manly
fragrance. A few other trucks that I have
been in also have the same smell but it is
very hard to describe.
I was suddenly woken by a banging noise
and before I had the chance to get myself
out of the bunk we had stopped. A small
cow had run out in front of the truck and hit
the passenger side. The step was
completely ruined and the bullbar had a bit
of dust, fur and blood on it. The cow was
no where to be seen and I was a bit scared
as I was only young at the time. I wasn’t
just scared for me I was worried that the
poor cow was going to die.
But on we went and I was home before I
knew it and from that day on I wanted to go
with my father on every trip he went on not that I got to go.
He now works in an office and watches all
the trucks leave without him. I know he likes
to have a drive every now and then and I
still like to go with him in the truck. I am
happy to be working in a truck museum.
Transmission
10
what’s new in the collection
Displayed in the Kenworth Hall is one of the last T401s
Great for the bar or the bbq or for just
about anywhere in the house, these
plasma cut stainless steel trucks are a
MUST for any trucking enthusiast. Measuring around 900 x 500 the attention to
detail is superb. We carry a great variety
and if we haven’t got it - we can get it.
The range includes the legendary B
Model Mack, SAR and 904 Kenworths,
1418 Benz, T Model Ford, little grey
Fergie, Freightliner Argosy, International
R190, Bedfords, Chevrolets and more.
Trucks are $75 each and depending on
where you are in Australia freight is between $15 and $25 so for a hundred
bucks or less one of these little beauties
could be yours. To order call Jakob on
08 89527161 for a list of what we have.
Introduced in 1997 the
T401 was the first truck on
the Australian market to
offer Caterpillar’s 12-litre
C12 engine, delivering
some 425 Horsepower at
1600 revolutions per
minute (rpm).
It was also up to 100
kilograms lighter than its
T400 predecessors. The
combination of more
power and less weight
ultimately meant more
productivity for the
operator. This truck came
off line on 23/12/07
From Will Bailey AM (Geelong) come these two classics
Last month saw the much awaited arrival of Will Bailey’s two vehicles, a 1928 Chrysler
tourer and a 1938 Chevrolet 3 tin Mapleleaf truck. Both are in excellent condition.
Heavy Duty Push Tractor
We couldn’t believe our luck when we
found this beauty at the local auction
house. The Ford 5000 tractor is fully
equipped for pushing trains. It is a four
cylinder diesel with an automatic box and
now, is only in need of a bit of a paint.
After a quick going over by Big Bad John
in the workshop, a new battery and some
“second hand” tyres donated by Dave
Douglas Tyres, it is ready to go to work
at the Old Ghan Museum.
RECIPES
W A NTED
for the
OLD GHAN
BOOK
Over the next year we will be collecting old recipes for inclusion in a small recipe book
that will be sold as a fund-raiser for the Old Ghan Train Museum. We would like to invite
YOU to send or contribute some recipes as we just KNOW you can cook like Mum did.
The “Old Ghan Cook Book” will have a There will be several sections including
nostalgic feel about it in keeping with the desserts and sweets, savoury dishes, cold
ascetics of the Old Ghan Museum and Tea- serves and a chapter for camp oven and
Rooms. Priority will be given to recipes that bush and bbq cooking so please feel free to
are Australian, those that reflect the by-gone contribute anything at all. Local dignitaries
era of the Old Ghan Train or those that are will be asked to send their favourite recipes
simply delicious or unusual. All recipes that in for inclusion. PLEASE NOTE all contriare submitted have to have an appropriate butions must be accompanied by a head and
name eg - Grandma’s Ginger Cupcakes, shoulder photo and 20-50 words that best
Cameleer’s Curry, Lizzie’s Most Moist Date describe yourself and why you like the
Cake or Centralian Saltbush Salad. (sorry recipe or what nostalgic memories it stirs up
- these are already taken!)
for you. We are still looking for 24 recipes!
Transmission
In the
workshop
with “Big
Bad”John
K9 Grader
Big Bad John is currently working on our
Caterpillar K9 grader. The 1938 model was
donated to the Hall of Fame several years
ago by Peter Severin of Curtain Springs
Station. It has only had two owners, the
previous owners was Bort Shire Council.
Thanks to Caterpillar who have donated the
two new heads and three pre-combustion
chambers. We had to purchase the other
three from elsewhere. John has had to clean
out thirty years of junk and dirt from the
starter motor but it is now running perfectly
albeit a few minor repairs that are needed.
1927 Chev “Kev the Chev”
Our 1927 Chevrolet tray
truck (ex Uncle Harry’s
grocery truck from
The Sullivans) has just
been moved into the
workshop for restoration.
The engine and gearbox have been removed
and will be sent to David Kent in Pt Pirie
who has offered to restore them. The body
is presently being sanded down by several
enthusiastic volunteers in preparation for
painting. We are looking for four tyres and
tubes to suit. If you can help out contact
Kel on 0889527161 or 0421 771 412
The Old Ghan’s
IT Loader
The Old Ghans IT loader is
currently under repair at
Hastings Deering in
Alice Springs. It seems
the major problem
was a blown head
gasket. Thanks goes to the guys at Hastings
in Alice Springs who have taken this job on
in between their paid work.
Ruby Needs a Drive Shaft
Our lovely little B Model single drive, RUBY,
is in need of a drive shaft out of the starter
motor. If you have one hanging around in
the shed it would be appreciated.
Big Clean Up In Workshop
Thanks to Mick, Norm, Greg and the other
volunteers who have been doing a great job
of cleaning out the bays in the Johannsen
Pavilion to make them look more like a
museum than a junk shop.
We still have a way to go but they are looking great already. Its been a mammoth task
sorting out the spare parts and moving our
great old lathe into the workshops.
11010
Book Launch for ReUnion 2008
The Kenworth and Ed Cameron Story
FIRST CUSTOM BUILT TRUCKS FOR AUSTRALIA
REUnion 2008 is the proud venue for the launch of this great book by Ed Cameron.
The launch will be in the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame during the pre-dinner drinks
and nibbles in August. If you are not coming to Alice for the reunion then order your
copy today as this is a strictly limited offer. (See jacket on back cover).
The book is the story of the pioneering Frustrated by the inadequacies of the
of motor transport beginning at available European and English trucks of
Doncaster in Victoria in the 1940s when the day Ed found the solution by importing
the Camerons began delivering fruit. the very first Kenworths to come into
After WW2 Ed and his brothers began Australia. It was through his efforts that
regular deliveries from Melbourne to Kenworth eventually set up at Bayswater
Sydney forming D&E Cameron to produce custom built trucks for all
Transport to travel the Hume Highway. Australian transport conditions.
Kenworth S Models in Australia
(Source: Kenworth S Model Enthusiasts; wwwbeamish.biz/kws-900)
NO# Chassis
1
76632
2
76633
3
76634
4
76635
5
76636
6
76637
7
76638
8
76639
9
76640
10
100649
11
100737
12
101034
13
101035
14
101259
15
101415
16
101565
17
101566
18
101567
19
101568
20
101569
21
101570
22
101571
23
101572
24
101573
25
101574
26
102103
27
102104
28
102282
29
102608
30
102609
31
103040
32
103329
33
103330
34
103397
35
103512
36
103939
37
103940
38
103941
39
103944
40
104454
Engine
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.8V71
GM.86V71
GM.8V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.6V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.8V71
GM.6V71N
GM.6V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.6V71N
GM.6V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
GM.8V71N
1st Owner
Blomfield
Blomfield
Blomfield
Cameron
Cameron
Cameron
Cameron
Ansett
Ansett
Trial Bay Hlge
Liquid Cartage
Cameron
Martins
Cameron
Gandy
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Emanual Bros
Colin Campbell
Trial Bay Hlge
Beamish
Melb-Corowa
GH Reid
TNT Refrig.
LD Robertson
Oakgrove Log.
Shell QLD
Ansett
Ansett
Ansett
Trial Bay Hlge
Next Owners (some of)
Bill Fitzpatrick / Jim Melmoth
Manson / Pascall / Jaunzemis
Cameron / Townley / Kellaway
M-C / Linfox
R Manson / D Town
M-C / Linfox / Pete? Tipper
M-C / Linfox /Gardner /Cremona
McMullen
Flynn / Maher / Cremona
Ken Wilson / Leitch / Neville
Adrian Constantine
M-C /Linfox / Glasson / Sheppard
Amezdroz / Freestone / Culph
M-C / Linfox/ Cremona
A Barra
?
?
?
Bill Fitzpatrick / Max Gaulke
?
?
?
Reeves / Beamish / Huey Ottery
?
Beamish / Irwin /Freestone
Pomeroy/ * RT Hall of Fame *
B Johnstone / A Graham
G&D Brown / P Pitt-Nynde
Abdilla/Moffat/ Woods/ Cranney
Hickmott/Townley/Hayes/Bott
Pomeroy
P Chase / E Campbell
Calsill / Zlatic / G Palmer
Lightowler / Green / Powell
F&M Brandimarti
?
Beamish / Rob Stephenson
?
?
S&W Rule/Glover M-C/Linfox/Gardner/Cremona
Transmission
The
Story of
HINO
12
THANK YOU
Special thank you to our ever
energetic secretary Marie and
her husband Barry Harrison for
their ongoing donations of paint
left over from their painting
business. We are sure we have
as much as any paint store in
Alice Springs. Marie recently
proved she was more than just a
pretty face and got down to it
repainting our amenities block by
herself after we had a visit from
destructive graffiti artists.
Hino Motors, Ltd. (Hino Jidôsha, commonly known as simply
Hino, is a manufacturer of diesel trucks, buses, and other vehicles
based in Tokyo, Japan. For the last three decades the company
has been the leading producer of medium and heavy-duty diesel
trucks in Japan. It is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.
The company traces its roots back to the founding of Tokyo Gas
Industry Company in 1910 (today it is two companies; Tokyo Gas
Company and Tokyo Electric Power; TG&E). It produced its first
motor vehicle in 1913, the Model TGE “A-Type” truck. In 1937
TG&E merged its automobile division with that of Automobile
Industry Co., Ltd. and Kyodo Kokusan K.K. to form Tokyo
Automobile Industry Co., Ltd., with TG&E as a shareholder. Four
years later the company changed its name to Diesel Motor Industry
Co., Ltd. which would eventually become Isuzu Motors Limited.
The following year (1942), the new entity of Hino Heavy Industry
Co., Ltd. spun itself out from Diesel Motor Industry Co., Ltd., and
the Hino name was born. Following the end of World War II, the
company had to stop producing large diesel engines for marine
applications, and with the signing of the treaty, the company
dropped the “Heavy” from its name and formally concentrated on
the heavy-duty trailer-trucks, buses and diesel engines markets,
as Hino Industry Co., Ltd.
1946 T
trailer
1953
1959
1964
1966
1971
1982
1997
2001
To sharpen its marketing
focus to customers, in
1948, the company added
the name “Diesel” to
become Hino Diesel
Industry Co., Ltd. and
many more milestones
were quickly achieved in
the following decades.
The introduction of the underfloor engine bus
Name change to Hino Motors Ltd after merging of Hino
Diesel Sales Ltd with Hino-Renault Sales Co.
Marketing of Hino Ranger KM, a 3.5 ton medium truck
and the Contessa 1300 passenger car.
Business tie up with Toyota Motor Sales Co., Ltd
Hino received the Dewming Award for achievements in
quality control.
The total number of vehicles produced by Hino reaches
one million in May.
Hino FT Trucks swept 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Camien
category in the DAKAR Rally
Hino receives ISO4001 certification for environmental
management and becomes a subsidiary of Toyota.
bulldust
ENTERTAINMENT
Special thank you to
the boys at Bulldust
Entertainment who
performed for us at
our bush dinner
during Heritage Week.
Don’t miss Ruckus at the Freightliner Meet-the
Milemaker Lunch on 23 August in the Shell Shed.
Call Jakob 08 8952 7161 for info on how to book.
Transmission
Hastings Deering
Wo r l d - r e n o w n e d
Caterpillar heavy
earth-moving
equipment
and
Driltech blast hole
drills is distributed
t h r o u g h o u t
Queensland,
the
Northern Territory,
Papua New Guinea,
the Solomon Islands
and New Caledonia by
the branch network
of the well known
Hastings Deering
Group.
13
Wise Words
from Leland James
founder of Freightliner
The Old Ghan’s front end loader is currently under
repair in the Alice Springs Hastings Deering facility
Fighter Pilot
Export into Asia
The group was founded by Sydney-born
Harold Hastings Deering in 1932. Legend
has it that while a fighter pilot in Britain
during the first World War, he landed his
plane in the AEC factory yard, and refused
to leave until he had persuaded AEC bosses
to allow him to distribute its trucks and
buses in Australia.
At one time the company built the bulk of
the airport service vehicles in Australia and
established substantial export markets in
Asia and the Middle East. A smaller side of
this business was the manufacture of crane
carriers on AEC chassis; and of some truck
and tractor cranes based on Ford ‘Country’
tractors for use on aircraft carriers.
Ford Dealership in Alice
Heavy Equipment Repair
Harold Hastings Deering was appointed
Manager of the new distributorship, and
became a pioneer in the mechanisation of
Australia, foreseeing the development
needs of the growing nation, and securing
the machinery necessary to do the work. In
1932 he formed Hastings Deering
Engineering Company Pty. Ltd to acquire
the distribution of Exide batteries. He added
the Sydney Ford distributorship (trucks,
cars and tractors) in 1935, and then an Alice
Springs Ford dealership in 1936.
An earthmoving equipment repair business
developed at the time of the giant Snowy
Mountains Scheme. This indirectly
precipitated the move into the Queensland
Caterpillar dealership.
Faith in the Future
Hastings Deering was a very high profile
figure of Australian industry and for some
years wrote his widely-read “Faith in the
Future” newspaper column in which he
expressed his views on Australian industry
and its development.
And Earthmoving Equip.
Earthmoving equipment was introduced
with Caterpillar dealerships being gained
in the Northern Territory in 1948 (with
Hastings Diesels Ltd in Alice Springs) and
Papua New Guinea in 1953 (with Hastings
Deering (Pacific) Ltd in Lae). The company
also distributed the Lima and Michigan
range of cranes and excavators in New
South Wales, where an engineering and
body building business was built up .
This came with Waugh & Josephson selling
its business in Queensland in 1953 and
Hastings Deering closing its repair business
in N.S.W. Hastings Deering has been at the
forefront of development in Queensland,
initially with sales of large Caterpillar
tractors to contractors clearing land for
agriculture, and later for large mining
developments in Queensland and New
South Wales. A strong relationship was
forged between the company and Thiess
Brothers, resulting in the appearance of a
large Caterpillar fleet of machines on major
civil projects around the country.
Leland James (1892 -1964)
Freightliner Corporation founder
“If you do enough
things right, you‘ll
make a profit - but
you have to do it
right the first time”
In 1939, Frustrated with what was available
on the American truck market, James hired
a group of engineers, sketched out what
he wanted and sent them to work in a
house owned by Consolidated Freightways
in Northwest Portland.
Construction of two prototypes began
there in 1940 and the very first aluminium
COE slipped in at 2,000 pounds lighter than
anything else on the road at the time.
Substantial sales of Caterpillar equipment
over the years to major oil exploration and
mining projects in Papua New Guinea has
firmly established Hastings Deering as a
major figure in that country’s economy and
development. In 1992, the Hastings Deering
Group was purchased by the Malaysiabased multinational Sime Darby Berhad,
which operates in more than 21 countries.
In 1941 the trucks were badged as
‘Freightways‘, with the common spec being
a rigid pulling a dog trailer to maximise
benefits of the length laws of the day. At
the same time work on conventional models
also began. The first of these models were
dubbed the ‘No-Name’ conventional due
to the fact it literally had no badging. The
first trucks to bear the ‘Freightliner‘ name
were released in the middle of 1941, a COE
Model-600 known as the ‘Shovelnose’.
Source : Hastings Deering Aust.
Source : Freightliner Corporation
21 Countries!
Transmission
Wall of Fame update
Work on the new state focussed rooms in
the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame has been
progressing well with all the walls up and
construction of the ceilings should begin
shortly. We now need to secure sponsorship for each of the rooms so that we can
get the interpretive signage underway. The
rooms will named after an icon for that state
and the sponsor will play a role in determining after whom the room will be named.
Brian Bracknell Room
Special thanks to life member and
inaugural Wall of Fame inductee
Brian Bracknell for sponsoring the
Western Australia room.
Brian is also a foundation member of the
Hall of Fame and was a founding member of
the WA Livestock Transporters Association. Much of his memorabilia is on display
in the livestock room including his unique
MOO and BAA number plates.
Ed Cameron Room
The Victorian Room will be
called the Ed Cameron Room
in honour of legendary Kenworth importer,
pioneer and Wall of Fame inductee Ed
Cameron. Ed has generously donated over
900 copies of his new book to the Hall of
Fame and we thank him for his generosity
to the Hall of Fame over the years.
How you can sponsor your
state in the name of a pioneer
The state focussed rooms are only $5,000
each to sponsor. We have already raised
the initial $5000 to cover the cost of
construction. It is our aim to have all rooms
completed by 2010 so invite you to contact
Liz or Kel on 0889527161 or 0421771412 if
you are interested in assisting. There is no
reason that rooms cant be co-sponsored.
NEW
ENGINEERS
CAP
Only $17
Great Material.
Looks appealing in
Denim & Black colours.
It will be terrific for
train enthusiasts.
Advertisement
by Reena
W
NE
BUGGER!
SHOT GLASSES
$3.50
Number Plate
$15.00
Advertisement
by Gemma
141010
Kevin Monty tell’s his story
Well known road transport identity Kevin
Monty takes time out to write some history
about his beloved K-125 truck. Monty has
recently had open heart surgery and we
wish him all the best. Kevin writes.......
I took delivery of my first and only
Kenworth Model K-125 on the 2nd August
1965 from Ed Cameron of Doncaster (Ed and
Blomfield were partners in the first
Kenworth Dealership in Australia).
Specifications:
Kenworth Model K-125/Chassis No. 103515
Engine Number: 422346 / Cummins 335 hp
855 cubic inch motor/turbo. The Gear box
was a Spicer model G125 12 speed (12
forward – 6 reverse) to 3800 lb. Diffs:
Torsion bar Suspension. The price was
15,050 pound (around $30,100.00).
At the time I lived in Kangaroo Flat, Bendigo
Victoria. I traded a 1958 Diamond T 630
truck on the KW. The repayments were 280
pounds per month, in those days the finance
companies required a 1/3rd deposit. Fuel
was around 1/3rd of the gross earnings of
the truck. I was earning 16 pound per tonne
working Melbourne – Brisbane route.
The first 18 months I carted Hardie Pipes to
Brisbane from Melbourne on a 34’ McGrath
trailer averaging 100,000 miles per year. Later
the trailer was replaced by a Fruehauf 37’
spread trailer and much later replaced by
one of the first Fruehauf 40’ tri axle trailers
in Australia.
Later I went bush carting mining gear all
over the Western Australia, Northern
Territory and Queensland. In the middle of
’67 I started working out of Meekatharra to
Mt. Newman, Tom Price, Goldsworthy,
Headland and Dampier.
The money was very good so we shifted to
Meekatharra early 1968. Heavy loads
around 40 tonne made the money easy but
I did not know about the “big wet”. It turned
out to be the wrong decision so after 12
months I returned to Kangaroo Flat.
Not surprisingly the Torsion bar
suspension disintegrated, not suitable for
rough roads - and was replaced with
Mexican 6 rod suspension. I changed my
route and was now travelling Perth –
Darwin, Mt. Isa still carting mining
equipment; these trips could take up to a
month at a time.
My wife Patricia accepted my job; the kids
(all 8 of them) did not know any other life.
Our home was worth about the same as the
new Kenworth.
Note: This is not Kevin Monty’s truck but
an excellent example of a K125 which is
proudly displayed in the Kenworth Hall
In the 70’s I changed to fridge/freezer van
work for Freezer Freight working Melbourne
– Perth – Darwin – Melbourne naturally
loading and unloading the freight. After a
couple of years I went back to dragging my
own trailer, going bush again with mingling
equipment. The road conditions across the
Nullarbor were dirt, most of the west was dirt,
Darwin sealed to Alice, dirt to Port Augusta.
I diversified later with Rock Tours including
David Bowie, Rod Stewart, and Liza Minnelli.
At one time the truck was actually parked in
the middle of the MCG. Unfortunately it rained
heavily and the truck would not move.
I had to put the truck in diff lock to get
traction, after that they said no more trucks
on the MCG.!
My Best Time in the truck? When I finished
paying for it.
My Worst Time in the truck? The relocation
of my home and family to Meekatharra. As I
was earning such good money at the time I
drove to Meekatharra in August 1967 and flew
home for Christmas Eve.
Early January we loaded up the family in our
1955 Pontiac and trailer and drove back to
Meekatharra for a new life. The heavy rains
would close the roads for a weeks at a time
and when they were reopened the road would
be a bog. If you were lucky you could step
from the top of one corrugation to the next. It
was so bad we decided to head back to
Kangaroo flats.
In 1996 Pat had open heart surgery; this made
me rethink my life away from home. I decided
to back off and work the truck carrying farm
machinery locally and on short haul. In 2006
I decided it was time to hang up the keys and
retire. I have operated this truck most of my
working life.
Transmission
Are you coming to
ALICE SPRINGS
And do you have your own
caravan or motorhome? Are
you interested in being a
VOLUNTEER
You can volunteer at the
National Road Transport
Hall of Fame or the Old
Ghan Heritage Railway
in exchange for a
FREE CAMP
Trucks
and
Trains
The Road Transport Historical
Society Inc. is a community
based, volunteer organisation
dedicated to the preservation and
presentation of Australia’s unique
transport heritage. It’s huge facility
includes the Kenworth Dealer
Hall of Fame and the famous Old
Ghan Heritage Railway as well
as a meeting and conference
venue and function facility.
No matter what your skill - or
your interest, we have a job to
suit you - stay for a month, or
stay for a year - it’s your choice
The requirement for volunteering
is 20 hours per week per couple or
14 hours per single person.
Includes power, water, toilets,
showers and dogs are okay if they
are contained in your area.
Trains 08 8955 5047
Trucks 08 8952 7161
A/hours 0421 7714 12
The word “Shell”
first appeared in
1891, as the trade
mark for kerosene
being shipped to the
Far East by Marcus
Samuel & Co.
This small London business dealt originally
in antiques, curios and oriental seashells.
These became so popular – the Victorians
used them to decorate trinket boxes in
particular – that soon they formed the basis
of the company’s profitable import and
export trade with the Far East.
The word was elevated to corporate status
in 1897, when Samuel formed The “Shell”
Transport and Trading Company. The first
logo (1901) was a mussel shell, but by 1904
a scallop shell or ‘Pecten” emblem had been
introduced to give a visual manifestation
to the corporate and brand name.
The choice of a shell as an emblem was not
surprising, as it was the company name.
Also, each of Samuel’s tankers carrying
kerosene to the Far East had been named
after a different seashell. But why
specifically was the scallop or Pecten
chosen as the company’s symbol in 1904?
It was certainly not the simplest shape to
reproduce in printed form. Both the word
“Shell” and the Pecten symbol may have
been suggested to Samuel and Co. by
another interested party.
15
The form of the Shell emblem has changed
gradually over the years in line with trends
in graphic design. The current emblem was
created by the great designer Raymond
Loewy and introduced in 1971. Thirty years
on it stands the test of time as one of the
most recognised in the world.
The exact origins of the Shell red and yellow
are hard to define. True, Samuel and
Company first shipped kerosene to the Far
East in tin containers painted red. But the
link, once again, could be with Spain.
In 1915, when the Shell Company of
California first built service stations, they
had to compete against other companies.
Bright colours were the solution, but
colours that would not offend the
Californians. Because of the state’s strong
Spanish connections, the red and yellow
of Spain were chosen.
As with the Pecten, the actual colours have
been modified over the years, most notably
in 1995 when a bright, fresh and very
consumer friendly new Shell Red and Shell
Yellow were introduced to launch Shell’s
new retail visual identity. The Shell emblem
- or Pecten - remains one of the greatest
brand symbols in the 21st Century.
SOURCE: The Shell Company of Australia
A Mr Graham, who imported Samuel’s
kerosene into India and sold it as ‘Graham’s
Oil’, subscribed capital to, and became a
director of, The “Shell” Transport and
Trading Company. There is some evidence
that the Shell emblem was taken from his
family coat of arms. The ‘St James’s Shell’
had been adopted by the Graham family
after their ancestors made the pilgrimage to
Santiago de Compostella in Spain.
When the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company
and “Shell” Transport and Trading merged
in 1907 it was the latter’s brand name and
symbol which then became the short form
name (“Shell”) and the visible emblem (the
“Pecten”) of the new Royal Dutch/Shell
Group. And so it has remained ever since.
Go Well Go Shell : The Book
100 Years of Shell in Australia
$20+ $15 P&H ORDER NOW
Congratulations
Jim Cooper
Information Wanted
on our DH14 Loco
Congratulations towell known RTHS
Life Member and Shell RimulaWall of
Fame inductee Jim Cooper who was
recently awarded a well deserved
Order of Australia medal for his
outstanding contribution to the road
transport community. WELL DONE
Jim, from all at the Hall of Fame.
Off the beaten track
a journey across the nation
In 1908 Harry Dutton and Murray Aunger
were the very first people to cross the
Australian continent with a motor vehicle.
They drove from Adelaide to Darwin in a
Talbot at a time before there were roads,
bridges, service stations or detailed maps.
The National Motor Museum is proud to
present a travelling exhibition to celebrate
the hundredth anniversary of the event and
explore its legacy.
The exhibition, with the original vehicle as
the centerpiece will travel from Adelaide to
Darwin stopping at many small communities and schools along the way.
The Road Transport Historical Society is
proud to be involved with this event. We
are hosting a welcome party for the Talbots
arrival in Alice Springs and displaying the
vehicle in our Hall of Fame for a week so
that locals, especially school children may
come and visit the exhibit free of charge.
Best wishes also go to our long term Board
member Russ Driver and his wife Liz who
have taken time off work (on a well deserved
holiday of sorts) to transport the exhibition
from Adelaide to Darwin through their
business Outback Vehicle Recovery.
The exhibition left Adelaide on 30 June and
will arrive in Alice Springs on 25th July where
it will stay for a week before heading north
to Darwin where it will arrive on the 20th
August on the same day, and at the same
time, as the original journey did exactly one
hundred years earlier. Well done to all
involved in this historic event.
Transmission
New
Women’s
room for
the Hall
of Fame
16
Keen to ensure that women involved in the
Australian road transport industry have their
contribution to Australia recorded for the
benefit of future generations, Transport
Women Australia Ltd (TWAL) have donated
funds to build a room commemorating their
efforts in the Hall of Fame.
Toots Holzheimer’s famous MAN will be the
centrepiece celebrating women truckdrivers
but the room will also acknowledge those
who have made contributions through
business, associations, management, spare
parts, manufacturing and all other sectors
of industry throughout Australia.
While a focus will be on past Australian
Trucking Association Women of the Year
any-one who has a story or photo (or both)
to contribute is invited to contribute to the
room. Please contact Liz 08 8952 7161.
Triple Trouble, some would say; but never
the less this trio is among the most high
profile trucking women in the country.
Transport Women Australia Ltd Directors,
and great mates to boot, Liz Schmidt
(Townsville) Pam McMillan (Wodonga)
and Liz Martin (Alice Springs) recently
enjoyed the ATA dinner in the Great Hall of
Parliament in Canberra. Photo: Bob Murphy
Some Unusual Early Inventions by Women in America
Just prior to the manufacture of Henry Ford’s A Model female inventor, Mary Anderson,
was granted her first patent for a “window cleaning device” in November of 1903.
Her invention could clean snow, rain, or Of these, another 25 were directly related
sleet from a windshield by using a handle to automobile infrastructure such as traffic
inside the car. Her goal was to improve driver signals and turn indicators.
vision during stormy weather - Mary
Among these inventions — a carburetor, a
Anderson invented the windshield wiper.
clutch mechanism, an electric engine starter,
During a trip to New York City, Mary and a starting mechanism. During the
Anderson noticed that streetcar drivers had 1930s, Helen Blair Bartlett developed new
to open the windows of their cars when it insulations for spark plugs. A geologist by
rained in order to see, as a solution she training, her knowledge of petrology and
invented a swinging arm device with a mineralogy was critical in the development
rubber blade that was operated by the driver of innovative uses of alumina ceramics.
from within the vehicle via a lever. The Another woman inventor named Charlotte
windshield wipers became standard Bridgwood invented the first automatic
windshield wiper. Charlotte Bridgwood,
equipment on all American cars by 1916.
president of the Bridgwood Manufacturing
The automobile gave women ample Company of New York, patented her electric
opportunity for invention. In 1923, of the roller-based windshield wiper called the
three hundred plus inventions listed under “Storm Windshield Cleaner” in 1917. Her
“Transportation” in the Women’s Bureau product, however was not a commercial
Bulletin No.28, about half were related to success and faded into oblivion.
automobiles.
Source: Women Inventors by Mary Bellis
the work begins....
Well known “grey nomads” and Hall of
Fame volunteers Kev and Di Shay have
arrived back in Alice Springs on their
annual pilgrimage to the red centre.
The Shays ensure that the photos and
information in our Shell Rimula Wall of Fame
frames are correct and accurate and, given
the way some of the nominations arrive, that
is no small task. There is no doubt that one
of the reasons for our success is due to the
dedication of our many volunteers. Welcome
“home” to Di, Kev and Licorice the cat
Transmission
Dancing In the Dust
By Sid Mitchell and Kel Davis
Our first ever Dancing in the Dust Festival at Ewaninga over the Finke Race was a great
success with Bulldust Entertainment putting on a show and music over the weekend. Sid
and Bernie monitored the road and collected rubbish, Kel kept the campfires (and
generators running) , Liz and Marie slaved away over the camp fire all weekend and the
food was great and a variety of volunteers pitched in on all sorts of odd jobs. Thanks also
to Laurie Elkington who undertook to do several rubbish runs after the event for us.
No electricity out there - all the cooking “With a bit of liaison with the Finke
was on an open the fire and the pea and committee, the police, the “good” campers
ham soup was to die for as were the baked and some wider community consultation we
apples baked in foil on the coals and served introduced a small camp fee and regular
with hot custard and cinnamon sauce. monitoring of the area, including a litter pick
up and I have to say, at the end of the
There were plenty of coals thanks to Kel.
weekend, we were impressed at how clean
The weekend was timed to co-incide with it was left this year and how well behaved
the running of the world famous Finke the campers were.”
Desert Race so that we could take the
opportunity of entertaining the hundreds Chairman Kel Davis also believes the new
of campers who camp on our land in the 22 approach was successful in the mainstream.
kilometre stretch between McDonnell
siding and Ewaninga.
“We lost a couple of big groups who didn’t
Even though we were pretty well rained out want to play the game with the camping
the first night the second night was a great fees and regulations but in reality they are
night of song and dance and the wet track no loss and actually, caused quite a few
was good for the racers and spectators as dramas for the police while they were
we didn’t have the dust problem to deal camped on some-one elses land.”
with like last year. CEO Liz Martin said in
the past this had not been monitored or “ The night time bush dinner and the hot
breakfast was a great success with the party
governed in anyway.
people who were camped down there. This
“When we took over the Old Ghan last year will only get bigger as the years go on and
it was horrendous to control with drunks hopefully will become to the Old Ghan what
on the road and children without helmets the truckie’s reunion is to the Hall of Fame.”
on quads and motorbikes on the same road.
It was an accident waiting to happen. We “It will help us to restore the Ewaninga
also had several incidences where our road siding and prepare it for a permanent camp
was severely damaged and our heritage site for some of our volunteers and
travellers. Future options for using this site
railway track vandalised.
for community entertainment are also a
Some people actually cut our heritage good possibility. Watch this space to see
railway sleepers up for firewood - others how Ewaninga progresses as an extension
overturned cars and set them on fire. We on the Ghan Museum.”
took a hard but fair line. At the end of the
day we want to provide a safe place for Thanks to all the people who helped out
families to enjoy what is today one of the over the weekend including our sponsors
Tony from Ausfuel, Stuarts Bush Kitchen
Alice’s most iconic events.”
and Bulldust Entertainment.
“We also had a few punch ups between
campers fighting over position. With Duty Congratulations also must go the Finke
of Care as it is these days we really had no Desert Race Committee and their hundreds
choice but to exert some control this year.” of volunteers for yet another great event.
Please send cheque, money order or credit card details to:
National Road Transport Hall of Fame
P. O. Box 8099
Alice Springs
N.T.
0871
Postage & Handling on all mail order products is $12.50 per Mail Bag used.
Advertisement by Jakob Klunyk
17
Thanks to the following
sponsors for their support of
our first annual
Dancing in the Dust festival
bulldust
ENTERTAINMENT
from the Archives
One of our volunteers, June Hamilton, was
just 18 months old when her family moved
from NSW to QLD just prior to WW2. She
is the youngster in the passenger seat.
This Chevrolet blitz was photographed
during WW2 travelling through the
flooded Heavitree Gap in Alice Springs.
This photograph of an AEC was taken at
Anthony’s Lagoon in the NT where it is
believed to have been being used to
transport wild brumbies back to the
station to be broken in.
MEMBERSHIPAPPLICATION
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
TRAINS
Name
Address
Phone
Transmission
Memorial Park
in memorial to your loved ones
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 $200.00 for the supply of a standard brass plaque (A5) which will
be mounted on the stone of your choice in the
garden setting.
Email
TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP (AUD$)
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.
Your Details
You can pay for any item or service from the
Road
Transport Historical Society Inc. by
Cheque, Money Order, Credit Card or Direct
Deposit. Please take the time to fill out this
slip and return it with your application for any
of the services so there is no confusion. Thank
you for your support.
My name is
Attached is my application and payment for,
eg: membership, Buy a Brick, Memorial Park
CREDIT CARD
We accept Visa, Bankcard and Master Card
Name.
Name on card
Address
Card Number
Expiry Date
Phone
Security Number
OPTION 1 : Wording on your Plaque
(Maximum: 200 characters over 8 lines)
Amount $
Date
Signature
CHEQUE / MONEY ORDER
Please make payable to R.T.H.S and post to:
Road Transport Historical Society Inc.
PO Box 8099, Alice Springs, NT, 0871,
I agree to abide by the Constitution of
the Road Transport Historical Society
Incorporated.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
Name: Road Transport Historical Society
BSB:
015881
Account: 2575 49867
Signed.
Print Name.
Dated
NEW
Payment Information
RENEWAL.
Please ensure you print neatly and that
all your names are spelt correctly and
dates accurate.
BUY A BRICK
Remember a loved one, an old
trucking company or era, pay
tribute to your mates or even an
old workhorse from yesteryear
Your Details
Name
.
Phone
Wording on your Brick
(Maximum: 60 characters over 3 lines)
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
Subscription
Annual Subscription
for Transmission Newsletter
Shell Rimula Wall of Fame
Do you know some- body that should
be on our Wall of Fame?
John (the
Ferret) Moran
For information and
nomination forms for
the Shell Rimula Wall of
Fame please call
08 89527161 or email
info@roadtransporthall.com
Pay only $20.00 for the next four issues
of Transmission Newsletter. Price includes
handling, postage and GST.
Name
Address
Phone
Email
Enclosed
Date
Check Spelling and Dates are Accurate
Myra Dyer- lady truckie
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
Dance the night away to Ruckus at the Reunion again this year
McDonalds Transport
Transmission
Call
Bitumen Bill
08 8556 8441
Freightliner rolls
with Ruckus.
ReuNioN
DC_PRE_586_A5
If you’ve ever
driven for, or
worked with
McDonalds, or
just knew the
blokes on the Old
South Road then
don’t miss their
reunion in Alice
Springs in 21-24th
August 2008.
Freightliner, a keen supporter of truckies both on and off the road, is proud to announce our sponsorship
of one of Australia’s premier Southern Rock and Country bands, Ruckus. This high-energy five-piece band
boasts two die-hard truckies, and their understanding of life out on the highway is reflected in the lyrics
to many of their songs. The band hopes it’ll make that lonely haul a little bit easier, but if you really want to
make life out on the highway roll by, step up to a Freightliner. It’s the only way to run smart. For your nearest
authorised Freightliner dealer call 1300 66 22 30 or visit www.freightliner.com.au
take a trip into transport history
Freightliner is a registered trademark of Freightliner LLC.
its the destination
FIRST CUSTOM BUILT TRUCKS FOR AUSTRALIA – The Kenworth and Ed Cameron Story
THIS
is a story of the
pioneering of motor transport,
beginning at Doncaster in Victoria
delivering fruit in the 1940s. After
World War 2, Ed Cameron and his
brothers were the driving force began
regular deliveries of produce from
Melbourne to Sydney. They formed
the D&E Cameron transport company,
to battle the primitive Hume Highway.
Frustrated by the inadequacies of the
available European and British trucks,
Ed found the solution by importing
the first Kenworths to Australia.
It was through his efforts that
Kenworth set up at Bayswater in
Victoria, to produce trucks custombuilt for Australian long-haul
transport conditions.
ss
mi of at
t
’
n
e
ch
Do laun ’s gr n
n
o
the ero eUni st
m
Ca at R Augu
d
E ook in
b 08
20
D&E
Cameron ceased
operations in the 1970s, but the
name continues as Ed’s son runs
the very successful Glen Cameron
Group, as one of Australia’s leading
transport operations.
In this book, Ed Cameron tells
the Kenworth story against the
background of his family history, and
the diversity of his interests following
The Kenworth and Ed Cameron Story
$40.00 plus $12.50 P&H from Hall of Fame gift shop
his life on the roads.
Order your
copy now
08 89527161
Transmission
complete material handling solutions
UNDERGROUND HAULAGE
MECHANICAL SUPPORT
MANUFACTURING
PERSONNEL SUPPORT
SURFACE HAULAGE
www.gulfgroup.com.au