Andrew Baulch
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.
Andrew Ivan Baulch was born in 1952. Known as Andy, he married Susan in early 1973. Andy worked on his parent’s farm at Minjah, Victoria followed by moves to Woorndoo and Derrinallum, both in Victoria, as a station hand. After the birth of his children in 1973 and 1975, Andy decided to fulfil his dream to be a truck driver. He met with Frank Ryan from Ryans Removals in Warrnambool and began as a furniture van driver in November 1976.
Andy’s employment with Ryans spanned a period of 35 and a half years although Andy did try working for a few other companies. In late 1970s Andy worked for Hec McKinnon transport for 3 months, then spent 11 months in the early 80s with his brother Peter but each time he returned to work for Ryans.
Andy finally left Ryans in 2012 to work for Corey Carter sub-contracting for Ryans, then went carting logs until work ran out. Andy went to Paton’s Transport in mid-2015 staying until his retirement in December 2022, aged 70 and totalling over 46 years trucking.
Over the years, Andy drove furniture vans, semis then b-doubles with occasional interstate runs but he mostly ran Melbourne / Warrnambool.
One of Andy’s worst trips was driving an old BMC Diesel Van with no heater. He wrapped spare blankets around the engine cover to keep the cold out. But then a side window broke, followed by snow!
Another memorable trip involved Andy and a colleague being sent to remove a piano from a small 2 storey building. In the end it took 9 men to get the piano to the truck. They later found out the piano had been installed through a window, by crane, prior to the building being completed!
Andy’s four children and several grandchildren grew up knowing him as a “Ryans Truckie”. Andy has fond memories of his eldest grandson in a child seat in the truck, eating Chicken Twisties. Ryans was such a large part of their life that when his youngest daughter got married, she requested Ryans trucks for wedding vehicles. Guests were thrilled by the arrival of 3 trucks, decorated with white ribbons and the site of the bridal party being assisted down from trucks.
Andy is described by his colleagues as an honest, reliable, hardworking quiet achiever. He now enjoys regular caravan trips with wife Susan and friends.
