John Ross
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunions 2014.
John Clarke Ross was born in Darwin in 1955 the son of Alan and Mary Ross. He still lives in Darwin with his spouse Rhonda Smith, and their daughter Jaylene Ross. When he was just 15 his father started the carrying business of Alan Ross & Co.
Alan Ross & Co went on to become the centrepiece of the Ross family family for several decades. Alan Ross had came to Darwin in 1949 in search of work. He was one of the first taxi drivers to work in Darwin. Alan then went on to work in the transport industry for the next 50 years, owning many trucks over this time. He delivered fuel and goods to remote communities in the most isolated north of the Northern Territory. He established his own business Alan Ross & Co in the late 1960's. After school John would help in the depot cleaning the trucks and work loading and unloading and assisting with maintenance. He couldn't wait until he was old enough to drive a truck and enjoyed doing trips with his father. John went on to drive trucks for over 40 years in the Darwin area. Following in his father's footsteps he would travel on many dirt roads to deliver fuel and supplies all around the Top End to many communities. He would also moved houses around the Top End. The same roads that were dusty corrugated tracks in the dry season were black soil swampy quagmires in the wet season. It took a special breed of truck-driver to cope with the diversity and John had learned well from his father.
John also worked delivering hay to various Stations and carted to cattle ships for live export as well as unloading clinker at the wharf. He has driven many types of trucks including Bedford, Leyland Comet, Dodge tray top, Bedford Crane 4x4, Commer TS3 Knocker, International, B and R model Macks, various models of International trucks, a G88 Volvo, a White Road Commander and Ford D series prime mover.
John went on to operate trucks for most of his working life and is well known all around the Top End for his diligence and ability to get the job done. He is now semi-retired.