Brian Hailes

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2022.

Brian Hailes was born in June 1943 in Tailem Bend, South Australia and grew up in that region. He left school at the age of 14 to become a farm worker and moved to New South Wales in 1964. A drought in 1965 led him to leave farm work and start driving, at aged 22, for Clyde Purkiss. This was in the village of Premer on the Liverpool Plains, New South Wales where Brian carted general freight and livestock for Clyde.

In 1975, Brian and his wife, Aldyth, bought a Kenworth from Clyde and they started their own business carrying cattle, grain and sheep; this was the beginning of Hailes Transport which was to operate for 29 years. Relocating to Gunnedah, New South Wales, in 1981, the business began to grow. Hailes’ trucks could be seen across eastern Australia, particularly in livestock cartage which was an important part of their business.  Brian was very much a ‘hands on’ business owner and he spent much of his time on the road, leaving Aldyth to manage the day to day operations.

Throughout the life of the business, Brian owned nothing but Kenworth prime-movers. The fleet was always immaculately maintained and presented. The Hailes staff were as proud of the equipment as was their boss. Brian also had a very special relationship with his drivers, some of whom were with him for many years.

Due to health issues, Brian and Aldyth sold their business in 2004, which was at that time, a magnificently presented fleet of six Kenworth prime-movers with B-double cattle and grain trailers.

However, that was not the end of Brian being on the road. Such was his love of the transport industry and the people in it, that he stayed involved by driving b-doubles for long term friends.

Brian was renowned for his honesty, reliability and integrity. His friendly and slightly mischievous personality endeared him to many. Brian had three great loves in his life: his family, Kenworth and The Sydney Swans AFL team.  Aldyth, somewhat tongue in cheek, has been known to suggest that sometimes the order of preferences could move around.

Brian died in July 2021 at the age of 78.  At a service celebrating his life, a former Hailes staff member said, “If they (Brian and Aldyth) still owned trucks, I would still be driving for them.”  There could be no finer tribute.

The Hailes name does continue in the transport industry. Brian and Aldyth’s son, Steve, has his own business and, not surprisingly, he can often be seen behind the wheel of a Kenworth.