Ernest Kassulke

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2006.
Norm was born in New Residence, South Australia.  In July 1940 he enlisted in the AIF and commenced construction of a road north from Alice Springs.  His early interest in trucks and motors was fostered and his organisational skills soon saw him promoted to Sergeant.
In 1941 he embarked for Singapore where he was taken POW in February 1942.  He was sent to work on the railway line between Burma and Thailand.  He was listed as missing in action and his family had no news for 3½ years.
Much to their surprise, and against all odds, Norm survived and arrived back in Fremantle in October 1945 weighing 70lb, having been Mentioned in Dispatches.  He returned to the Riverland area in South Australia and married his childhood sweetheart, Ethel Fritsch (Missy).  They purchased the Moorook General Store and before long Norm had acquired his first truck to pick up supplies from Adelaide.  They raised three children all of whom subsequently joined them in the family trucking business having grown up with an appreciation of it.
In 1980, at age 68, Norm embraced the computer age.  He spent many hours designing his own programs and many more hours challenging the programmers in Adelaide to meet his requirements.  He also featured in the Daily Telegraph Big Wheel Annual Magazine.  People were intrigued to find a fully-computerized interstate trucking company in the small town of Moorook and he was known for his hospitality.
Ernst Kassulke was still firmly in control of his business when he passed away at the age of 73.  The business continues on in the hands of his son, Charlie.

Lest We Forget.