Alan Bourke

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2014.

Alan Bourke was born in Yarrawonga, Victoria in 1945. He did a few odd jobs before commencing his driving career in 1972 when he took a job with Wilson Transport in Benalla. He collected and delivered papers between Melbourne and Benalla usually driving a Leyland or a Commer TS3 'Knocker'. From Wilson Transport Alan went on to work for Harry Hinton Transport of Seymour driving interstate in a 180 Gardner powered truck. Hintons were a long time sub-contractor to McFies.

Alan carted general and paper pulp for WF Miller of Wangaratta, for Romsey Bulk Carriers. He then drove a silver Western Star for John Sarson and later carried freight from Brisbane all along the Queensland coast to Cairns for Dennis Krause.

One of Alan's favourite jobs was pulling TNT refrigerated vans for various companies collecting the carcases of feral pigs from ice boxes in far north Queensland. He loved the remoteness of the outback and travelling lonely routes to isolated places such as Georgetown, Julia Creek and Normanton where he would often enjoy outback hospitality, a cold beer and a yarn with the locals.

Before Alan retired he worked fifteen years with Scotts Transport Shepparton, a company which has been known for decades as one of Australia's largest and most dynamic privately owned transport and logistics operations.

For the 46 years of Alan's driving career he worked, like many of his truckie mates, for many different employers and companies and drove a variety of makes and models locally and interstate.

On his retirement Alan found he still could not give up the road. He travelled Australia in a mobile home with his wife Jeanette but after twelve months returned to the transport industry to drive for Pollards Transport Benalla. Today, Alan is fully retired and spends his time fishing and camping with his family and friends and continues to travel, in his motor home rather than in a truck.