Raymond Mullane

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.

Raymond John Mullane, known as Ray, was born in Mildura, Victoria in August, 1956. Ray was only 10 years old when he started climbing up into Ronnie Erhardt’s truck, helping him deliver fuel, gas, fencing materials, hay and anything else that station owners required around the Darnick and Ivanhoe area. Even when he was older and had a job of his own, Ray would quite often help out on weekends, picking up wool and taking it to the Mildura railway station or the local wool buyer.

At 18 years of age, he was driving graders to help clear dirt roads for station owners and driving other heavy machinery for Garraway’s around the same time. In the late seventies, Ray began  working for Horsfall’s, now known as Boral, carting sand, concrete and gravel in old Leyland and Bedford trucks.

In 1997 he began driving for Finemores, now known as Toll, on the car carriers. He would travel to Adelaide, Wagga Wagga and other destinations with these loads. While employed by  this company Ray  often received “Best and Safest Driver” awards. Following this, in 1982, he did some work for Brambles in Queensland. 

A day that Ray would never forget fell in August 2000.  Ray was one of the first at the scene of a bad road accident involving three trucks. Ray assisted by   calling emergency services, setting up road cones around the scene and directing traffic until the emergency services arrived.

Ray and his wife, Deborah, started their own truck business, R.J & D.J Mullane, in 2002 and  carted grain, heavy machinery, livestock, grapes, and cotton.

Ray made friends everywhere that he travelled and maintained these friendships over the years with people in every state of Australia. He was well respected and regarded as a great mate who was always ready and willing to put on his overalls, roll up his sleeves and give anyone a hand.

Raymond John Mullane sadly passed away in March 2020,  surrounded by his wife and children.