Kevin Cowell
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2013.
Kevin John Cowell (known as Kev) was born in 1944 and raised in the small town of Tatura in the Goulburn Valley Region ofVictoria. Tatura has a rich heritage and extensive wartime history having hosted seven Prisoner of War camps during World War Two. The area is rich and fertile and also supports many agricultural and horticultural industries. The young Kevin grew up with an appreciation of the significance of the road transport industry.
At the age of 19 Kevin moved to the nearby trucking community of Shepparton just twenty kilometres away and took a job with the plumbing firm of Date & Chessells where he delivered plumbing supplies around the area. From Date & Chessells Kevin moved on to drive trucks for W.H. Young & Sons who were an earthmoving equipment and supply business. He stayed there for a period of six years. Whilst employed at Young & Sons Kevin loaded and unloaded the trucks with casting pipes manually. His next venture was driving milk tankers in the Goulburn Valley region for Ibis Milk Products. Kevin worked there for three years driving both the day and night shifts. He then drove for the iconic W.B. Hunter Pty. Ltd. company, hauling general freight daily from Shepparton to Melbourne and return for the next three years. Kevin married Judy Clark in 1964 and they went on to have four children. Kevin's eldest son, Darren has followed in his fathers footsteps and works as a truck driver for Visy.
When Kevin left W.B. Hunters he went to drive for Campbells Soups and then worked for E.C. Phillips. He went on to be employed by the Phillips Transport organisation for a period of 25 years. Ted Phillips operated the first diesel powered fleet in northern Victoria and was one of the first transport operators to send trucks from Shepparton to Sydney markets. He left that employment at the age of 54 years. Phillips Transport purchased their first Kenworth in 1978. It was given fleet no #4 and Kevin drove it. This truck worked locally around the Shepparton district until 2005 and has since been retired to the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
After leaving Phillips Kevin commenced a fifteen year tenure employed by Cec Thompson Pty. Ltd. driving a truck and dog carting asphalt and quarry material. It was a job he loved as it didnt take him too far from home. Unfortunately ill health forced Kevin into retirement in mid 2012. He passed away a few months later in November 2012. Kevin Cowell is a bloke remembered for being one of the industry's true gentlemen of the highways and a mate you could rely on. Kevin Cowell was very well respected by all who came into contact with him over the years.
