William Thompson

William (Jelly) Thompson was born in Adelaide on the 1st June 1938. He started his trucking career with Bill Jolly in Ceduna South Australia at the age of 16 carting livestock and general freight. Later he drove for Vince Patupas, Mack Marchant and Barry Wakking.

Jelly then combined with Graham Baldock and they started Baldock & Thompson Transport carting general freight from Adelaide to Ceduna. In later years he branched out with his brothers Les and Barry becoming Thompson Transport. They worked together for approximately three years then Jelly went on his own. He remained carting general freight and somehow always managed to get the beer to the pub in Ceduna on time. Jelly then went on to cart grain as a sub-contractor to Llewellyn Transport. In the off season he carted cotton at Moree in New South Wales.

In Jelly's lifetime he drove many types of trucks including Internationals, Dodges, a 1361 Mack, a 1418 Mercedes Benz and UD's. The last truck he owned and operated was a Cabover Kenworth.

Jelly was a very likable and happy go lucky character, he mingled with all walks of life, rich or poor and was well known and respected wherever he went. No matter what the task he gave it his best shot. Although there were many achievements during his trucking life he never looked for praise or recognition, he just enjoyed it all, meeting people, talking, telling stories and yarns.

Sadly Jelly passed away on 25th April 2002 at Ceduna Hospital aged 64.