John Algie
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2015.
John Algie was born at Swan Hill Victoria on the 7th December 1942. On returning from WW II, John’s father Jack purchased a tray body truck to cart wheat and fire wood to the Nyah pumping station. Jack’s father had done this job in earlier years but with a bullock dray.
As a boy, John loaded and unloaded many of these loads. In 1972 the need to have his own truck had arrived. John purchased several different tray-body trucks and started carting scrap metal, hay, citrus trees for a local nursery, potatoes, grapes and railway sleepers. He back loaded steel, machinery and building supplies mostly between his home town of Nyah, Melbourne, Canberra, Geelong and Adelaide.
In 1977 John landed a contract with the Victorian Railways. This was to cart goods from Swan Hill to Balranald and service towns in between. This job required a modern semi- trailer. A very smart 1975 Bedford with a 653GM and a 36 foot freighter trailer suited the job very well. The Bedford served John well until traded in 1982 for a brand new UD CK40.
In 1980, John bought out a local company named Rasmussen Transport. With this came a 1924 Benz and semi trailer. Rasmussen’s serviced the local area of Tooleybuc/Goodnight to and from Melbourne, carting general freight and market produce. John back loaded with fertiliser, beer, groceries, gas bottles and other general freight. With the need to cart general and bulk, a 40 foot Curtainsider convertible complete with opening roof, barn doors and a tailgate was acquired. John employed his brother-in-law, Peter Scott, until 1998.
In 1997, John was badly injured after tipping his 3070 inter-loaded with wool. John and his travelling companion both suffered broken necks and were lucky to escape the burning wreck. After the accident, John was joined by his son Tim who worked with him until 1996.
As things were getting tough in the transport industry, John wound up his business in 1998. He then went on to drive for another company until 2013.
John is still keeping busy, restoring engines and vehicles on his travels around Australia.