Neil Buxton

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2012.

Neil Buxton was born on a sheep farm at Stradbroke near Sale in August 1946 and educated at Boisdale Consolidated School. He left school at the age of sixteen years to work at the local General Motors Garage where he eventually became manager of both the spare parts and service divisions.

At about the age of 21 he decided to follow in the footsteps his father Eddie and brother Brian and become a truck driver. His first job was with Harry Bullock driving an International bogie drive and trailer carrying timber from East Gippsland to Sale. It was a round trip of about two hundred and fifty miles on a daily basis. When Harry Bullock sold his truck and retired, Neil joined WL Dyer and Son (now Dyers Transport) in Sale and carried general goods all around Victoria, NSW and SA for several years. He then started his own business through renting a W Model Kenworth and trailer carrying goods subcontracting for several companies including his previous employer at Dyers. Neil later purchased that truck and became an owner driver on interstate line-haul.

Neil later started carting fertilizer, hay and grain and started a new business called N & J Buxton. This business still exists today. Gippsland has been in the grip of a severe drought for many years so Neil has been busy carting as farmers need to buy hay and grain for their stock. Neil also carries timber from Morwell and Heyfield all around the country, and returning with grain for local farmers.

Neil's next truck was an SAR Kenworth which he worked at the same business until he traded it in on brand new Kenworth T903 which he still drives today in his business as a grain merchant. It is his pride and joy and he is always sure to service it on time and keep it looking good.

Neil Buxton is known throughout the industry as being a good operator and a good businessman. He says he has always had the unstinting support of his wife, Joy and their three daughters and this has been instrumental in his successes. Even though Neil has had nearly 50 years of continuous driving he has no plans to retire anytime soon.  He operates his business from a 40 acre farm where he and his wife Joy live. He has three daughters and five grandchildren.