Trevor McKinnis

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.

Trevor (Grumpy) George McKinnis was born in February 1946, in Stawell, Victoria. As a young fella in the small rural town, Trev first got the taste for trucks in the usual way - carting wool off the farm to the Port of Geelong. He did this in an old Thames trader for Rodney and Albert Blake’s farm in Stawell. The return journey would take him the best part of the day and half the night, returning with gypsum.

With life on the farm slowing down due to unsettled seasons Trevor decided to start work for John (deceased) and Glenda Blay, a local glass and bottle transporter, doing return trips to Melbourne daily. He quickly became like a son to the Blay’s and over the years they have offered advice and guidance and have watched all the highs and helped Trevor through the lows. They are still like family today.

Building up a good reputation as an operator it was not long before Trevor had the offer to work for the local brick manufacturer and the opportunity to drive a ‘flash’ cab over 1418 Benz. After wearing that out and the busyness of the building industry increasing they replaced it with another brand new truck, this time an International T-line. With running local starting to get a bit boring Trevor headed down the road to Wayne and Pam Franklins yard. He started running interstate from Melbourne to Adelaide and return.

Driving for Franklins in the 1980s was all very fast-paced in a time when drivers ‘working all day and driving all night’ was just the norm. This was before the big freeways of today. Trevor found himself getting worn out and realised he needed to be home to enjoy his children growing up. Trevor made the choice to start slowing down and thinking less of the highway and more about the home life he was missing, he gave interstate work away.

Joining the small local abattoirs was something Trev though he would ‘give a go’, a way to see if being home would suit his new outlook on life but that was not what was on Frew’s mind. The abattoirs increased in size at an unexpected rate and before he knew it Trev was doing a trip every night, 5 nights per week, Stawell to Adelaide return – 1000kms a run. He did this for the best part of the next 20 years.

All up, Trevor spent 1 month short of 30 years with Frews and as he had now become the ‘old fella’ it was up to Trev to grab the young lads and offer them guidance and show them the ropes. Some would take notice and listen, and some wouldn’t. This would frustrate him, hence the nickname ‘Grumpy’. There would not be a more recognised face on the Western Highway than ‘Grumpy’ with old blokes respecting him, young blokes looking up to him and former employees admiring him. He’s certainly earned his stripes.

Trev had this idea a few years ago to hand the keys up and kick back with his better half, Jen and spend time with his family. The only driving ‘Grumpy’ does nowadays is towing their caravan around Australia be a pain holding up the trucks as they did to him for fifty years! Trevor still has ‘To drive a road train’ left on his bucket list and unfortunately that will remain there as this is one thing he never got the chance to do.