John Bradford
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2018.
John Bradford has been behind the wheel of a truck since he was 20 years of age.
John started work life as a panel beater, driving INTERS for a company in Toowoomba, local work (1962). Taking on a similar role in Boulia, John worked with the road building crew driving Butter Box ACCO's, carting dirt for the new highway. John then went to work for a poultry farm in Highfields, carting eggs to Sydney with overnight freight back, in a 590 Dodge (4 tonne) until the business was sold.
John joined our DA Hall family on the 10th September 1972. Initially carting eggs to Sydney in a 6 series Dodge. The business asked him to take on work in Bundaberg (transferring a mill to Millmerran on an 8 wheeler ACCO and a 9000 Whit with a 40 foot trailer), relocating a feedlot from Murgon to Millmerran, until the transport companies within the business closed.
John spent 12 months carting eggs to Mt Isa in an Isuzu, where he remembers having to do two engine changes on the road, both times he still met the customer delivery time. John worked in the mechanics workshop for several years before being asked to cart pigs for the piggery which he did for 22 years.
John has driven a Road Commander, an S-Line, a Mercedes (for 20,000kms), a Mercedes with a sleeper (for 250,000kms) and a Mack (for 1,000,3000kms). With the transfer of the piggeries from DA Hall to Cameron Pastoral, John took up a role in the egg truck, where he was responsible for picking the eggs from the farms and delivering them to the Grading Floor. John drove an 8 Wheeler (1981 model), a Freightliner and a Green Mack.
John's best memories were the time he spent in the little Dodge's. Where John tells us You drove by the seat of your pants, pushing the trucks to their limits with one set of brakes, and if they didn't work you had to learn to steer.
John has long term friendships from his time working for the piggeries, where he met good people, some of whom still take the time to have a meal with him when they are in town.
John is transitioning to retirement where he is kept busy with family and friends.