Kevin Russell

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2005.

Kevin Russell started running trucks to Mt. Isa in the early 1960s, carting Nitropil for the Mt. Isa mines, an endeavour that he continued with until 1968, when he and two partners started Copper City Transport, carting beer for Carlton United Brewery from Melbourne to hotels and clubs in Mt. Isa and occasionally to establishments in Darwin and all points in between.
Kevin was a true leader in the hard times of bogs and bad roads and he was always willing to help newcomers and anyone in need of assistance.  In 1974, he was stuck in Winton for three months, and then took two weeks to get to Cloncurry.He was always involved in many fundraising endeavours for the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the Blue Heeler Hotel at Kynuna.  Through the years, he was bogged down for weeks at a time and even turned around from Longreach and went back to Bourke, across to Port Augusta, up to Alice Springs and around to Mt Isa to deliver the grog.  In fact, so many truckies and friends often referred to him as the Keg on legs:.  So many property owners from Winton to Cloncurry depended on him to bring in their supplies and parts, and he often expected nothing in return. Kevin retired from the runs in 1980 and bought a concrete truck.  He attended the first Truckies' Reunion at the Road Transport Hall of Fame in 1993 and was a regular visitor over the years.  He was involved in raising money for the Lights on Hill Memorial at Gatton.  His last real job was as bottle shop manager in Lockyer Valley.His contribution to the communities of outback Australia and to the transport industry has earned Kevin his place on the Truckies' Wall of Fame. Kevin passed away in 2007.  He was a foundation member of the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.