Kenneth Dorling
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2008.
Kenneth Dorling was born in May 1938. His interest in trucks began at ten years of age when his father bought a new 1948 Bedford. By the time he was 23 he had started to drive full-time for Cecils Transport carting produce and cattle around south Gippsland and to the rail at Korumburra and Nyora.
At night truckies knew who was comning towards them by the lights on the cab of the truck. If there was a breakdown or a flat it would not be unusual for several trucks to stop and lend a hand or just to have a friendly chat.
In 1963 Ken married and, in 1966, moved the family to Yinnar near Morwell to drive for the milk factory there. On his time off he worked part time for Rendals and Cooks carting cattle to Dandenong and Newmarket sale yards. Ken moved back to Poowong to Cecil and then to Corinella Transport driving an AB International and a C-line Acco carting bagged seaweed and cattle to and from French Island, as well as briquettes, bottled gas, drummed fuel and cattle around the Phillip Island, Wonthaggi area from Melbourne. After about 14 months Ken moved back to Poowong to drive again for Cecils and then Shorts when the business was sold. It was in this period that Ken drove his favourite truck, the 86 Volvo, or 'bubble cab' as they were called. He liked it because of its ease of operation and level of comfort compared to the Inters and Bedfords he had driven previously.
He remembers the time he was fully loaded with cattle and a farmer's bridge collapsed. Ken climbed down the stockcrate into the water and let the cattle swim to safety. Although not funny at the time, it is now a humourous tale to tell the grand-kids. Ken then moved to Warragul to work for Farnham and Stevens driving an S2 Kenworth and clocking up 1.3 million klms in 10 years carting bricks all over Gippsland.
Kenneth hauled to the alpine resorts of Falls Creek, Mt Hotham and Mt Baw Baw and later drove for Ken clocking up a further 1.3 million klms in a CHR Mack for Murray Transport carting bricks and pavers in Gippsland.
