George Badenoch
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2023.
George Badenoch was born in Uraidla, South Australia in 1932. At the age of 18 he was called up to complete three months of National Service Training. After that, he moved to the Southeast of South Australia to work as a pine faller in the forest industry. Very soon after this, he obtained his truck licence.
Not long after this George bought his first truck, an International R190 and went log carting. In 1958 George purchased another International truck and began his interstate contracting career, travelling from Mount Gambier, South Australia to Sydney, New South Wales. There were no log books or cameras in that era!
In 1964 George married Kathleen Kain, daughter of Jack Kain, founder of Kain and Shelton, Mt. Gambier, South Australia. In later years this business became fondly known as K & S Freighters.
In 1970 George was carting for Pine Industries. He was carting products from Mount Gambier to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. In 1974 George’s destinations and freight had not changed but his truck had, he was driving an Atkinson.
George and Kathleen had two children, Helen and Leon. George relocated the family to Wentworth Falls, New South Wales, in 1977. He gained a contract to cart coal from Lithgow and the surrounding areas to power stations. George did this in a Kenworth SAR.
In 1984 George moved the family back to Mt. Gambier where he continued his interstate driving from Mt. Gambier to Sydney then Adelaide before returning home.
In 2000, his son Leon joined him on the road in the family business. Together they established Gklb Transport.
George often retold one unforgettable trip in 1999. George was carting woodchips out of the Gippsland region. While he was on top of the chips, spreading out the tarp, he lost his footing and fell about 9 foot from his load to the ground. George was in significant pain with his ankle. Not one to waste time he jumped in the truck and drove home to Mount Gambier, South Australia, only to find he had broken his ankle. Aged 67, he rested in his cast for 6 weeks and then got back on the road.
George drove trucks most of his life, retiring in 2006 before passing away in 2020.
