William Philips

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2006.

William (Bill) Phillips spent his whole working life in the transport industry.  He started driving when he was 16 years old for his father Reg who operated a service delivering furniture to country towns all over NSW in the late 1940s.

Later, as Balmain Taxi & Transport Service in the 1950s operating with Mercury Transport, the fleet consisted of AEC and Albion trucks.  At this stage Bill had his own truck, a new Albion with a top speed of 32 mph.  Bill was kept busy all over the eastern states including many trips across the Nullarbor Plain to Perth when the road was still only a dirt track.

Sometime later he purchased an International 190, and then when Mercury Transport was absorbed by Cargo Distributors went out on his own with a new AEC.  With the tough times back then, and the road tax, he decided being a driver was a better than an owner-driver so he sold up and started with East Coast Transport delivering large, heavy rolls of paper with an old Leyland Beaver progressing over the next ten years to a new ERF.  Bill then moved on to Brambles Bulk Haulage and won the Safe Driving Award and a trip overseas.  He finished his driving career in southern NSW with Comet Transport.

For Bill nothing was too much trouble to help others.  He was known to travel for miles to turn around and tow another truck to the nearest town and be, maybe two days, late on his own trip.  That was Bill.  He was the best example of the mateship the early pioneer drivers showed to each other.  His philosophy was: Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

Unquestionable was Bill Phillips willingness to help other operators in time of need.  He was certainly a true Gentleman of the Highway.  A true mate was Bill.