William Gordon
William Edward Gordon, born 22nd August 1951 in Ararat Victoria.
From a local farming family, Billy started out as a shearer age 18, but it was only for a few years before trucks got into his blood starting to driving stock crates for Geoff Burge Transport in Geelong.
His first truck was a V8 Dodge single axle tipper, then came the 1973 1418 Mercedes Benz working locally around Ballarat Vic.
In 1988 Bill purchased his first Kenworth ex United Transport, that was soon changed to his blue & white colours and so began the interstate runs from Melbourne to Adelaide carting wool, steel and commercial minerals where a long term relationship formed with Mario the 'Wog' loading agent.
The cab over was sold to try his hand operating a Bobcat sand & soil business, nicknamed Bobcat Billy, but it wasn't long before the love of the highway was calling him again and another KW cab over was bought.
The Eagle on the Hill in SA was a favourite meeting place, where many memories were formed & stories told to this day. During Billy's many years on the road he has enjoyed close mateships with fellow truckies Reggie Muir and Leo (Ned) Kelly just to name a mere few. Ned would often ask Billy to tarp his load being so quick and neat at tarping, one of numerous truckie skills taught to many drivers.
By 1991 Bill had built up an interstate and local transport company which consisted of 3 Interstate trucks and two tray trucks running Melbourne to Ararat daily. Business was growing rapidly until issues with the local Council forced a change in 1994 with a move to Jimboomba in Queensland & the business rebuilt.
2007 to 2009 Bill and wife Kellie who also drives, started work with Sims Metal Adelaide to bale scrap steel, loading road trains back to Adelaide. Under tough conditions and long hours an area from Kangaroo Island SA to Darwin NT was covered together.
Bills love of trucks has seen him put in 46 years of carting everything from stock, houses, general freight, grain, cotton, produce and much more.
Bill & Kellie now live in the Whitsunday's and he continues to drive a truck & dog, Bill is still trying to hang up the keys and retire!