Don Grant

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Re Union 2012.

Don Grant worked for Harold Lewis carting bricks from Ballarat after leaving the Ballarat Technical College in 1952. At just 17, he started carting logs from Mt Cole forest, Beaufort, for Phil Sutton driving a TS3 Commer Knocker with a wooden pole jinker. In 1970 Don purchased a Leyland Comet from Keith Smith's Trucks in Ballarat. With a 12 yard semi on the back he started carting sand and gravel around the Swan Hill district until forming his own company, North Vic Grain Traders.Don held several contracts to cart grain for Vic Rail and GEB to the Geelong and Melbourne ports often having to hire up to 60 contractors at times. He also carted to flour mills in all states returning with fertilizer.

In 1972 he became an inaugural committee member, along with the late Don Watson, of the Long Distance Road Transport Association. Two bogie drive V8 Nissan UDs were purchased for $28,300 each in 1975. Nine years later two Kenworths VT 903 trucks, with bogie drive torsion bar suspension, were added to the fleet. These cost Don $64,000 each. Don has owned approximately 15 trucks and trailers of various makes and models over the years he has worked in the transport business. Don was the founder and managing director of Don Grant Haulage and Northern Gypsum & Fertilizer in Swan Hill.

In 1990 he founded Lusty Australia relocating his son-in-law to Wagga Wagga to help with the manufacturing of aluminium trailers and tippers. After selling his company with the intention of retiring, Don moved to Adelaide. His retirement did not last long. At 75 Don is still driving carting grain and fertilizer around South Australia for Vin Callery Transport. Don has seen a lot of changes over the past 58 years of being in the industry and as 2012 rolls on he enjoys every moment he is behind the wheel.