Archie Baines
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2010.
Archie Baines started driving tip trucks at 16 for Rowland quarries and went driving interstate as soon as he could get his truck licence for a local company, K P Whyte Pty Ltd.
Once Archie gained experience he changed to carting livestock for Weygoods at Yarrawonga before branching out and buying a couple of trucks: a 630 Diamond T wiith a V6 GM, the other a 760 petrol motor Dodge.
Archie started out hauling livestock and general freight but he was happy to cart whatever was on the go at the time. He carted for Kennelly Transport in Adelaide. The freight was railway points out of the foundry in Castlemaine to Port Hedland in WA. These were used in the mines or exported to Japan. While waiting for the boats to come in he carted bagged cement from Dampier to the mine at Paraburdoo. Kennelly also loaded out of their Sydney depot with freight to the mines in Queensland. Cosy De Vito was Archie's next employer where Archie drove a 1418 Benz carting produce from Waikerie to Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane. Archie moved the family back to Broadford. He still resides there today. He worked for Ernie Wallett who owned RW Transport. Archie towed tankers with fuel, gas and chemicals for Mayne Nickless. Ernie was contracted with Fruehauf Trailers to tow new trailers in and out of the state.
Archie did fridge van work for United & TNT into the Gulf, Cairns and covered all the eastern seaboard as well as Mildura. Retiring from the interstate game in 1975 Archie went back into tipper work. In 1980 he branched out again, purchasing a tipper and progressed to the Earthmoving & Cartage Contracting Company that he still owns today after 30 years. The fleet includes four trucks and trailers, a semi tipper, two floats, grader, backhoes, excavator, traxavator, dump truck, bobcat, water truck and rollers. There is a fully decked out 90x60 workshop for servicing the gear. Archie employs all local people. This has been a life-long journey after 50 years in the transport industry and a collection of over 40 old trucks which Archie loves to collect and restore.
He travels all over Australia picking up his treasures. He employs a fulltime panel beater so his dreams can become a reality as he still works fulltime in the business. He has been married for 50 years in July 2010, has six children, 17 grandchildren and two great grandchildren and looks forward to another 50 good years in the road transport industry.