Allan Pope

Allan 'POPEY' Pope was born in Sydney in 1936. He started driving interstate in 1963. Allan's grandfather worked for a company called Slaters Fruit Wholesalers, carting fruit and vegetables with a horse drawn 4 wheeled wagons at the Sydney Paddy's Markets until he retired.

Allan's first job was with Cousins Interstate Transport at Blakehurst in NSW. Allan drove there for around four years until they were taken over by Alltrans. He then went to Freight Transfer at Alexandria in New South Wales. They only had pantechs and carted the parts for GMH from Adelaide to all the capital cities. Allan then went to James Leahy Transport in Colac Victoria where he drove a R190 International and a 760 Dodge. One particular trip the Dodge caught fire and burnt to the ground blocking the Hume Highway for three hours north of Jugion in New South Wales.

Allan then drove for Neville Carson at Mascot in New South Wales. Starting in October 1969 and for the next 27 years Allen drove for Ace Gutters in Mortdale New South Wales. Ace Gutters had their own transport, delivering to their warehouses in Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle. They also carted ICI to Adelaide and back loaded Iplex and Penrice chemicals. The prime movers they had were Macks, Transtars and Kenworths.

During 1979 Allan was stuck in the truckes blockade at West Wyalong, and wasn't very happy about that.

Another good memory for myself is going with Dad on the trips in the school holidays. My brother would go one week and I the other. It gave us quality time together.

Allan left Ace Gutters in 1996 and moved to Cowra in New South Wales where he did some rural driving carting hay and sheep skins to various locations. He is still in Cowra and is 81 years old.