Former staff of Shepparton’s Phillips Transport will converge on the rural Victorian city on October 29 for a long-awaited reunion.
Around 400 people are expected to attend the Phillips Transport Employees Reunion at Shepparton on October 29.
Organised by former Phillips driver Len ‘Dodger’ Welsh, the reunion will take place at the Peppermill Inn in the Shepparton suburb of Kialla.
The origins of Phillips Transport go back to late 1935 at Bunbartha, just north of Shepparton where Edward ‘Ted’ Phillips began hauling fresh produce with one truck. Shortly after World War 2, the business grew with the acquisition of eight KS5 Internationals.
Ted’s sons Ian and Gary both became involved in the company, and the business expanded interstate with depots in Sydney and Brisbane, as well as Melbourne.
Dodger began work as a driver in the 1960s, driving Leyland Comets and later 1418 Mercedes-Benz trucks. Phillips Transport went on to own more than 100 Kenworth trucks and 165 trailers and employing around 200 people.
“They were the greatest family transport company to ever work for,” Dodger says.
However, he says it was difficult for newcomers to get a job at Phillips, as staff turnover was low.
“You would have to wait until someone left, or worse died, before you could get in.”
Ted Phillips passed away in April 1994, and Phillips Transport was eventually sold to Patrick in 2003.
Dodger says the Phillips Transport Employees Reunion will be restricted to former Phillips employees, including mechanics and drivers, and their families.
Click here for further details on the reunion.
Photography: courtesy of Len ‘Dodger’ Welsh