Alexander “Darkie” Warne

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunions 2012.

Alexander (Darkie) Warne started his working life as an apprentice motor mechanic at Provincial Motors in Bendigo, Victoria. On completion of his training he went driving trucks like his father before him. Darkie started driving Internationals carting hay and farm machinery and then seven series Dodges carting livestock. He also operated earthmoving machinery and drove fridge vans loaded with hanging meat. Darkie then bought his own seven series Dodge to cart livestock and later general freight.

Darkie was a keen supporter of the significance of the road transport industry and was always mentoring young drivers. He was passionate about the road transport industry as a whole and over the years, as his interest grew, he became very involved in various industry associations. In 1979 he was asked to drive the first Finemore's Kenworth roadtrain from Wagga Wagga, NSW to the Territory. It changed his life.

One night while driving south on the old South Road near Coober Pedy, with three trailers of cattle behind, the heavens opened. The lightning lit the road better than the driving lights and when Darkie looked in the mirror all he could see was the third trailer trying to pass the prime-mover. Keeping the rig upright and on the road was testament to his excellent driving skills.

Darkie moved on to managing the Finemore's depot in Tennant Creek before joining Fadelli Transport Industries as a driver. After the death of his son, Darkie gave up the road and moved into management roles with Fadelli, Railex, Mayne Nickless, NTFS, Shaw's Darwin Transport and Frontline.

Darkie started his own business as a freight broker and logistics consultant in Darwin in 2003 becoming very involved in issues affecting the road transport industry. He was president of the Northern Territory Road Transport Association (NTRTA) from 2004 to 2008 and was also a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport,

The truck parking bay 40kms north of the NT border on the Stuart Highway has recently been named in his honour.