Edward (E.G)Smith

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2021.

Edward George Smith, known as ‘EG’, was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria in July 1950.  He was born into a transport family, with his father operating both logging and road trucks.

Edward’s parents encouraged him to start a trade such as spray painter/panel beater; however while walking home one day he was picked up by John Jarvis. John offered Edward a job in his fledgling business, John Jarvis Transport.

Edward began working for John, loading and unloading trailers and other yard duties. The first truck Edward drove for John was a Bedford but he was promoted to a V8 Dodge, then an International 184 and later, a  Mercedes Benz 1418.

Edward moved on to  work for other companies including Gippsland Pole Supplies carting into Nowa Nowa, Victoria: Charlie Hancock: Arthur  McMillan: Bill Flinn and Intermodal.

When he was 25 years old, in 1975, Edward bought his own truck,  an International C-Line 184 with a 175 Cummins before purchasing a cab-over Kenworth V671 and later, a Mercedes Benz 1924. He carted cattle in the early days before starting to haul general freight and fuel, both locally and interstate. Edward eventually decided to sell his own trucks and went to work for Nichi Sztynda Interstate.

After many years on interstate runs, Edward returned to driving log trucks in the Victorian High Country near the New South Wales border. Nowadays, Edward does some casual driving out of Bairnsdale, Victoria. 

Edward has clocked up 54 years of driving in the  transport industry. He regards the freedom a driver has as the best part of the job, reminiscing, “When you were working you were full noise. When you stopped, you were sleeping or partying.”