Barry Charles Rolfe “Smiley”
BARRY CHARLES ROLFE, known as 'Smiley', was born in Bombala NSW in August 1949 where he married his wife Jillian in April 1971. Barry's father had two trucks, a Morris commercial trucks and an Austin both of which were used to cart super, wool, hay, firewood and any general freight to and from Bombala rail siding. The trucks were sold when Barry was just seven years old and the family moved to Candelo NSW. However, Barry's love of trucks was already instilled in him and he knew that was what he wanted to do for a career.
By the time he was nine young Barry was off-siding on the local cream run at Candelo with the late RG Twyford in a R160 International. Barry "ditched" school at 12 years of age and "hit the road"off-siding with RG's son Paul carting cattle, timber, drummed fuel and various general freight items on the Sydney-Bega, Melbourne-Bega runs. At the time he could only drive at night as he didn't hold a licence. Paul's trucks consisted of J6 Bedford, TK Bedford, 7 Series Dodge and a Q Dodge. By 1971 Barry was driving a C Line 160 International for Barry Collins of Merimbula before taking a job driving for Hancock's Transport, Eden, in a R200 International later upgrading to a DCF International. In 1973 he did a three years stint with East Coast out of Morwell and then hauled interstate for C&R Haulage. Barry then spent 11 years driving a variety of Mack trucks for LW & CK Cocks driving Macks hauling fuel.
In the 90s Barry purchased a 1998 Mack Value Liner to cart pulp and logs to the Eden Chip Mill. Over the years Barry has owned a 2003 CH Mack, 2005 Mack Trident, 2006 Mack Superliner, 2006 Kenworth 900 and a 2004 Western Star with chip bins. In 1997-98 Barry was instrumental in establishing Regional Forest Agreements for the South East NSW with Bobby Devlin. In 1999 Barry purchased Eden Taxis.
Barry's worst memories are of carting cattle in times of drought. His best are of the characters he met along the way whom have become lifelong mates. Today Smiley enjoys part time driving here, doing some driver assessor work and restoring old trucks. Catching up with old mates keeps the trucking passion alive for Smiley.