A bewildered band of transport industry brothers said farewell to north Queensland transport identity Alan 'Buddo' Grant on October 7.
The tragic death of well-known trucking industry identity Alan Walter ‘Buddo’ Grant put a black cloud over the western Queensland community of Winton, and left many wondering how he could ever be replaced.
Buddo Grant was larger-than-life, a man who lived life on his own terms and with a ‘my way or the highway’ approach. He was always available to help-out, whether to recover a truck or assist with a roll-over.
He passed-away on September 28, 2017, and was given a funeral on Saturday, October 7, that befitted his personality: irreverent to the end.
 |
|
Buddo Grant passed away on September 28, 2017.
|
Amid the shock and resultant bewilderment of his tragic death, an estimated 1,200 mourners — many of whom had travelled vast distances — gathered in the auditorium of the Winton Shire Hall to hear in bush, trucking and racing terminology about the life and times of the highly respected truckie, drag racer and citizen who was ‘always on call’.
“Who will they ring now to pull-out a truck or attend a roll-over,” queried Gavin Baskett in his heart-warming, irreverent yet emotional eulogy. Who said truckies don’t cry?
“He’s the bloke who would give you his arse and shit through his ribs,” he said in the same parallel that Buddo lived life. ”Don’t judge him by his death, judge him by his life.”
Buddo Grant was born in Brisbane on March 14, 1962, to Barry and Dawn Grant. The family later moved to Winton.
The congregation heard of Buddo’s school years, and the reasons why his Catholic education came to an abrupt end. He then attended the local state school till the second week of grade nine — when a decision was made that he was wasted at school. He had also threatened to break the teacher’s cane in two and insert it in a certain orifice.
“During and after his time at school, Buddo would go out to Lyle Facer’s parent’s property, Warnambool, or go out and drive the grader with Basher,” Gavin Basket related.
There’s the story of Buddo (supposedly helping his dad) grading a road, and when asked where his dad was, would reply: “In the back of the van sleeping.”
“He helped-out with stock work and breaking horses, even some wool-pressing — and loved lollies and ice cream.
“He worked at Shaw’s transport doing jobs around the yard and driving the loader.”
His first pay cheque was one hundred quid — which he lost on a fast ride home on his motorbike.
Throughout his life was renowned for being extremely generous.
He was a mad footballer who often got injured, but that was no excuse for ‘Shawry’ who told him “you can play footy, but you still have to work” — so Buddo persisted, climbing in and out of the loader with a broken collar bone.
“That shows the toughness of the man even at an early age,” Gavin Baskett says.
And as in life, there was death. Buddo befriended ‘Bull’ Baillie when the Winton phone exchange went automatic.
“Bull would drive his car up to the cattle yards; put his spotlight on for Buddo to see to be able to unload the cattle he carted from Diamantina Lakes.”
Buddo worked as a driver for McIvers Livestock Transport (Winton) on and off until he took the reins as manager in 1985, with Bull as his bookkeeper.
Later, they entered into a business venture, and ‘Bull’ became the company’s book-keeper; they were inseparable. Buddo grieved heavily when he lost his close mate Bull — the little man who did such a mighty job — in 2010.
Gavin Baskett told of how he first met the big fella: “It was on one of my trips to Darwin; unfortunately it was on the highway between Winton and Kynuna, with Buddo helping me flip a rolled trailer back on its feet.
“This is what Buddo did without a second thought — helping mates in need and asking nothing in return.
“Buddo Grant treated everyone he met as one of his own; he was known to employ good men — and looked after them.”
 |
|
The guard of honour for Buddo’s final resting place.
|
In 1983, Buddo married the love of his life, Stephanie. He was the loving father of Cameron, Fiona, Melanie and Sheralee, and doting grandfather of Jasmine, Ashleigh, Macey and Baillee.
“During the years following this big step into business, Buddo worked himself to a standstill, purchasing more Louisvilles and a Western Star.
The stock trucks never stopped, but he saw opportunities to branch out in other directions.”
Gavin Baskett told of how Buddo purchased water trucks, cranes, side tippers, cement trucks, graders and loaders.
“It was during these years that Buddo had a hand in the construction of many local projects: the original Waltzing Matilda Centre, Lark Quarry, the new swimming pool, hospital, rail loop and the reception centre at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs.
“It didn’t stop there — Buddo and Steph purchased a cattle property, where Buddo took a gamble on Black Angus bulls from Victoria — this paid off and he started his herd.”
And he told of a few sticky moments when Buddo would get bogged in a creek and have to walk a few kilometres in the hot summer days — because he’d forgotten to take the sat phone or forgot to charge it.
Buddo Grant was larger-than-life within the Winton community — always with a wry, querying grin?
He was deaf in one ear and had only 20 per cent in the other — “and he lost more hearing aids than Imelda Marcos”.
Buddo was a keen supporter of the Winton Outback Festival, the campdraft and drag racing (‘shitbox racing’ was his preferred terminology, and his style was hard, fast, flat-out). He holds the record for the world’s longest road train, and in 2016 was named Winton’s Citizen of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the community.
Prior to that, in 2003 Buddo received the Queensland Premier’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships in “appreciation of your contribution to building stronger communities through you partnership with Winton Shire Council.”
In 2009 he was inducted into the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
In 2010 he rode a ‘postie scooter’ from Winton to Boulia with mates, Butchie Lenton and Roy Smith, as part of a fundraiser for the Winton Ambulance Committee and the Winton Diamantina Devils footy team.
“I don’t think there’s a community club that Buddo didn’t offer his help to,” Gavin Baskett remarked.
 |
|
More than 12,000 people attended the service on October 7.
|
Throughout his life, Buddo Grant had many fingers in many fires. Yet he helped many people and asked for nothing in return.
And talking of fingers and fires, he loved fish fingers — cooked or frozen — and was the sausage king of Winton (the smokos at Grant’s yard were something else). There were those who suggested that “anyone eating off that barbecue plate would need a cast iron gut.”
“Buddo Grant is irreplaceable,” Gavin Baskett added.
What makes writing this so sad is that Buddo was always talking about “keeping the dream alive.”
For those seeking help or know of others experiencing a personal crisis, contact Lifeline at lifeline.org.au or BeyondBlue at beyondblue.org.au.