Gerard Hicks

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.

Gerard Hicks was born in December 1953 and grew up on a dairy farm with his ten  siblings in Nathalia, country Victoria.

His trucking career began in 1979 behind the wheel of his 1418 Mercedes Benz. Gerard had a contract with Pirelli, hauling cable across  the country, a relationship that lasted 17 years.  Gerard and his wife, Linda,  had established their business,  G.W & L.A Hicks Contracting, and it grew with every year of operation.

As the business expanded, Gerard wanted to upgrade his truck to a prime mover that people would notice and one that he would be proud to drive.  Thus, he purchased his iconic Kenworth W model which he ran Australia wide  for seven years before selling it, something he would later regret!

In 1997, as the business grew, the company moved from Shepparton to Melbourne. Gerard’s trucks were involved in the Australia wide rollout of Telstra smartcard payphones,  including delivery to Homebush, New South Wales for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  From here the company grew to a fleet of 15 trucks and 22 trailers along with several loyal subcontractors and the establishment of a second depot in Sydney.

Gerard always strived to do well which led to his 40 plus successful years in the transport industry.  He is known for his attention to detail, pride in his trucks, commitment to his family and business and the impeccable restorations of his Kenworth W model and 1718 Mercedes Benz. 

Gerard has appeared in numerous publications over the years.  In 2016 he received an award of excellence for his dedication to the Kenworth brand and the preservation of its history at the “Kenworth Klassic” event.  In 2019 at the same event, Gerard was the recipient of the Dane Ballinger Memorial Award for being an exceptional operator. He was also featured in an episode of the television programme, Classic Resto’s,  discussing the restoration of his W model.

Sadly in 2014, Gerard’s wife Linda lost her battle with cancer.  Their daughter, Katie, continued to help Gerard in the operation of the family business.  Although in 2018, Gerard sold off a large portion of the business, he has not yet retired.  He can still be found putting his iconic trucks to work, loading them up along with his partner, Hayley, who also shares his passion for trucks and taking in the countryside along the way.