Manny Carlin
Ian Carlin, known to all as Manny, was born in Casterton Victoria on 23rd March 1948.
Manny left school at the age of 13 and worked in his parents Chaff Mill. At 17 years of age, Manny was driving a Ford Thames Trader and dog trailer, carting grain to Mount Gambier SA and returning with fruit, vegetables, ice cream and pipe for the local shire and local businesses of Casterton. At 20, he was carting super for Jim ‘Slim’ Simkin.
In 1969 at 21, Manny started working for Leon Jordan Transport driving a C-Line international 160 Cummins, Bedford V6 53 GM, new Road Commander 871 GM pulling stock crates and general.
Between 1974 and 1983, Manny and Jean purchased and sold five trucks, a 9000 White 871 GM, Road Commander 871 GM, and new Road Commander with a/c and mod cons. As Manny was spending a lot of time on the road, they started their own business in 1978 adding another Road Commander and employed Pat Chapman for three years and Joe Simpson for 18 months to drive the second truck. In 1982, they sold the two Road Commanders and bought a new Kenworth 400 Cummins series 3 which was sold in 1983 so Manny could spend time with his family. From then, he drove the local school bus for Jack McCallum, run the local swimming pool and did a few trips to Melbourne for Slim. In 1986 Manny and Jean purchased their last truck, a Western Star, which was sold in 1994.
Between 1974 and 2013 Manny subbied for Bruce Marks, Peaches. Driving trucks has taken Manny to every state in Australia except for the Northern Territory, mainly carting stock. Manny had drop offs to various cities, outback country towns, feedlots and ports, including a trip to the Moomba Gas Fields to drop off first aid kits, and a journey to the QLD border crossing through the Dingo fences at Hungerford. From 1994 to 2002 Manny and Leon Jordan started a business, Carlin Engineering, building stock crate, ute trays and trailers.
Manny also did a stint working in the forestry industry maintaining vehicles for Bishop Logging, Badenoch Logging and Ferguson Diesel Servicing. Manny has carted almost everything, including wood chips for Scotts, drove a log truck for Crauford Transport, delivered super and grain for Vickery Bros.
Manny’s last job in 2013 was working at Balranald driving for Daryle Barrett Transport carting grapes, grain and cotton. This was seasonal work, driving a Western Star. After ten years with Daryle, Manny decided it was time to semi- retire at 76.
Manny said he had never had a bad trip and has met a lot of good people over the years, after driving for 59 years, life on the road has been one big adventure and Manny wouldn’t change a thing. Manny is still driving a load of cattle, sand, tractors etc. for family every now and then. Most of Manny’s days now are spent attending to the farm with Jean.
Manny will forever have Diesel running through his veins.
Inducted in 2024
