Kevin Wellard
Kevin David Wellard was born in Subiaco on the 17th of April 1949. The story goes that when Kevin was a toddler, if his parents went out they didn't take toys for him, they took spanners for him to play with. He didn't like toys much, but consequently he likes his tools. Spanner became one of the many nicknames that Kevin had over the years. Kevin met Kerry Atkinson, his wife, in early 1970 at the general store in Bindoon. Being a farmer's son Kevin learnt how to shear sheep and spent his early years shearing around Bindoon to be close to home.
In 1971 Lou Wellard, Kevin's father, decided to extend his trucking business by purchasing three V6, single drive Bedford prime movers. Kevin very quickly forgot about shearing and jumped into the driving seat of one of the Bedfords. This was the beginning of a long career in North West Truck Driving. Kevin drove for the family company for two years before he and Kerry decided to start their own business and formed KD & KJ Wellard Transport and moved to a depot in Herne Hill.
In 1975 they added a Dodge Fuso to their company followed by a Volvo. During this time they carted general freight to the North West of Western Australia primarily for Bell Freightlines in Guildford. On a trip to Melbourne Kevin's truck was stolen and never recovered. Kevin decided it was time for him to go and work for someone else and started with Bellways. He did a two up run to Port Hedland for a few years and then got a run delivering to Goldsworthy and Shay Gap- two remote mining towns that have since closed down. Kevin worked for Bellways for twelve years before they closed down.
In 1989 Kevin started work for Vaughan Transport in Midvale. Kevin became part of what he said was a great team and that is where he stayed until he retired 20 years later. Since retiring Kevin has done the odd trip here and there to help others out but other than that he is happy to tow his caravan around and leisurely see this beautiful country we live in as a grey nomad. Congratulations Kevin Wellard on your well deserved place in the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.