Barry Lang

BARRY LANG started his driving career in the Riverina area in the 1960s when he started moving stud rams and carting grain around the area . He was based in Coleambally, New South Wales, at the time. A move to Sydney saw him working for a major retailer where he delivered groceries all throughout regional New South Wales. It was hard and back breaking work in those days. Everything was loaded and unloaded by hand with hands off gates and tarps.

When the business was taken over by another entity ten years later, Barry literally went with the sale and stayed for another 25 years. He still delivered all over regional New South Wales but also did some interstate haulage work. One of Barry's highlights during this time was a stint in Manilla in the Philippines where he was tasked with staff recruitment and driver training.

"It was interesting times as the steering wheel was located on the opposite side of the vehicle."

When Barry returned to Sydney he was transferred to the depot where he loaded Adelaide bound interstate trucks using some of the earliest mezzanine floored trailers. After this he was transferred to KMart where he continued delivering product to stores all over Australia including as far north as Cairns. This included overnight work between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Barry also did some tanker work out of Toowoomba and Brisbane.

In later years Barry carted dollies and heavy mining equipment out of Adelaide and Port Augusta to Perth but a heart condition at the age of 71 convinced he needed to give up the road and take things a little easier. After 51 years on the road Barry;

"kicked his last tyre and declared it was time to pull the pin,"

Barry Lang always said he had been everywhere but seen nothing. He is enjoying his retirement travelling around looking at the country he'd only ever seen from the windscreen of his trucks. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren.