Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2012.
For as long as he can remember Dennis Thorburn's passion has always been for trucks. To date he has dedicated 40 years to the industry having initially started driving in 1972 for OD Transport in Geraldton, WA carting grain and super. After18 months he was transferred by OD Transport to Esperance to drive a Mack carting to and from outlying areas such as Lake Grace, Lake King and Newdegate.
Dennis went on to become an owner driver working as a haulier for many iconic Western Australian companies including Brambles, OD Transport, Bell Way, Kimbers, Gasgoyne Trading and Rand Transport until 1986. He also worked as a wage driver for a number of years with Heavy Haul, Wesfarmers, Doekie Haulage and JetExpress.
Following this Dennis built his own Kenworth tow truck and worked as a heavy recovery tow truck operator for Kimbers Daynight. It was a job he loved and over the years a few of his truckie mates joined him and started towing services.
Over the years Dennis has worked in most other aspects of the transport industry including piloting heavy loads, as a salesman at Max Winkless Volvos and as manager of several transport companies. He has a forklift licence and a dogman's ticket. He also worked for Wesfarmers Heavy Haulage and PTH. In 2012 Dennis is currently employed at Lampsons Australia as foreman supervisor for their transport department.
Dennis has always loved trucks and can recall any trip and give a running commentary on every aspect of the people involved and when and where it occurred. He keeps a road map of Australia in his head and can advise drivers what to look out for and where to go when delivering a load anywhere in Australia.
Trucking is Dennis's life.