Graham Kossatz

Graham Kossatz was born at the Yorketown Hospital South Australia on the 5thJune 1938. He grew up on the family farm and was interested in all things mechanical, both driving and repairing. He obtained his driving licence in 1954 and began delivering bagged grain from the farm to the local stacking site using a three ton Fargo truck.

In 1958 Graham bought his first truck, a 1956 Commer Knocker to start his business. This was followed by a Vulcan, Fodens, a Fiat and an Atkinson. He became a member of the Yorke Peninsula Carrier Association until it ceased. Graham worked long hours carting grain, salt, livestock and gypsum. He also carted and spread fertiliser. He has many stories to tell. One he always remembers was when his casual driver had a blow out in the front tyre of the Foden and went off the road into a waterlogged area. Two tractors and five trucks combined to pull the truck and trailer loaded with 20 tons of salt, out of the mud. Graham arrived home at 11.30pm just in time to take his wife Jennifer to hospital. their daughter Tracy was born at 1.30 am.

Graham is a legend on the Lower Yorke Peninsula, and as far as anyone knows he is the only person to cart grain to the Port Giles Grain Terminal every year since it opened in 1968. The 2014 grain harvest was his 60th year of grain haulage, a great achievement for a quiet, modest gentleman. Graham and the Gardiner powered Atkinson will be on the road again for the 2015 harvest.