Graham Bland

Inducted into the Rimula Hall of Fame at ReUnion 2015.

Graham Bland was born in Melbourne, Victoria on October 16, 1943. He drove for James Lay Transport and Bernie Bott Corowa, Seaton's Transport from 1962 through to 1973 ( 11 Years).

In 1973 Graham obtained a job at Halls Van Lines at Broadmeadows, which was a unit of F.H. Stephen, driving locally to the wharf.

Mayne Nickless purchased all interstate business from the Stephan's Group, and this included Halls, Hartridge, Howes and Meque, Easst Coast Transport, Taylor, Dalton, F.C. Kerr and many others. Each division operated seperately.

Halls and Mayne Nickless Refrigerated Transport merged and were rebranded as Tempo Freezer Frieght. Graham drove a cab over Mack every day with frozen goods for delivery to Uncle Bens at Wodonga.

When Tempo Refrigerate transferred to Fluid Freight Depot in McDonald Road at Brooklyn, Graham moved on to Victoria State Transport in Footscray Road at Footscray. In this new role Graham drove a newInternational truck delivering to Nestle Food at Tongala back loading milk powder. Vicstate eventually merged with E.A.Rocke Transport in 1982 and Graham drove a new 1418 Mercedes Benz on container cartage to the wharf. Mayne Nickless then sold E.A. Rocke to the Patrick Corporation.

Graham has spent a lifetime dedicated to driving trucks. He has long been committed to his driving career and at age 72 he is deservedly proud to be still driving trucks.

Graham Bland, in 2015, has clocked up more than four decades of continuous service with Patrick Corporation.