Roddam “Snowy” Douglas
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2014.
Good bush survival skills underpinned the years Roddam Morris Douglas, known as Snowy, successfully logged areas of Victoria. Born in 1926, a young Snowy worked hard helping his parents clear the virgin bush around their small farm at 'The Patch' so they could grow potatoes and other produce.
At just 16 years of age Snowy purchased a 1926 solid wheeled Albion to cart firewood which he chopped by axe and delivered locally to other early settlers in the area. Snowy had a pair of grips made which bolted onto the back wheels, similar to Anders grips used on tractors, so he could snig logs out of the bush in winter. Snowy married Janet, the daughter of Wally Legge, a well known bullocky who worked hauling logs out of the bush with his bullock team. Snowy and Janet went on to have four daughters and a son Lindsay (now deceased)
Snowy's next trucks were an ex-army Ford Blitz and a Chev Blitz which were used to cart logs down to Fishermans Bend where they were used for power poles. Over the years he went on to cart logs and work dozers - felling and carting logs to various sawmills on contract in many remote areas where his bush skills ensured survival and his hard work earned him a reputation as a survivor in one of the industry's toughest sectors. His young son Lindsay was his constant sidekick until he passed away at aged 15 with cancer. Snowy recalls those days fondly. Lindsay would load the truck with logs off the landing on the dozer like an expert and his knowledge of trucks was fantastic. Snowy also recalls coming home with a load of red gum logs on a very hot day when he pulled over to cool off only to be caught skinny dipping in the Murrindindi River at Glenburn. He also worked on the gas pipeline to Longford carting pipes and doing work with his D-7 CAT dozer (Whistler).
He now lives at Bunyip and loves tinkering in his backyard shed with old stationary engines and whatever else needs repairing. He still splits firewood. It doesn't matter who you talk to when you mention Snowy's name the comment is 'a top little bloke'.
