David Rounds
David Rounds was born in Ballarat, Victoria on the 14th July 1955. At age 18 he began driving at Mortlake in Victoria in Dodge and ACCO cattle trucks.
In 1979 David joined Coles Coaches in Mortlake as a driver and motor mechanic. He completed the DECCA hazardous driving course. David's first tour was a six day camping trip to the Flinders Ranges then to the Packsaddle Races north of Broken Hill and snow tours to Mt Buffalo. He was driving a 40ft Leyland coach doing mainly trips to North Queensland and South Australia.
In mid 1981 David started at Walsh's transport as an interstate truck driver in a White 9000 and a 4000 semi. Later that year he joined Peach's Australia Tours driving express trips from Wangaratta to either Brisbane or Perth in a Domino 692 GM with a seven speed coach. In 1982 David purchased a new Denning 871 coach. It had an off-road safari trailer with a first trip to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs on dirt roads from Pimba. Winter months were spent with back to back camping and accommodated tours including snow trips in Victoria. In Summer David sub-contracted to Deluxe Coach Lines running from Wangaratta to Perth.
In January 1983, Peach's contracted to Centralian Staff Tours and had the coach and trailer painted white. David commenced Twenties Tours, 18 to 33 age group. Most of these tours were 30 plus days back to back camping to all destinations in Australia.
In December 1983 David joined Eldred's Coach Tours in Leongatha Victoria. He was sub-contracting to Deluxe Coach Lines driving express from Wangaratta. David was also doing Vline to Melbourne and various camping and accommodated tours in a Domino 692 GM with a six speed box. Late in 1984 a new Denning Jumbo Boggi Lazy axle 892T 6 speed overdrive was purchased and named Foxy Lady. David was the first driver to take a 40ft coach and safari trailer into Lawn Hill National Park. A very slow and narrow trip.
David moved to Cairns in 1986 as a driver for Deluxe Coach Lines running express from Cairns to Airlie Beach return. In 1987 he retired from long distance coach and truck driving to settle into family life in Leongatha.