John Redpath

John Leslie Redpath, better known as Ox obtained a special licence at 18 years of age to drive a truck so he could get a good job to support his family.

John moved to Melbourne and started driving for E Richards & Sons in Braybrook. He was driving a Mercedes Benz prime mover delivering carpet in the suburbs and soon proved himself a good and reliable driver and was put onto interstate deliveries. This was just what John wanted and he thrived, loving the open road, mateship and all that went with it.

Diesel was in John's veins so with his wife Joy they purchased two tray trucks and started their own company. They then purchased their first prime mover, a Kenworth SAR that was named Ox's pride and joy. It was a lovely truck and John entered it into the Penhurst Truck Show and after hours of elbow grease and polish won second place in the Best Truck. He was very excited about the silver trophy.

However, as much as John tried the truck turned out to be a lemon and due to breakdowns he lost the truck and his house. John worked on and drove for Stepnell & Son's in Ballarat for a few years but with failing health and a heart attack, he gave up driving fulltime and took a job as Transport Manager with Perc Matthews Transport of Meeniyan, Victoria based in Altona. John stepped right in and found it was just as satisfying load and co-ordinating the trucks and drivers.

Once again fate stepped in and the company went into receivership over night leaving John and the drivers without work. Not to be outdone, John and one of the drivers, Gordon Pullman got together and started their own Loading Agency, Redpath & Pullman Carriers Pty Ltd in 1999. Fifteen years later it is still going strong. In that time they have bought more and more trucks to cope with the work load. They have a fleet of more than 12 trucks delivering containers to wharves and grain and fertiliser all over the country. John's brother Peter has stepped in as Co-Manager supporting him in Logistics.

John still loves to drive and whenever he can goes off on a trip in the trucks. He has made many friends over the years too numerous to mention who have helped him to achieve success and be one of the best in the transport industry.