Ronald Beavis
Ronald Beavis, known to most as Ronnie, was born in Sydney in February 1951. His journey into the world of trucks and the transport industry began at an early age when he took on his first job at a local quarry. There, he operated heavy machinery and trucks daily and even learned the unique skill of dredging in the nearby river.
In 1973, Ronnie and his father secured the rights to a parcel of land east of Kalgoorlie, WA, for gold mining. Ronnie spent the next six years running the mine site almost single-handedly. At the heart of the operation was his Bedford table-top truck, which he used to transport materials across the rugged terrain. He also drove it back and forth to town on a weekly 8-hour trip along challenging dirt roads in the harsh conditions of the Australian outback.
By 1979, the mine’s time had come to an end, and Ronnie returned to his hometown of Sydney, settling on a property in the city’s northwest. It was here that he began his new venture; carting bricks. Ronnie purchased a Dodge tabletop truck to transport the bricks, which in those early days were loaded and unloaded manually, brick by brick. Ronnie soon found himself to be very busy carting and unloading bricks to construction sites in the rapidly expanding areas of Sydney.
As demand grew, Ronnie upgraded to a Ford Louisville, which featured a crane, allowing him to load and unload brick packs much more efficiently. As business expanded, so did Ronnie’s fleet. He added a second and third Ford Louisville, as well as an International and a Kenworth prime mover with trailer. A fourth Louisville was added to the fleet. It had a tipper body and was put to work on Sydney roads. Ronnie also invested in an all-terrain forklift to help with heavy lifting.
For the next 36 years, Ronnie and his fleet of six heavy vehicles continued to operate in the brick carting business. Ronnie would continue driving his original Ford Louisville, making daily deliveries.
When Ronnie wasn’t behind the wheel, he would be working on his fleet of trucks completing any repairs, services and maintenance that came with the demand of the brick carting business. Ronnie, however, still always managed to find time to enjoy a cold beer.
His deep love for trucks and the trucking community was evident in Ronnie’s annual truck show, which he organized and ran for over 20 years at the Tourmaline Hotel in Sydney’s northwest. Hundreds of trucks from around the state would be displayed at the family friendly event which Ronnie would spend hours of his time preparing and organising. His commitment was a combination of passion for the trucking industry and willingness to help his community. Each year all the proceeds from the event were donated to the Deaf and Blind Association at North Rocks. Ronnie earned numerous accolades for his dedication to the community over the years.
After 36 years of carting bricks, Ronnie is now semi-retired at 74. While much of his fleet has moved on, he still has his first Dodge tabletop truck and three of his beloved Ford Louisville’s resting in the yard. Ronnie continues to drive his Ford Louisville, hauling retaining wall blocks and delivering concrete additives to concrete plants along the East Coast of New South Wales. Ronnie’s unwavering passion for trucks and the trucking industry will leave a mark on the transport world.
