Don Kirk

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2009.

Don Kirk was born 15th October, 1940.  He left school at 14 to join the workforce.  When he was 16 he obtained a "special" truck licence whilst working for an Ampol fuel distributor in Queanbeyan.  Five years later in 1961 he was appointed Golden Fleece distributor for Canberra and Queanbeyan.
In 1982, Don became a distributor for Caltex after their take-over of Golden Fleece.  Goulburn, Yass and Boorowa were added to the distributorship.  Don sold out to Caltex in 1992.
Don started line-haulage tanker operations in 1974.  From then until 1998 Don was a bulk petroleum haulage contractor operating out of Sydney and Melbourne into southern New South Wales.  He was operating 15 combinations including B-doubles with bases in Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Queanbeyan and Goulburn.  In the mid to late 80s Don was also a partner in Western Fuels in Dubbo, a petroleum distributorship operating into north-western New South Wales and south-west Queensland.
As well as his petroleum transport and distributorships, Don operated several other enterprises including a demolition contract and recycled building material supplier, as well as an authorised dealer for Kenworth, Volvo and Hino trucks.  He also owned Bourkes Hill Station, Braidwood, NSW where he bred commercial beef cattle.  He was a joint operator of  'Canberra Off Road' specializing in engineereed equipment for 4WD and mining vehicles and later was partner in Land Development Co. subdividing rural residential land.  In 1998, up to 2005, Don was engaged as a heavy transport consultant to 'Indigenous Business Australia'.  He has held many positions in several organisations.  He was chairman of the RTF Headquarters project securing land for their head office in Canberra, as well as raising $1,000,000 from industry participants.
In 2007 Don and Wife, Barbara, founded the Kirk Family Foundation for disadvantaged children in the local government areas of Queanbeyan City, Yass and Palerang Shires with an initial donation of $1,000,000.  Don is one of this country's greatest transport identities.