Stanley Gardiner
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Re Union 2010.
Stan Gardiner started out in transport in 1961 when he purchased his first truck, a second hand International ASC 160, at age 18 and proceeded to cart produce from Cobram to Melbourne market. When the family moved from Strathmerton to Finley Stanley was recruited by Ernie Yeo to drive for him. Stan went to work for Tony Brayton, a potato grower, driving a Commer Knocker. This truck was purchased by Doug McGillivray from Jerilderie and consequently he went with the truck. Stan's next truck was a slimline AEC. Doug then purchased a brand new Deutz and Stan worked for several years carting stock.
Stan then went on to buy his second truck which was a Bedford tray body with a stock crate and a grain bin. He carted to the stock markets and silos and carted potatoes to the Melbourne market. He traded the Bedford in on a single axle C 1800 International pulling a lazy axle trailer carting produce and general. He then upgraded to a 1418 Mercedes Benz with a spread axle McGrath trailer. With this combination Stan worked for various companies including H. A. Chalmers, Seatons Transport and towed a stock crate for Clive Brothers Transport. The next truck Stan purchased was an FR700 Mack in 1975 that was specked up for tanker work as he was to subcontract for Fred Brown Transport (FBT). After a short period doing tanker work Stan purchased a tri-axle Fruehauf trailer and went back to H.A. Chalmers carting general goods before moving to Kenco and carting general goods to Brisbane, produce out of Lowood and citrus out of Gayndah for Mundubbera Transport. It was in this period that Stan purchased his second Mack and had it painted in Kenco colours. It was also during this period that Stan's wife Lynne commenced her permanent part-time driving career.
In 1984 Stan sold the Mack and purchased a mixed business in Berrigan which Lynne ran. After 6 months Stan was asked to drive a low loader for Frank Rennick and Co which lead to a short career in earthmoving. After 3 years of running a mixed business it was sold and Stan purchased a cab-over Kenworth and carted potatoes out of Berrigan and Thorpdale. This truck was traded in on a W900 Kenworth that was road train rated to 90 tonnes and purchased an 41' Ophee lead trailer and a 45' Ophee convertible, Stan still continued to do his produce with this truck but also during the harvest in Queensland used the roadtrain to cart grain from farm to silos in Miles and Meadarra as well as Walgett and Moree in NSW.
