Denis James Wheare
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame in 2022.
Denis James Wheare was born in November 1940 at Maitland, South Australia to a farming family. As a young man, Denis was keen on farming but in March 1959 he and his cousin, Arthur, purchased a trucking business in Arthurton, South Australia. Operating as AP & DJ Wheare, the boys carted general freight locally and bagged grain to rail sidings. After marrying Jean Pepper, the couple bought out Arthur’s share of the business in November 1964. Operating as DJ & JM Wheare, Denis carted bagged grain and general freight as well as sheep and cattle across Yorke Peninsular in South Australia.
Denis loved the life of a driver spending many days driving on isolated roads. The only downfall was that he was often out of contact with his family as there were no mobile phones in those days. Neither were there any comfortable sleeper cabs with air conditioning, fridges or microwaves!
The original trucks were painted red and grey but after purchasing a new green and white Atkinson 3800 in 1979, Denis moved to that colour scheme. The Atkinson was special to Denis, as he did most of his driving in that truck and it is still owned by the family. The business expanded to carting bulk grain as well as the use of double deck stock crates. As regulations changed, the longer three and four deck units for livestock cartage were purchased followed by a B-Double which was the first in the area.
The business grew to a fleet of nine trucks and employed eight drivers and a full-time mechanic. Jean ran the office and did all the bookwork while Denis organised the drivers and the trucks as well as being on the road himself. Denis always had two faithful companions with him, Skippa and Sam; he often commented that a good sheep dog was worth an extra man’s wages.
Denis was a member of the Livestock Transporters Association of South Australia. Denis and Jean enjoyed attending annual conferences and dinners to catch up with others in the industry.
Denis suffered a serious illness in 1990 and during some 18 months off work helped his then 18-year-old son, Matthew, gain his heavy vehicle licence. During this time, the business carted sheep from many outback South Australian stations and had a contract to cart pigs to Mount Isa in Queensland.
Just before his 63rd birthday, Denis passed away in October 2003, a day after shifting a load of sheep. He was a hard-worker right to the end of his 43-year driving career. Denis was an honest, fair and reliable man, a man of true integrity who was respected by those who knew him.
Denis left behind his wife, Jean, their three children and six grandchildren. DJ & JM Wheare continues to operate out of Arthurton, with son, Matthew, at the helm. The distinctive green and white trucks now only carry livestock.