Eric Robinson

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2012.

1940 2006
Eric Robinson was born in Geelong in 1940 and left school at the tender age of 13 to work on a farm. It was here he whet his appetite for the trucking industry and often took the wheel somewhat illegally driving interstate by the time he was barely 16. One day Eric found himself delivering produce to the Melbourne markets. Little did he realise at the time that it heralded the start of a forty year career carting fruit and vegetables. The business began with one truck and one hand trolley with Eric loading and unloading from the rail terminal by hand.
Eric was known as a hard worker and smart innovator and the business soon grew to 15 employees, including his two sons, a fleet of trucks and 15 forklifts. Eric played a key role in advocating the relocation of the market from Footscray to Epping. He had spent considerable time overseas researching the logistics of the shift and, even though Werribee was more suitable for his business he believed Epping would be more viable generally as it would better service the growers in the north and offered better benefits for the market community as a whole.Eric is a man who is remembered for being generous with his skills, time and money. He loved his family and was always on hand for his sons and grandchildren. To others he was a trusted business advisor and mentor. While he was considered to be tough he was also known to be fair, wise and strong-willed and did not shirk away from making hard decisions. Eric was genuine and amusing and treated others with honesty and respect. He would share his amazing knowledge with all. Whether it was for his job or for leisure Eric loved to drive trucks and cars.  Eric Robinson lost his life at 66 years of age when he suffered a heart attack after an accident on the Hume Highway near Kilmore in 2006. Eric is survived by his wife Barbara, four children, nine grandchildren and five brothers all of whom are very proud of his contribution to family as well as the trucking industry.