Gary Kelly

Gary Kelly started his trucking life carrying for Australia Post from Brisbane to Rockhampton in a small UD rigid and quickly became known as the Postie. The truck was owned by his father John Kelly. The work changed and it wasn't long before another rigid was ordered for overnight work between Brisbane and Townsville for Priceways. This company was bought out by The Overnighters.

Work for overnight rigids was difficult to find so Gary traded the UD in on a new Mack Superliner. He also purchased a new Hallmark 40 foot tri-axle trailer. As Gary's father was doing shuttle service for Ansett freight to north Queensland, Gary had made enquiries to do their Adelaide service. This work continued until Ansett's demise.

Gary traded the Mack in on a brand new 4964F Western star powered by a series 60. It was decided he needed to tow a B-double so a new 45 foot tautliner was built in their Toowoomba workshop. Gary then found an old burnt out tautliner which he converted into an A trailer.

In the late 1990s, Gary health started to decline due to becoming diabetic and having sleep apnoea. The doctor told him he had eat right, sleep right and exercise to which he replied how do you do that and drive a truck interstate?

In 2001 Gary decided he had better look after his health and spend some time with his daughter so he put his truck into the family business. As he lived in Adelaide and the family company was in Toowoomba, he had to find work.

It was during this time of change Gary married his present wife Dinny who has helped him to move forward in his career. He also got into carting bulk dangerous goods. He first carried sulphuric acid for Transwest and later drove a gas tanker and then switched to fuel.

While there changes in fuel contracts among the big players like Linfox, Toll and Cootes (Gary worked for all three) it was at Cootes Gary had hoped he might retire. At Cootes in his words, the people were great, the job was good and unlike what was said in the media, the trucks were well maintained.

However the job was to change again. Today Gary is back at Toll Liquids with most of the people he worked with at Cootes, doing the Shell work on local and country distribution.