1963-2006 RIP
Ross Barry Ranger, Rossco to his mates, was born in Newcastle on 15th May 1963. From a young age, he had a love and passion for the transport industry,often choosing to spend time on the rail tracks with his dad, who was a steam train driver or shot gun with his uncle who was a truck driver.
It was in April 1979, Ross was riding passenger enroute to Sydney with his uncle when he experienced firsthand the camaraderie and support the transport industry has for each other, after being stopped by the Razorback Blockade. It was during this experience that Ross knew 100% for certain he wanted topursue his career as a truck driver.
Leaving school in grade 9, Ross was enlisted into the 16 TPT SQD for the Army Reserve based in Adamstown, Newcastle. Ross’s time in the Army Reserves gave him his MC licence qualification and it was during this time he also met fellow solider Carolyn. The pair quickly fell in love and before long were on thehighways together.
One of Ross’s first jobs was driving car carriers between Brisbane and Sydney with Carol occasionally stepping in as the pilot car driver. In 1984 Ross and Carol welcomed their first daughter Cathy, quickly followed by Dannie in 1985, Pagen was born in 1987, Sarah in 1990 and completing their family in 1993 withAmanda. After the birth of his 5th daughter, Ross spent a few years working locally, keeping, the pubs in the Upper Hunter Valley stocked. During the school holidays, he would often take one of his daughters along for the day, and ‘What happens in the truck, stays in the truck’.
Although he enjoyed his time at home, the open roads was calling his name. Working for various companies over the years he was fortunate enough to see most of the eastern states doing trips between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. By the time he was in his mid 30’s Road Trains was the last thing to tick off his bucket list and when the opportunity came up to drive Road-trains through central Australia he jumped at. After spending a couple of years in the Road Trains he headed back to the eastern seaboard, where he took up a role with DSK transport/AEG. Although regularly taking his daughters for trips to Brisbane or Sydney he was Struggling to get home on weekends and missing out on countless milestones in his daughters lives, Ross along with Carol packed up and moved to Queensland. This sacrifice meant moving away from all family and friends.
Once settled in Queensland, Ross continued working for DSK for a number of years. He then drove for Easters Transport on a Brisbane to Sydney leg. Ross loved nothing more than being on the highway, UHF blazing with chatter, sunrises through the windscreen and driving in unexpected convoys.
As his daughters were now teenagers, he thought it was funny to ring at ungodly hours of the morning, just to see if they needed to go to the bathroom or wake them up by blasting the airhorns outside their bedroom.
In 2005, Ross was able to tick off owning his own truck from his bucket list when he purchased an ex Bambers Transport Kenworth 601. His business struggled to get off the ground, so he took up a role with CJ’s Bulk Handling – a role he was enjoying and one that gave him opportunities to see parts of Queensland he hadn’t previously seen. He was over the moon when he was given a load to Weipa. The same year Ross became a grandfather when his eldest Cathy, welcome her first daughter Lilly.
Rolling into 2006 and turning 43 he had achieved so much already and was proud of his accomplishments. Although missing a lot of family times, he still had solid relationships with his girls.
Tragically Ross passed away on 1st December 2006 in a truck accident on Summerland Way, Grevilla in Northern NSW.
Although Ross passed away in 2006, having given his life to driving, it is no surprise he is still remembered for all that he was today.
Inducted in 2024
