LIGHTFOOT
Barry Kenneth Lightfoot was the second son for Kenneth and Una (nee McIntyre) Lightfoot but the fourth child of what would be a five-child family.
Born January 7 1959 in Glen Innes, New South Wales, Barry was
destined to have diesel in his veins.
A third generation in the industry, his parents were both capable truck drivers and at times drove two up. His older brother Darrell followed in Dad’s footsteps and went into the transport industry, the future was clear to Barry that with hard work and determination the transport industry could hold a future for him.
Barry was affectionately nicknamed ‘Fred’ by his brother around the age of 16 and this nick name stuck.
Fred is a sociable bloke who loves to converse with people and is
always inquisitive about learning new things and interesting facts about people and places. It was this and the freedom of the road that he missed at times throughout his career particularly when in roles like operating general freight, working on farms or for a local shire.
Growing up in a working family instilled solid values in Fred and he would often be found helping out his Dad shoveling out the super trucks at Bradley’s or being the gate opener when delivering to farms. He recalls fondly the memories of racing off the running boards to grab the gate so the truck could keep moving and having to run like the wind to get it re-closed and catch up to the truck, just some of the challenges of working in the steep Glen Innes region.
Adding to his array of skills he managed to learn and work in the trade of carpet laying before turning his hand to furniture removals. He got his start with Bill Gollan, a fellow New England bloke who had started a removals business in Gunnedah. This is where he would really
develop and fine tune the art of strategic stacking.
Fred went on to run his own trucks and worked in with Gollans and other removalists to help each other have full loads and assist the
clients wherever possible. This extended Freds network far and wide and ensured many repeat clients over the years.
When the seasons were favorable, Fred ran his trucks for both cotton picking and grain harvest which was something he truly enjoyed. But as the North West NSW weather can be a harsh one to predict it was the furniture transport he returned to running regular trips to WA and has managed to work in all states and territories in Australia. He has had many truck loves over the years and like others a few loves lost along the way, as he has been known to state ‘when you’ve got the time you don’t have the money and when you have the money…well I never have the money!’
Although not having any sons both of his daughters have obtained and used their truck licenses for work, extending the legacy of the
Lightfoot’s and the love of a good humming diesel engine.
Inducted in 2024
