Ray Watson Wellman was born on 8th March 1935 in Cobden and is married to Kerrie, they have 5 children.
Often called ‘Punchy’ due to his early boxing days, he left school at 14 and worked on his parents farm. At age 17, he moved to Numurkah and spent a season working on a hay press. At the end of the season, he joined Bobby Eaton, a single truck transport and operator, and completed his apprenticeship. He started driving a K5 International truck on freight runs to Melbourne before the business branched out interstate.
He progressed to a S Model Bedford in which he got his license 6 months later. He remembers it was tough with those underpowered trucks. It took 16 hours to Sydney with numerous breakdowns due to little petrol motors.
A few years later, he joined Gainey and Brown, carting general freight and livestock to Melbourne where he stayed for 10 years. He then joined Kortums Transport, a larger operator in Cobram. He recalls he lost his license for speeding but could still drive as he had a license in NSW.
In 1967, Ray went to the Northern Territory to drive road trains for Buntines Roadways. His was a highlight of his career.
On his return, Ray went back to Cobram where he worked for Fred Lee Transport and later managed it, carting general freight and fruit and vegetables between Melbourne and Sydney.
In 1987, Ray purchased his own truck, a Twin Turbo V8 Mercedes Benz and later a Mercedes freight liner and continued the same line of work.
Ray retired from interstate driving in 2004 and sold his truck after 51 years on the road. He drove local tippers for the next three years.
He now leads a quiet life and often reflects on the many friends he made, most of the no longer around to reminisce with him.
Inducted in 2024
