Russell (Jack) Peach

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2011.
Russell John (Jack) Peach was born on 9th December 1913 at Macarthur in the Western District of Victoria and died 23rd May 1989.
Jack was a third generation transporter and in 1945 he bought his first truck (an International green tray truck) from his brother Norman. After a few years he added a dog trailer which he would put on the front of the truck to back it down the narrow lanes of the wool stores. Other truckies would come out and watch as not many could achieve this. In 1953, he bought his first semi trailer, an International with an 18 foot trailer. It was now that Jack started to have his trucks painted blue and red the same as the Macarthur Football Club. Some Saturdays, Jack would use his truck to transport the team to away matches. Early on in the business Jack always had a tray truck with which he would pick up Macarthur town supplies including beer and groceries. He had the Pivot Fertiliser Agency and also the Mobil petrol agency which was the oldest agency in Victoria. The business grew rapidly and employed many drivers and no matter what time of day or night they came in, Jack would bring them home for a meal. Annie was kept very busy with as many as 12 to 16 men there for morning or afternoon tea. Jack was a genuine, honest and generous gentleman with lots of integrity. He worked his business as a team with his wife Annie to whom he was married for 53 years at his death. His son Kingsley continued to run the business after Jack's death in 1989 until it was sold in 2002. There has been six generations of the Peach family in Macarthur in 150 years. When Jack passed away, it was said The Gentleman is Gone.