Colin Walters

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2015.

Colin Walters was involved in the road transport industry for almost 35 years as a driver, owner-driver and Managing Director from 1965 to 2009. Having left school at 14 to work and support younger siblings, Colin always wanted to be a truck driver and achieved this goal at just 18 when given a brand new R190 International in 1965 to drive to Sydney and back for his mentor, James Leahy of Colac. Back in those days, it would take two days to get to Sydney (no sleepers or air conditioning) and there was plenty of time to create many friendships on the road and in truck stops.

Having been conscripted in 1967, and spending one year in Vietnam, during which time James had passed away, Colin bought his first truck in 1973, an R200 International to load scrap metal onto ships bound for China and local freight at the Melbourne wharves. Colin continued in road transport, again as an owner-driver, towing for Nash's Transport in Geelong.

In 1990, Colin started Success Freightlines with one truck. Over the next 15 years, Success would grow to 28 trucks focussing on petroleum and general freight cartage, employ over 30 people and have depots in four states, with head office remaining in Geelong the whole time. It was truly a family business with his brother and children all working at Success prior to being sold to Chris Hawkes in 2006 after a proposed merger with three other transport companies did not eventuate. Colin worked for a Melbourne-based transport company until 2009 before retiring at the age of 62 following 48 years in the workforce.

Colin's decision to exit road transport was recognition of changing industry dynamics and increased scale required to remain profitable in the face of reducing fees and the higher fuel costs these days.