Leigh Walton

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.

Leigh William Walton (Grinner) was born in Brisbane in 1949. He grew up in many areas as his father was a shearer and they frequently moved. Leigh would spend most of his school holidays at Surat, Queensland, visiting family and this is where his love of trucks began. At the age of 14 he would drive his Uncle Sam Butler’s body truck for him all around the district.

Leigh left school in Grade 9 and went on to do a carpentry apprenticeship. Leigh started driving trucks fulltime at 19 years of age, once his apprenticeship was completed. He married Donella in Surat in 1974 and they had 4 children.

Leigh’s first job was for McMillan’s Transport before going on to driving for Simon’s Transport carting freight from Brisbane to Darwin. This became especially busy after Cyclone Tracey hit and supplies had to be carted to Darwin.

In 1978 Leigh bought his first truck from and with the help of Bill Basket. Without Bill’s help Leigh would not have been able to purchase the vehicle. It was a blue, White 4000 called ‘Born Free.’ Leigh used it to cart cattle around the Roma and district area. He then bought a cabover Kenworth with a V12 GM motor, this was called ‘Grinners Grunter’.

Two years later, Leigh proudly purchased his first brand new truck, a 1980 Kenworth SAR which was also known as ‘Grinners Grunter’. In 1986 he sold this truck to Ian Forbes, one of his friends in the industry.

Leigh was involved in the starting of the Livestock Transporters Association of Queensland (now known as Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland) in 1981, with Jock Douglas and Bruce McIver.

Leigh remained involved with trucks, managing Walkers Transport at a small Roma Depot and owning a body truck he used locally. Leigh went on to manage McIver’s Transport at various depots. The fleet included cattle trucks, oil tankers and mining trucks. Leigh worked there from 1988 until he passed away at the age of 49 on 26th January 1999.

Leigh was a leader in the industry, he taught the young drivers the mechanics of operating safely and the skills necessary for their roles in the transport industry, particularly in rural and remote areas so they could get themselves out of trouble.