Brian Arrowsmith

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2005.

Brian Arrowsmith began his working life at 14 years of age working for his father on a Southern Cross Percussion rig at Christmas Bore, on Mt Dare. They drilled a 6 inch bore to 1600 feet and equipped it with a 30 foot Southern Cross windmill.

When he was 19 Brian joined the earthmoving firm of Rieck Bros. whose earthmoving plant consisted of D6 9U bulldozers and cable scoops. Brian, and partner Lou Thompsell, eventually purchased the business and moved throughout the pastoral areas of Australia until the mid 1970s.In 1974, Brian upgraded his Thames truck to a Foden, with a straight 8 Gardner, hub reduction arse-end and so began another partnership. With the upgraded prime-mover, Brian became the first operator to pull a double combination of talc from the mine.

Brian's first new truck, in 1975, was a Scania 110 that pulled two 31 yard Fruehauf triaxle tippers, carting aggregates from Innamincka to Moomba. The truck was sorely tested in the temperature department, especially in summer, both in engine capability and driver comfort. Within 18 months, Brian had a fibre glass tilt-over bonnet made, completely changing the performance and the appearance of the truck.During Brian's Cooper Basin days  many drivers learnt from the wealth of his vast experience, patience and perseverance. Brian has been known to utter the words "Let it develop, Syd" to a niggling mechanical or technical problem, but all knew that his sheer determination and ingenuity would soon solve the dilemma. In the early 1990s, Brian and the family took a new direction, and were based in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Brian Arrowsmith has contributed greatly to the transport industry in the regional areas of Australia during the past 35 years. His family is justifiably proud of his achievements in the industry and in the unassuming manner in which he has determinedly and quietly gone about his work.