Lawrence Murphy
Lawrence Murphy, known as Laurie, spent his entire working life devoted to driving trucks. He had a long and illustrious career in the transport industry. He was the consummate truck driver – highly respected and regarded by many of his peers and by his sons as a legend on Highway 31. An obituary for Laurie in the Herald Sun, Monday 1 January 2007, page 70, said ‘In his B model Mack truck Laurie Murphy was one of the gentlemen of Highway 31.’
About 1954, Laurie, then aged about 17, began his long career in the trucking industry in Melbourne. He drove trucks for several firms and government departments over the years and employers and colleagues alike held Laurie in high esteem. His first job was driving for a glazier around the Melbourne metropolitan area. He then drove log-jinkers from Gippsland forests to sawmills, and later, a B model Mack carrying sawn timber from mills mainly to Melbourne. Interstate driving soon followed in a B 61 Mack and later a 6-30 Diamond T. Around that time, Laurie drove a tip truck for the construction of Tullamarine Airport.
The first truck Laurie owned for himself was a 180 International which he purchased around 1965 and which he used for carting general freight interstate. He soon began establishing himself as a legend of the roads. Roads then were, in places, unsealed and challenging. Many a time he had to change tyres and carry out repairs himself. Laurie then bought an Atkinson for interstate driving, mainly carrying car bodies and scrap metal. Following that, in November 1978, he bought a B 61 model Mack, doing the same work.
Laurie sold his Mack and moved to Brisbane in November 1982 where he drove his own UD tip truck for the Brisbane City Council for 10 years. He then moved back to Melbourne, bought an R model Mack, and later, a Kenworth Aerodyne and returned to carting general freight both locally and interstate.
One unusual load Laurie carried was a huge steel component or piece of equipment for the oil rigs in Bass Strait. He also delivered construction materials for the High Court building in Canberra. Laurie volunteered to drive a semi-trailer to carry necessary equipment for the Variety Bash organised by Variety - The Children’s Charity.
Laurie’s two sons, Colin Patrick, and Stephen Lawrence, who have driven trucks for their entire careers were taught to drive by their father. Laurie’s first rule was, ‘If you’re unsure, don’t do it!’
