Geoff Hancock
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2010.
Geoff Hancock grew up near Spalding S.A. and started learning to drive farm trucks as soon as he could reach the pedals. Some of these trucks included Austins, Bedfords, Chevs etc. Occasionally he helped the local carrier with bagged and bulk grain and livestock. He moved to the northern Flinders Rangers where he drove the local mail truck out of Copley. Geoff moved to Jamestown where he worked for a local carrier and Agnews carting grain and fertilizer but mainly livestock around the mid north of S.A., Broken Hill and Tibooburra NSW. At the time he was operating a 190 International with a 6V53 GM and at times with a second trailer.From S.A.
Geoff went to the N.T. where he worked at Mataranka and Katherine freighting bridge building material and livestock. He then went to Alice Springs where he was contracted to Ansett Freight Express which was running from Adelaide to Darwin. At this time the 'South Road' was still dirt and the North Stuart Highway was single lane bitumen.
In 1977 Geoff started Hancock's Horse Transport which transported horses to Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, Broome and all stops in between with off road transport a specialty taking work off the railways and onto the road. During this time he contracted to other haulage companies in Alice moving oil rigs, quarry crushers, fuel etc. The business closed in 1990 and Geoff moved to Mt Barker S.A. where he started another transport business carrying building frames and trusses which went for a few years.
He sold the business and for a number of years worked for a milk tanker company and at Moomba with Ascot Haulage. He then went into semi-retirement and now works part-time as a mechanic and test driver. Geoff has enjoyed his life on the road seeing and experiencing many changes over the years, some good; some could have been done differently. The trucks he has operated have been from the 1940s through to the latest 500hp 600hp trucks. He will say he prefers the older vehicles and appreciates what they did with what they had.
