Steve Grahame was one of the most recognisable of the 2015 inductees.
Alice Springs’ population grew markedly in late August when thousands of people from all over Australia attended the annual Road Transport Hall of Fame and the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame ceremony.
Western Australia’s Steve Grahame was one of the most recognisable of the 2015 inductees due to his appearance in the television show Outback Truckers.
Steve says it was while he was greasing a turntable at Wubin that he was initially approached by one of the crew.
It led to a trip to Kalumburu at the end of the Gibb River Road becoming one of Outback Truckers’ highlights, although the boggy conditions tested the staying power of the film crew.
“That was a nightmare trip,” Steve says.
He was taking power stations off Arnhem Land out to Elcho Island, returning by barge.
“That took me weeks to get that load in. They had a sound man and a gopher, and in the end they flew them all out,” he recalls.
“There was just a cameraman with me in the end.”
Steve’s job, which he has stuck with for the past 35 years, mostly involves hauling building materials and machinery to remote aboriginal communities with his Kenworth C501.
“It’s an old girl,” he smiles.
He was nominated for the Wall of Fame by Doug Kitts, himself an inductee in 2010.
“I’m greatly honoured,” Steve says.
“People have said to me it’s getting diluted by the numbers that they’re inducting, but I don’t care.
“When you’re in there sitting in the ceremony and feel the emotion of it, it’s an honour.”
You can read the full story in the October edition of Owner//Driver.
From truck driver to reality television star, Steve Grahame has seen and done a lot in his 35 years in the industry.
Posted by Owner Driver on Saturday, 17 October 2015
Photography: Greg Bush