Ian Trickey
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.
Ian Trickey, commonly known as Trick or Trickey, was born in Maryborough, Victoria. He commenced work in transport shortly after he married in 1972. Ian’s first vehicle was a J5 Bedford which he used to cart hay for local farmers. Ian then purchased an Acco Stock Carrier carting stock to the Ballarat market. This was followed by a 1418 Benz, once again he carted hay, completing many trips to Bega as they had suffered a severe drought. These trips were all completed without bunk or air conditioning, as was common in those days.
Upon the purchase of a 1924 Benz, still without a bunk, Ian commenced carting general freight from Melbourne to Adelaide, a job which lasted 30 years. Twice weekly, he would load steel at Westernport and come back to Maryborough where he added honey and books to top off the load. Perhaps the correct weight was not always loaded. Ian would then cart wool on the return trip to Melbourne or Geelong.
Around that time and after a few struggles Ian was able to by some newer trucks, one being an S2 Kenworth and a Louisville. He put on a driver, K.J. who was a good operator. Of course, in those days it was common for the vehicles to be financed so between the repayments, fuel and tyres expenses it was a real balancing act financially.
At the same time Ian’s wife, Cheryl, and her brother ran a general small freight business from Ballarat to Bendigo each day. They used a 1974 Dodge which Ian still has to this day.
Ian then went on to purchase a Cabover Kenworth which caught fire 6 days later and took three months to be repaired– you just did not need the likes of those delays. Ian is the first to admit that it was not always easy times and often hard decisions had to be made, but there was no way he would contemplate a career change.
By chance, in 2002 Ian was offered a job carting local in Melbourne which led to having his own contract carting steel and containers off the wharf. Once again Ian was in the position to update and purchased an LTL and International. This enabled him to employ his brother Flash and another reliable driver J.D.
To be successful Ian says you just have to ride the lows and hope for the highs to come around quickly! He acknowledges that if it was not for having good drivers and reliable sub-contractors life could have been a lot different.
Ian is now retired but like so many truck drivers and owners loves talking about the old days. Whilst Ian believes new rules and regulations were needed in the transport industry, he is pleased with his timing, as back in the older days there was true comradeship. Ian still enjoys the long term friendships made on the road, many that now extended to the children of the friends he made along the way.
