Sidney Cutter
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.
Sidney Henry Cutter, known as Sid, was born in October, 1929, in Gravesend, England. At the age of 4 ½, Sid was placed in a Children’s Orphanage in England, where he remained until he was 10 years old. Given the choice of living in either Australia or Canada, Sid chose Australia because he was told he could ride a horse to school there.
Sid arrived in Melbourne in August, 1939, and was sent to the Northcote Children’s Home in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Sid went to school and worked on the Northcote farm until he was 16. Sid had a love for engines and equipment, but he initially moved around and tried different jobs before starting in the transport industry.
In 1952, Sid commenced work with Brennan and Jennings of Horsham. Sid drove a L Model International semi which was something new for him and carted livestock. He moved on in 1958 to work for Horsham Transport, driving a semi R Model International Truck, from Melbourne to Adelaide, with flat tops. Come 1961, Sid worked for Mills and Lawson, driving a Commer Knocker on various runs Australia wide, subbing for Express Freight.
In 1971 Sid was driving a Fiat truck, on interstate runs from Mt Gambier to Sydney and Melbourne, carting pine products. By 1973 Sid moved on to work for Bill Brennan, driving a G88 Volvo on regular runs from Mt Gambier to Brisbane. In 1976 Sid purchased his own concrete mixer, working for McKenzie Creek Quarrying Company in Horsham.
In 1984 Sid made his last career move to work for Roger Perry of Portland. Sid had driven many different trucks, but Roger finally gave Sid his pride and joy to drive, a Kenworth 1982 W Model in which he mainly did the Melbourne to Horsham run, with occasional trips to Adelaide. Roger named the truck in honour of Sid by sign-writing “Pensioner” on the bug deflector. Sid remained in this job until he retired on his 65th birthday in 1994.
Sid was proud to become an Australian Citizen in 1987. He died in December, 2005 in Horsham. Sid was survived by his 5 children; two of Sid’s boys followed him into the transport industry and are still driving trucks today.