Barry Densley

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2013.

Barry Densley, born in 1937, went on to become a living legend in the Australian trucking industry particularly along the east coast and across the Nullarbor where he worked for over 50 years. The travel times between capitals that truckies did in those days, in underpowered trucks and substandard highways will never be matched thanks to new driving laws, the new generation of drivers and better roads and bigger trucks. Anyone travelling with Barry would be kept amused with him reciting, verbatim, Banjo Patterson poems over the CB. 

Born in the late 1930s in the Riverina area of NSW, Barry started driving into the original Melbourne produce markets from the Riverina for Audinos Transport when he was  just18 years old and the Moonie was still just dirt. Fuel tanks in trucks were so small in those days, you literally had to fuel in every town. It was very time consuming at a time when every trip was a race against a deadline.  
In later years Barry drove for Halls Van Lines, Kevin Lowe, Noel Heppell, Machette, D & E Cameron, Pat Tobin, Noel Griffin and Twinr finally starting his own refrigerated transport fleet and loading agency; BGA, Densleys.  Barry hauled produce out of the far north to all states of Australia for many years.
Barry was one of the drivers who, in the 1970s, would define the words overnight express transport and changed what owners could expect from their trucks in any given week.  He had a work ethic that traffic laws could not stop and one of those to benefit was Noel Griffin.  With one new truck he needed a driver who could work it hard and, with Barry in the seat it did 280,000 klms per year running between Melbourne, North Queensland and Perth. Barry is reported to have approached Noel Griffin and told him, You buy me a truck and I'll make you lots of money.

Noel admitted later employing Barry Densley was one of the best decisions he made saying it helped him go from one truck to the biggest refrigerated transport company in Australia, Refrigerated Roadways.  Even as an owner, Barry was renown for supporting his mates along the highway and giving a helping hand where-ever it was needed. Barry's generousity was outstanding and it is said that is what ultimately cost him his family and his business.

After 50 years in the industry, Barry Densley died in 2011 at the age of 74. He left behind him a lot of friends who remember him for many different reasons. Barry was an easy going kind of bloke who enjoyed a good yarn and a joke when time permitted.  He had a great sense of humour and was admired by all who knew him along the road. He is remembered as one of the true gentlemen of the highways and a great mate to many.