Barry McDonald
Barry Edward McDonald, alternately known as Baz, was born in Wallsend Hospital on the 2nd of August 1947. Baz lived on Nanny Goat Hill (AKA Con Hill).
He spent his primary school years at Wallsend Public School and then completed his High School years at Wallsend High School. Baz’s first job was when he was only 9 years old and he was delivering papers for the Newcastle Herald.
Baz obtained his Truck licence at the young age of 21 in 1968. He started working for Newcastle Tree Services driving a Chev Blitz Truck with a Single Drive Bogie Trailer.
Early in the 1970’s, Baz started working for Alex Sheddon carting pigs and sheep, driving a BMC Bogie drive with a 38ft Bogie triple deck trailer, delivering pigs between Mudgee in the Central West and Moree/Mungindi in Northern NSW. Baz then moved on to work for Bill Ricky a Grain Merchant. Whilst working here, Baz drove an AEC Single Drive 10 Speed Air Shift Road Ranger Pre-Select.
In 1972 Baz Purchased a G88 Volvo Bogie Drive16 Speed off Jimmy White and continued to work for Main Nickless doing Linehaul to Sydney and completed 2 loads per night.
In 1973 Baz became an owner driver naming his business B. E. McDonald Transport with the call sign F-111, Baz was still working with Mains Nickless until they went quiet.
In 1973 Baz bought a Freighter 40ft Tri Timber Floor 10-1 Tri Trailer from Melbourne, however it then sat there at Freighter for several years unused because the work then picked up and he became busy with Mains doing line haul to Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
In 1980 Baz purchased a Volvo F10 and started working for Ansett doing Newcastle to Sydney Runs. Ansett then asked Baz to do Tamworth to Coffs Harbour each night with 2 new F12’s. Unfortunately, the work then stopped as Mains and Ansett were bought out.
In a new era for Baz, with his Trucks and Trailers a G88 F-10, 2 x F-12’s, an Isuzu Single Taughtliner, Fm Twin Steer Volvo, an F-10 converted into a 12 Ton Taughtliner, 3 x 45ft Flat Tops, 1 x 45ft Taughtliner and a 12 Ton DAF Taughtliner Bogie, Baz started
doing his own work from Newcastle to Sydney. He also had multiple Subbies working for him. He would cart anything and everything, as long as the money was right! From Wool and Steel to Wine and Dangerous Goods and also Containers.
At 72 years young, Baz retired as an owner driver and sold his business, however he couldn’t sit around idle so he went and worked casual for his long-time friend Tony McGrath (McGrath Transport Newcastle) and also started driving casual for Maddox Haulage. At 77 years old he is still delivering all types of freight but mostly local around Newcastle and is working part time for Woods Haulage in Newcastle.
