Garth Saunders
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2014.
Garth Saunders was born in August 1935 in the small community of Campbelltown in Tasmania. He grew up in Avoca with parents Fred and Elizabeth Saunders. His father Fred had his own trucking business and from the time he was 13 young Garth was helping out by carting screenings from the Tas Tin Mine in Rossarden.
As he was not old enough to hold a licence at the time Garth did most of his driving at night so no-one could see who was actually driving the truck. When he finally obtained his licence his father purchased the first Mercedes Benz truck sold in Tasmania for him to drive. Garth was thrilled. In 1956, Garth married Dawn How- ard and they had two children Michael and Diane. After a few years of being employed he decided to buy his own truck (a Des- oto) and went into the logging industry. Over the following years Garth purchased several new trucks including two F600 Fords, and an International C1800. Due to the downturn of the logging industry Garth relocated to Victoria to sub contract to Macfies Transport. This was about the same time as Eddie Buxton had commenced employment with the same firm and they became lifelong friends, both on the road and off.
Garth decided to sell up and become a staff driver at Macfies Transport. He drove interstate for them for the next 15 years. During this time Garth drove many truck including International, Atkinson, Mack, Kenworth and Road Commander. In later years Garth returned to Tasmania to operate a bulldozer before he managed several caravan parks around the state with his wife, Dawn. They received four tidy towns awards for dedication to providing excellent facilities in the parks. It was typical of Garth's mantra in the trucking industry and that was to do what you do professionally and properly.
At the age of 60, Garth retired due to ill health, and passed away on 5 December 2010 aged 75 years. He is succeeded by his wife, two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren all of whom are proud of their family's trucking heritage.