Sam Sali
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2010.
Sam Sali, second son of Sabri and Hyri Sali, was born in January 1937, in Koree, Albania. In March of that same year, Sam's family moved to Australia and settled in Shepparton.
He gained his junior technical certificate which enabled him to complete a motor mechanic apprenticeship beginning in mid 1953. Nine years younger than his older brother Alan, the two decided to join forces and buy a truck together in 1956 when the family business of S.Sali & Sons was born.
Sam spent many years driving trucks and it wasn't until the late 70s he began working with Alan more on the managerial side of the business and today is the company director. In 2003 Sam was awarded one of the Australian trucking industry's major awards; the National Award for Outstanding Contribution. Sam is the foundation member of several leading road transport organisations. He was the foundation member and director of the National Transport Federation and a founding director with the Goulburn Valley Road Transport Group. In 1994, Sam was involved in the amalgamation of the NTF with the Long Distance Road Transport Association to form NatRoad, where he served as a director until 2001. He was presented with an award in appreciation for service and commitment to NatRoad in 2002.
Sam has worked with these organisations to restructure the long distance drivers award and introduce enterprise bargaining to the industry along with being committed to improving the image and furthering the professionalism of the road transport industry. Sam has always been committed to ethical operation methods and to that end S.Sali & Sons has never accepted clients who demand unreasonable delivery times and remain dedicated to the safety and welfare of its drivers. Sam has also been a member of Rotary for 38 years and counting with a 100% attendance, and has received the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow Award for his significant contribution to his local community.
Sam has been involved with primary school council committee and religious and charitable activities for more than 40 years and is a life member of the Shepparton Albanian Society. Sam is in his 70s now and is giving no hint as to when he might retire. Sam gets a lot of satisfaction from the people he meets in the industry and the service that he can provide them.