Wayne Franks

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Re Union 2010.

Wayne Franks was born 1947 at Walwa, north east Victoria in the Snowy Mountains. He lived on a farm on the edge of town.

He started driving on a grey Ferguson tractor then later his father's Commer truck which was used for collecting cream from the surrounding farms for the Walwa Butter Factory. His first job was in 1965 driving for Stockwell Transport at Corryong driving a stock truck. In 1967 he went to work for Dairy Farmers driving a milk tanker in north east Victoria 1972 saw him buy his first truck; a Ford Louisville prime-mover with bogie drive and he towed for Fridge mobile mainly in Vic, NSW and Qld for 6 months. He then bought his own trailer, a 40' Loadmaster, and sub contracted to TNT. He was asked to paint his truck TNT orange called Peaches & Cream by the TNT family. In 1973 he bought another 4 trucks and towed for TNT. These were a UD Nissan, doing 1 round trip a week from Melbourne, Brisbane return, an International ACCO Eagle, a White Road Commander and a Ford Louisville, all bogie driven. They carried general goods all around Australia. There were many trips to Dampier WA carrying electrical gear for the moving elevator on the wharf.

In 1985 he downsized to one truck, a White Road Commander. He sold this in 1988.Wayne enjoyed driving and seeing the countryside. After a spell, he drove a milk tanker for various milk factories picking up milk from the Upper Murray areas and Kiewa Valley which he delivered to Albury or Bendigo factories. He also drove for Miller Caravans & Cabins, Albury, delivering cabins around the country.Wayne belongs to the Harry Ferguson Tractor Club and the Corowa Vintage Machinery Club where he enjoys his tractors and small engines. Today he enjoys fishing and travelling.