Robert Searle

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2011.

Robert (Bob) Searle was born in Melbourne on the 10th October, 1947.  He has been a company driver and owner-driver for 40 years.  He began his dream as a professional driver travelling from Melbourne to Sydney as a passenger with Robin Bendle in a R190 International.  Even though Bob slept on the floor it did not deter him from making driving a career.
He started driving tow trucks in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in the 60s.  After obtaining some experience driving a semi-trailer, he started out on his life's work.  Bob matured quickly and obtained some very responsible positions with Clarkes Refrigerated Transport, Ansett Freight Express, Australian Safeway stores, and I.R. Cootes delivering dangerous goods Australia wide.Bob was the first licensed gas road tanker B-double driver in Queensland.  He delivered cyanide for Chemtrans, Gladstone, to the gold mines in north Queensland delivering the last load to the Mount Morgan mine before it was closed.After leaving Chemtrans, Bob returned to Melbourne.  He accepted a position with Australia's leading truck and trailer repairer, Royans Melbourne, working in the office involved in the recovery of smashed trucks from the highways of Australia. After a successful period with Royans Melbourne, Bob realized he was an outdoor person.  He purchased his own prime-mover, a 5 year old cab-over Kenworth and pulled a refrigerated pan tech for Mountain Valley Produce and delivered to the markets, Australia wide.  After 3 years, Bob purchased his own refrigerated pan tech sub contracting to Refrigerated Roadways to deliver food stuff Australia wide. He sold his prime-mover and pan tech and tried to fulfill his passion by driving a dump truck in the mines of Australia not realizing that the mining industry was in a lull.  He joined forces with Wettenhalls A&S in 2001 driving a late model Aerodyne Kenworth. He is in his tenth year there and showing no signs of retiring.