John Deane

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.

John Anthony Deane was born in 1948 to parents Roy and Margaret (nee McDonald) Deane. John’s grandparents, Arnold (Mick) and Elsie McDonald operated the McLaren Vale Depot of the Willunga Carrying Service. Mick joined his two brothers, Scott and Sam, in the business. The fleet consisted of Chevs, Leyland Comets, and later, Commers and Bedfords.

In 1956, the business was divided to form Southern Transport and McLaren Vale Transport. Mick died in 1958 on John’s 10th birthday and McLaren Vale Transport was then operated by Roy and Margaret, Elsie and later, John.

John left school in 1964, aged 16, and began driving for his parents. Freight carted included livestock, general goods, grain, packaged and bulk wine, grapes, empty bottles to wineries, fresh and dried fruit and wine in hogsheads as well as drums to Port Adelaide. Fuel, fertiliser and general freight were loaded ex Adelaide along with a daily parcel service delivering to coastal towns and the McLaren Vale area. The fleet included various tray tops and semis, Bedfords, Commers, Leylands, Perkins, Cummins powered AB,C/Line, Acco Inters, A760 Dodge, F86 Volvo, three 4070A Transtars and the first Benz, a 1418 pulling a tri axle trailer.

In 1985 Roy and Margaret retired and John, along with wife Kay, bought three trucks and restructured the business. They mostly transported packaged and bulk wine, bottles, grain, and grapes.

In 1999, they were granted a contract with Orlando Wines to transport grapes from the New Orlando Vineyard and from local growers in Langhorne Creek, while still retaining the existing Orlando/McLaren Vale Growers freight contract.

In 2000, John and Kay moved to Langhorne Creek and were reunited with grape growers John had carted for thirty years earlier. Their business name was changed to Deane Transport Pty Ltd. This contract and boost in business resulted in operating twelve Deane Transport trucks, mostly V series Benzs, two Volvos, and S/Line, two Freightliners, and up to twenty subcontractors’ trucks.

John has driven road trains ex Broome for many years (while on winter holidays). Now semi-retired, in 2021, he has completed 56 grape vintages, but still continues local grain, and grape cartage. John and Kay are most grateful to family, drivers, and subbies, for their work, friendship, and help over the years.