Neville Denning
Neville Lloyd Denning was born in January 1940, in Nanango, Queensland, and was raised around Goomeri. Neville was immersed in the hardworking bush life as his father was a timber cutter, an army serviceman, and a log hauler. At 14, Neville began snigging logs with a Fordson crawler tractor. By 15, he was driving trucks to loading sites and running the local mail route which included delivering groceries, butcher orders, and mail to properties, the railway, and the sawmill. At 17, the Goomeri police sergeant issued Neville his truck and semi-trailer licence on the spot, joking it was long overdue.
Neville gained mechanical skills during his nine months at Digger Perrett’s garage. His start into long distance transport came after trips to Sydney with Doug Perrett, who let him drive the AA60 International home. Merv Sengstock saw Neville’s ability and offered him a job. At 18, Neville joined Merv Sengstock Transport in Maryborough, hauling timber from Manumbar, molasses drums from Childers, and general freight between Queensland and Sydney in International S180s with an R6 Perkins motor and R190s (vacuum over hydraulic brakes, 6-volt system).
At 20, Neville moved to Brisbane where he spent 2 and a half years working for Parsfield Transport, again driving Internationals - R180s, S180s (308 black diamond motor), 92’s and a near-new R190. He was hauling tyres, glass crates and general freight. Neville completed 105 trips to Sydney and Melbourne from Brisbane before returning to live in Maryborough. It was then that Neville rejoined Sengstock’s. In 1963, Neville married Barbara ‘Joy’ Scott.
After working at Sengstock’s Neville transitioned to Western Transport. When the company sold, Neville was included in the deal. During his time at Western, Neville carried switch gear for substations, copper sacks, conveyor belts, glass, fruit, even cane rollers bound for Fiji. He drove an AB184 International, Mack 57, and a near-new B61, sometimes running the Adelaide –Melbourne route for a week straight. He left after five years.
Neville later spent two years working for Horsburgh’s doing local deliveries and he carted cane for two seasons with Malcolm Hebblewhite. In 1970, he joined Richers Transport, where he started driving their single S180 International and single-axle trailer. He later drove a MAN V10 bogie drive with a tri-axle trailer - his first truck with a sleeper cab! As the MAN fleet grew, he was upgraded and occasionally drove crane trucks. Neville spent 30 years working there, the last 20 years were spent as Operations Manager, sometimes driving to Brisbane 1–3 nights a week. Highlights included attending a transport conference in Singapore and helping guide Richers’ truck purchases.
Some of Neville’s best memories are of the mateship and friendships made on the road. Being inducted at the Queensland Transport Museum is both a cherished memory and an honour for Neville. His worst memories include hitting a bullock on the old Putty Road and breaking both legs at Richers—one while moving furniture, the other falling from a trailer while tarping.
Neville semi-retired in 2000 at 60, continuing relief driving until 65. Now fully retired, Neville cares for his wife, Joy, and always has a story to share. He has three children: Kerri, Leon, and Corey.
