Raymond Cooper

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2015.

Raymond Cooper purchased his first logbook at the Marrickville News agency in the early 1950s and for the next five years drove local and interstate runs. The next 51 years was interstate work as an owner and company driver for various transport companies.

Raymond has had many adventures while driving from Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin and across the Nullabour to Perth. One of his most interesting trips was in 2011 driving for the Australian Touring Service for the rock shows guns n Roses and Rhianna all over Australia.

Raymond was associated with Mitchell transport for 17 years, a wonderful family company which included Raymond's two sons Trevor and Rickie as owner drivers. In 1998 Trevor had two trucks, a 1978 Atkinson and a Kenworth. Unfortunately Trevor was killed in an accident involving three semi-trailers in his Atkinson. Sadly Raymond's wife Val passed away 18 months later and Rickie also passed away in 2012.

The Atkinson was rebuilt by Ray Kent & Son Truck Repairs. It was put back onto interstate but was retired and now has heritage plates and appears at Truck Runs and shows to the delight of participants.

In 2015 on Raymond's 80thbirthday he was surprised by two parties, one by the Vintage Truck Club and another where a large number of drivers from way back at Mitchell Transport and other places attended.

Raymond always considered the other drivers on the highways of Australia as his mates, his friends and his family.