Frederick Champion

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2007.

Frederick Alexander Champion, at the age of nine, began travelling with his transport-driving father during holidays and any other day he could get off school. Fred's mother was the first woman to obtain a DR licence in Victoria, handing it in for a bus license, which she held from 66 to 75 years.

With his father, Fred drove the first sedan truck in Australia, carting Castrol products across Victoria and into the NSW Riverina. At the age of 14 he was still going on trips in the sedan truck. Later he drove an EH petrol Mack for two years creating the record for 232 drums.

At 16 he purchased a KBS 6 International with a trailer that carried cars two high, mostly 45-49 Hillman Minx and Humber Snipes. In 1953, he drove a 1600 Chevy truck carting produce to Sydney and bringing back Coke.

In permit days, he drove a Commer petrol truck carting produce from Adelaide to Hay. He also worked for Express Freight, travelling across Australia for many years before driving for JT Symonds in Port Adelaide shifting the first oil rig around South Australia and into Queensland. Fred then worked for Fleet Express until he reached retirement age and still holds his truck licence to this day.