Graham Spargo

 

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at ReUnion 2003.

Graeme was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria in 1936.  He undertook a fitting and turning apprenticeship but once he had completed that he chose to drive for his father who had a small livestock carrying business.  He married Yvonne in 1962.
His father Gus was pleased to welcome Graeme, followed by his brother Lindsay, into the business.  It all ran smoothly until Lindsay's untimely and unexpected death.A year later, Graeme was involved in a near fatal truck accident at Orbost.  It took a year before he could get back on the road.  When Gus retired in 1965, Graeme bought the business which included two semis and a Thames tray.  After a few years, when livestock slowed, Graeme commenced interstate haulage, primarily for Australian Carbon Black in Altona (Melbourne), carting to Sydney and Adelaide then with freight for the return run.  Business "looked good" so in 1972, Graeme purchased his first Kenworth truck.  He was so impressed with its performance that today, some 30 years later, he now operates a fleet of 20 carting various freight.  The business is Graeme Spargo Transport in Bacchus Marsh. In 1980, son Rod, on completion of his diesel mechanic apprenticeship at Kenworth in Melbourne, joined his parent's business.  His sisters Kathryn and Angela, soon chose to join also.  It is now a proud family concern.  Trucks have been their life for the whole of their lives.  It also means Graeme and Yvonne spend a lot of time the road these days.  They are well-known to the trucking community around Australia and are frequent visitors and valued sponsors of the Road Transport Hall of Fame.