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Welcome
to Issue 532 of your Deals on Wheels Magazine
One of the biggest privileges of being the Editor of any publication is having the opportunity, almost every day, to read the stories from the communities the magazine or paper serves.
That chance to take some time to walk in someone else's shoes, to understand their journey, and their passion, is why most of us became journalists in the rst place.
Luckily for me, this edition is another cracker, packed full of truly interesting tales about people and their passions.
Our opening story, from page 12, is a shining example of one man's passion turning into a wonderful side gig that has put smiles on countless faces over the years.
since leaving the factory doors.
I'm sure I'm not alone in wishing him a lot of luck, and plenty of good times hunting down parts and making friends as part of that journey.
And, while we're speaking about journeys and passion, how does a 4,500km trip across the heart of Australia to attend a truck show sound? Our intrepid contributor Warren Aitken has such a passion for the bi-annual Mack Muster event in Western Australia that he packed him cameras and notebook and headed west again this year to capture the latest incarnation of a growing event that highlights just how active the transport scene is getting in WA.
It's photos like this from the Western Australian Mack Muster 2026 that truly capture just how much passion there is out there for the transport industry and the truck brands and suppliers who help to keep the wheels turning every day.
Image: Warren Aitken
Flanagan Noel's eye for detail and desire to do it right has created some truly memorable model trucks that remain in pride of place in transport operator o ces around the country, particularly those who have bought Kenworths over the years.
And it's not all about shiny things either.
Gregory O'Meley's love of the International brand has seen him spend decades in pursuit of a chain driven example of a 1920's truck, to nally nd the shell of a 1927 54C International Harvestor.
Taking a look at his story, from page 48, it's clear that Gregory's vision for the future of this historic truck is going to take more than a little work. It'll be fascinating to see how far he goes in transforming the rusty relic he has now, toward his dream of having it red up in 2027 in celebration of its hundredth year
As always, his photos put the reader right there, making it easy to imagine the excitement of the event captured in his story. It certainly has a "wow" factor. (see page 70).
We also have big news from our friends at Gorski Engineering who are continuing to grow their trailer building business around the country, adding a third site in Adelaide from July 1. The latest move will put Gorski's tippers and trailers right where they need to be for customers gearing up for major projects in the State (see page 66).
And nally, thank you to our passionate subscriber Ross who rang to let me know he missed the Deals Data pages. Good news Ross, they're back (see page 80).
I hope you enjoy this month's read.
Truck of the year
Submit your truck, as Isuzu launches its 2026 Truck of the Year competition, celebrating standout customer trucks and proud owners nationwide
It’s time to put your pride and joy in the spotlight.
Isuzu owners across the country are invited to showcase their hardworking rigs, as Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) gears up for another big year of its iconic Truck of the Year competition.
As one of Australia’s longest-running truck appreciation programs, the annual competition celebrates the ingenuity, owner pride and real-world performance of Isuzu trucks across a wide range of industries.
The competition features monthly winners, customer stories and standout trucks shared across Isuzu Australia’s digital channels.
IAL marketing and advertising manager Sam Gangemi says the competition remains a highlight of the calendar for both Isuzu and its customers.
“Truck of the Year is all about recognising the people behind the wheel and the trucks that keep Australian businesses moving,” he says.
“Each year we see an incredible mix of innovation, customisation and passion from our customers – whether it’s a trade vehicle, freight hauler, waste truck or something completely unique.
“We’re excited to see what 2026 brings and to once again celebrate the vital role Isuzu trucks play across Australia.”
The 2026 competition opened in April and runs through to November 30, with monthly winners progressing to the grand nal.
Isuzu owners can enter online by submitting images and a short story outlining what makes their truck unique.
Monthly winners will receive $500 worth Isuzu Trucks merchandise pack and promotional exposure across Isuzu’s digital platforms, providing valuable visibility for
their business. Grand nal Series winners across the N, F and FX/FY ranges will receive a $1,500 gi card, with one of the three Series winners then going on to earn the title of Isuzu’s Truck of the Year and a $6,000 Grand Prize.
Recent years competition winners demonstrated the diversity and capability of Isuzu trucks in real-world applications.
Last year, the Glenapp Boys took out top honours with their NPR 65-190 Crew Cab entered by Rob Sibson. The truck stood out for its versatility, presentation and contribution to community volunteer work.
Rob drives the NPR daily, loads up supplies every Friday and heads out to Glenapp Railway Station, where he spends the weekend maintaining the historic site that he and his late brother Dennis began restoring years ago.
Top Truck went to Sydney Side Plumbing’s NLR 45-150 in 2024, which sports a highly customised body for carrying plumbing and leak detection equipment.
“My Isuzu truck has a high-pressure water jet out the back, PVC pipe holders on top, and emergency lights and an LED board that can display messages while working on the road,” Sydney Side Plumbing director Mohammad Mourad says.
Truck of the Year has long celebrated the strong connection between Isuzu and its customers, with past winners representing businesses of all sizes from across Australia.
As entries open for 2026, Isuzu urges owners to step forward and share their stories.
“Whether your truck is fresh o the lot or a seasoned workhorse, we want to see it,”
Gangemi says.
“It’s your chance to put your pride and joy in the spotlight.”
The Glenapp Boys winning Isuzu. Image: Isuzu Australia Limited
For years, Flanagan Noel has recreated miniature versions of monster sized trucks, one even made it in the Transport Hall of Fame
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Flanagan Noel
There’s nothing quite like having a mini version of the truck you love the most in your yard.
Flanagan Noel is the man who brings these miniature masterpieces to life. Somewhere between late nights, casual truck driving shi s, and decades spent around rigs, Flanagan pursues his hobby of creating model trucks so detailed, so personal, they’ve even brought truckies to tears.
“My uncles had trucks and I would try and copy the ones they owned,” he says. “I just started making the models and became really nicky.”
“So much so, that in some of my models, I’ve put in sheepskin seat covers, exact number plates or custom fridges between the seats.
“I try to give my customers exactly what they want and aim to recreate it as close as I possibly can to the real thing.”
One model, in particular, still sticks with him.
A fellow truckie asked Flanagan if he could make him a model of the rig he used to drive around, it was a Gold Nugget W Model
Kenworth. But this time, it included a request he had never received before.
“He told me that in his old truck, he used to carry his father's urn in an old cardboard box that would sit in the passenger’s seat,”
Flanagan says.
“So, I recreated it, and he was nearly in tears when I gave it to him.”
He started making models for Kenworth –with every customer that bought a new truck, came Flanagan’s model to go with it.
One of his proudest pieces was a massive road train he built for the McBride family before donating it to the Transport Hall of Fame, as well as recently taking out rst place with his vibrant green Bobtail at the Ballarat Model Show.
However, throughout Flanagan’s many years of truck modelling, there have been times where he has lost interest in the skill and stopped modelling all together.
He’s only recently returned from a hiatus, but is now back going strong on the models once more.
Now, a er time spent running a workshop,
A mini Mack to add to the collection
The detailing is insanely impressive
Flanagan doesn’t just make trucks…
Inside the gold nugget W model Kenworth, lies the urn in the passenger seat
Flanagan’s modelling skills above, versus the original on the right
Featuring the back of the Kenny
The magnificently long road train that made its way into the Transport Hall of Fame
This truck was made for the McBride family
Flanagan has spent years perfecting his craft
It looks just like the real thing
What an awesome looking Scania
A tiny model of a Linfox concrete agitator truck
An all-white Scania beauty ok coo
he’s back behind the wheel as a casual truck driver – building models in the hours in between.
He estimates he’s built around 40 models over the years, each one taking roughly 150 painstaking hours to complete. Some end up in company boardrooms, others on truckies shelves and a few have stayed in his own collection.
Every build starts with a basic American or European kit, but Flanagan explains that there’s not much in them – so he tends buy a lot of the materials himself.
“I buy a lot of my custom parts from a fella in Phillip Island. He makes Australian bull bars, right hand dashes and mud aps,” he says.
“Other than that, I just make the rest myself, I paint the scroll work and pinstripes too.”
And that’s where the real battle actually lies for Flanagan.
“The painting is probably the hardest part,” he says. ‘If it's a multi-coloured truck, you got to mask it, paint it, mask it, paint, mask it, paint it to get three or four colours.”
And while every build has its own personal quirk, there’s one current project sitting at the top of Flanagan’s favourites list.
“The last one I made is a beautiful mustard coloured SRV,” he says. “It’s a bit old school with an air con up over the roof. The owner rang me; he already loves it and can’t wait to see it all nished.”
That excitement of each customer seeing their trucks reborn in miniature form, is what inspires Flanagan and keeps him doing what he’s doing.
These models hold history and heart, and that’s what makes Flanagan’s work so special.
AUSTRALIAN MADE
The craftsmanship is outstanding on this rig for SRV is something to behold
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About 45ft long and 2500mm wide
Tri-Axle K-Hitch Axles and Air Bag Suspension
$128,000 + GST
Village, VIC
Trailer
Are you running a heavy haulage business and are a er a high quality tilt slider that knows how to do the job?
Trailer Stonestar can help with its brand new tilt slider 45 foot drop deck trailer. With quality welding and a paint nish, the trailer also features Tri-Axle K-Hitch Axles and air bag suspension.
This brand new tilt slider highlights the teams’ talents and includes a Diesel Power Pack, 2 x 17,000lbs winches to 20,000lbs horizontal dragging power, toolboxes and LED lights.
To nd out more phone Trailer Stonestar on 03 8547 8503.
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Dressed in all white, this 2007 Freightliner Argosy is proven for its reliability on Australian roads.
Located in Penrith, New South Wales, this Freightliner is clean, tough and well-equipped, o ering comfort, manoeuvrability and serious pulling power in one iconic package. The truck features 10 stud alloy rims, an electric tarp and a 4.5m x 1.8m alloy bin coupled with 2007 Tefco super dog.
If you’re an operator chasing a dependable prime mover with legendary Aussie highway appeal, this is a standout opportunity.
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2016 Kenworth T659
X15 Cummins
2024 Gorski tipping body and superdog trailer
$410,000 + GST
Trentham, VIC
9988 9194
Kenny
With its bold blue styling and unmistakable road presence, this 2016 Kenworth T659 is built to tackle Australia’s toughest transport jobs.
Powered by an X15 Cummins including a 2024 Gorski body and superdog made from bisalloy, this truck is a clean unit, ready to get to work.
Known for its reliability and serious pulling power, the T659 remains a favourite among owner drivers and eet operators. If you’re chasing a hardworking rigid with classic Kenworth appeal, this is an opportunity worth a closer look.
For more information, phone EPJ Trading on 03 9988 9194.
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Three Rows of eight Linkwing
MADE TO
Ha
Designed with three rows of eight, this MTE lightweight Linkwing trailer is the lightest available and is built for demanding Australian conditions.
Deliberately designed with increased manoeuvrability and payload capacity, it can deliver to more places than ever before.
The lightweight Linkwing saves on Tare weight which gives a capacity of up to 65,000kg GVM.
If you’re looking to upgrade your eet with a reliable, hardworking combination, this purpose-built trailer is well worth considering.
For more information phone MTE – Modern Transport Engineers on 07 3177 1607.
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Are you in need of a home away from home? This 2005 Kenworth T404 SAR may be a perfect t with its 36-inch bunk for those long nights out on the road.
Featuring a Cat C15 engine and an 18-speed manual transmission, this tidy unit delivers the toughness and reliability drivers continue to chase.
If you need a chassis extension, a tipper, a tray or even a beaver tail, Sammut can modify this Kenworth to suit your requirements.
If you’re a er a hardworking truck with a large road presence, this Kenworth may be just the one for you.
To nd out more information
Goose neck or Top deck
TILT & SLIDE
2026 3 X winches, radio controls, can load a 40FT container with ease! Not all imports are created equal, OZ sourced running gear, airbag upgrade available Now wideners also available. Quad axle drop deck style with steerable axle. AVAILABLE IN FIXED OR EXTENDABLE FROM: $135,000+GST ON SPRING
DROP DECK EXTENDABLE
2026 Brand new model. low deck height under 1metre, 3-way pins, 2 position bolt-on king pin, toolboxes, gate pockets, roads train specs, beaver tail, extends to 70FT with multiple locking positions, ramps optional FLATBED EXTENDABLE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM $78,000+GST (ON SPRING)
STAG/STAY CONNECT ALUMINIUM TIPPER
STAG/STAY
Airbag Suspension Grain Chute, Electric side rollover Tarps, Two way tail gate, Grain Front Door/Inspection Door available, Alloy wheels, Water wash Tank, Showels
DISCOUNTED TO CLEAR WAS $310,000 + GST, NOW $285,000 + GST
FROM $69,500 + GST ON SPRING FLAT BED
New Design! 8mm laser cut coaming, 45ft, deck height under 1400mm. Electric landing legs, spare wheel, 10-12 pallet A also available, dunnage box, headboards, spring or airbag suspension available.
FROM $99,000 + GST (single trailer) GRAIN TIPPER B DOUBLE STEEL OR ALUMINIUM
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Can take container upto 48FT.
HARDEN’S
H sepower
Heritage trucks, working rigs and community pride collide at Harden Truck Show, defying distance and fuel pressures
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Priscilla Langfield
The team is already gearing up for next year!
The truck lineup at Harden told its own story of Australia’s transport past and present.
This year was the 11th Harden Truck Show, and the shared e ort paid o as numbers climbed, with around 60 trucks, 30 cars and eight tractors to admire.
“Bringing an array of historic vehicles to Harden and the larger hilltop area gives people who wouldn't normally be able to experience these machines the opportunity to see them and to ask questions,” event secretary Priscilla Lang eld says.
“There are the people who have restored the trucks, as well as people who have owned these trucks basically since they came o the production line, just a whole range.
“It's good to see people taking the time out of their busy schedules to come and support events like ours, obviously with the fuel crisis, it’s hard for people to get down to these smaller shows and areas, but we were pretty fortunate with our turnout.”
Among the machinery on show this year was a six-wheel drive Unimog, old military rigs, big highway trucks, Bedfords, Fords, the lot.
And then there were the unexpected standouts. The People’s Choice Awards went to Parker Smash Repairs and Towing Service, showing that in Harden, the working trucks carry just as much admiration as the showpieces.
And while the big rigs blew crowds away, the sense of community felt at Harden was clear to all involved.
“Any of the entrants that camp the night get to enjoy a free barbeque which is lovely to share together,” club president Roger Kershaw says.
“One of the nights, my mate jumped up and recited a heap of poetry and did an absolutely brilliant job of it.
“We kept kids entertained with a big sand pit and a rather extensive Tonka toy collection which parents were happy to sit around and observe. It was one of the biggest hits of the day.
“This is an event that’s here in the heart of Harden, something you don’t have to drive away [from town] for the weekend for.”
Funds raised from the show go straight into the Harden Historic Truck and Tractor Club, and a donation from the Saturday night dinner
was put toward restoring an ambulance for the Harden Historical Society.
There’s a lot more that goes into this show than people realise, and that was something Roger wanted to emphasise.
“I don't know how many radio interviews I’ve done and talks about our clubs and what they do, but it’s de nitely gobbled up a lot of my time,” he says.
“But if everyone running this event doesn't have a go, the club falls to bits.”
Priscilla says next year is already looking even bigger, with talks about a vintage tractor pull making a debut.
“We want 2027 to incorporate cool looking tractors as well,” she says. “We want bigger crowds and more vehicles. So, mark your calendars.”
A whopping 60 trucks, 30 cars and eight tractors rolled in. There were Kenworths, Bedfords, Fords, the lot… any and all trucks were welcome at Harden
Timer
At 82, Jack Ferguson rescues a forgotten Federal truck, spending 11 years restoring it to glory
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Jack Ferguson
It took Jack 11 years to restore this rig
At 82, Jack Ferguson admits he’s not the best with a modern phone.
“I’m a good mechanic, but I can’t operate a phone or computer,” he laughs.
When it comes to trucks and what lies underneath the bonnet however, Jack’s an expert.
His story starts on a getaway with his wife and a refusal to go window shopping. While his wife browsed a small country town, truck loving Jack went on the hunt through an industrial estate.
“I called up this tyre service asking for any old truck parked up in paddocks or any industrial areas they would know,” he says.
“They told me to go down this road; there I would nd some trucks parked behind a cyclone fence. It took a bit of searching, but I found it.”
And there it was. A forgotten 1955 Federal Style-Liner sitting still, quiet.
“It looked pretty sad, but I went back and asked the tyre service workers who owned the yard, so I tracked them down and from them, I got through to the original owner, who had given the truck to his son. Unbeknownst to him however, he'd sold the semi o it,” Jack says.
One conversation led to another, and it was clear this Federal was a hard worker back in the day. It hauled loads out of Melbourne two to three times a week carting groceries, wheat and cotton, and would o en push well beyond what it was built for.
“I was told that the truck would cart 30 tonne or more on the back,” Jack says. “That’s overloading it by at least 15 tonnes, but it stood up.”
This Federal Style-Liner is quite the vintage masterpiece – this is old time trucking at its finest
Jack’s done an astonishing job
Jack bought this truck for $1,200
So Jack called up the son, and even in its broken down state, he put in an o er.
“I o ered $1,000, he virtually slammed the phone down,” Jack laughs. “I let it cool down for an hour or two before ringing back.”
So, he made his o er — $1,000. Rejected. $1,100? Still no. Eventually, at $1,200, the deal was done.
And just like that, an 11-year restoration began.
It’s a rare truck, so Jack had to start chasing for parts. He found a timber jinker, restored it and put it on the back of the truck, making it more comfortable to sit behind the wheel.
This wasn’t an easy project. The moment Jack li ed the cab; things quite literally fell apart. The grille dropped out, dents revealed themselves everywhere, and rust crept through in patches.
He cut out the rust and repaired it, but the real headache came when nothing lined up.
"I had the cab in undercoat, and when I was putting it back on and trying to line the panels up, nothing would t,” Jack says.
“I had to take the cabin on and o three times. It was driving me nuts.”
It took Jack calling in an old-school panel beater, a string line and a sharp eye to uncover the truth – the chassis had been bent, likely from a rollover or heavy hit decades earlier.
“I had noticed the outriggers - that support the cabin to the chassis - had been repaired, but it hadn't been lined up properly,” Jack says.
“The panel beater explained the accident was the reason for this issue, everything else was lining up though, so we just altered the bracket to make the cabin sit properly on the truck.
“We could see evidence where it had either been hit across the le hand side - or it had been rolled - but there's no one around to con rm.”
Then came the parts – or more accurately, the lack of them.
Finding components for a rare truck that disappeared decades ago isn’t easy.
template, he made a two-piece solution that looks so right, you’d never know it wasn’t original.
“The windscreen wouldn’t go in from the outside, so we put a type of rubber in, and that way, we were able to t the screen to the outside, which cut a bit of the radius o so the straight glass would go in and it's not leaking,” he says.
Under the bonnet, the original 427 cubic inch red valve Continental petrol motor was also an issue.
“You couldn't keep petrol with it, so I thought, I'll have to nd another diesel for it. So, I shopped around, and I found one in good nick, it’s a Hino EH 700 series,” he says.
“Now you can get her up to 114km/h, so it's going alright which is quite surprising.”
He tted in the motor, got it VicRoads approved, then had the carpet cut and tted and improved the upholstery.
“There's no door trims inside, it's just straight steel with a panel that you can remove to get the glass out, which was damn awkward to do, but we did it,” he says.
And for Jack’s favourite part, open the butter y bonnet, swing the guards up over the headlights, and you’re staring straight into the engine bay – a real unique feature of the old rig in Jack’s opinion.
He’s done the whole restoration himself – except for the wiring – and he feels damn proud of it too.
The truck was painted red, and then Federal green, so he took a sample of the paint and matched it. Now it rocks a deep burgundy colour - as close to Federal red as he could get it.
These days, the Federal lives a di erent life. One where it’s put on show rather than worked hard.
No more overloaded paddocks or punishing freight runs. It’s a show truck now, a headturner, and it hasn’t lost what made it special.
'Started with nothing and still got some of it!’
Windscreens were impossible to source, forcing Jack to get creative. Using a handmade the phone down! I o ered $1000, and he virtually slammed
And if this story proved anything, it’s that Jack is a great mechanic. Technology may not be his strong point, but, for the Federal, he didn’t need it to be.
'Fitzy'
THE DODGE
Mark Hollows discovers a 1973 Dodge hidden away in a shed for over 20 years, and decides to x it up with his two sons
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Mark Hollows
‘Fitzy’ the Dodge now ready to go
Tucked away in an old shed, buried under dust and cobwebs sat a 1973 Dodge AT4 353 crew cab.
The tyres were at, the cab was packed to the windows with junk chucked in so high you could no longer see the seats.
Time had erased the old Dodge’s story, but beneath the mess, Mark Hollows could see potential, a piece of trucking history, and decided to give this old rig another lifeline.
“The rst time I saw it, I had gone out to help with cattle,” he says. “It was just sitting in an old shed with a horse crate on the back.”
“This truck was my best mate’s fatherin-law’s; his name is Frank Fitzpatrick. I’ve named the Dodge ‘Fitzy’ a er him.”
Built in 1973, the truck is no ordinary classic, with only three functional doors from the factory, it has a 245 Hemi straight-six petrol engine paired to a four-speed.
Originally red before being painted blue, the truck had lived a full working life long before it was le to rest.
Frank had originally purchased the Dodge o his father-in-law who had used the truck
to tow a 20-foot caravan around Australia, clocking up thousands of kilometres exploring Australia’s vast landscapes.
Then, under Frank’s ownership, he converted it into a horse truck, helping move cattle across the country.
And then, just like that, it stopped.
The Dodge sat untouched, still, for more than 20 years.
“With the fuel line put into the top of a ve litre jerrycan, a new battery and a new ignition wire – she started,” Mark says. “And she still runs to this day.”
A er two decades, this dormant machine roared back to life like no time had passed.
Now, the next chapter belongs to Mark and his two young boys, Darcy and Lane. Together they’re bringing Fitzy back to life.
“It’s in the process of being restored by me and my boys,” Mark says. “We plan to keep it old school.”
“It will need a bit of work, but we will keep it as original as possible.”
The plan isn’t to erase its past, but rather to preserve it. The paint will stay, just rubbed
Cobwebs, dust and rust made their home in and out of this Dodge when Mark discovered it
There wasn’t much to start with…but the plan was always to preserve this vehicle
The engine bay and dash needed a lot of work
Mark whipped this truck right into shape back and clear coated to protect what’s already there.
Inside, the cab is getting a fresh lease on life.
“I pulled most of the interior out and I’m going to spray and redo the roof, oor seats and dash – it still runs ne but it will just need to be jacked up, and everything will need to
be gone over from wheel bearings to water pump and more,” he says.
“Lastly, it will need new windows and door seals.”
And once it’s done, Fitzy won’t be hidden away again.
“We will restore it, then take it to some truck
shows and out on weekend cruises,” he says.
It’s a simple plan, but a good one.
For Mark, the restoration is a natural extension of his life around trucks and transport.
“I’ve been into trucks my whole life,” he says.
“My dad was an owner driver, so I’ve always
liked the old school stu .”
This old school Dodge has lived many lives. From touring Australia, to hauling cattle, then sitting in a shed for a couple of decades to now being restored to its former glory.
I know we're all keen to see what this truck will accomplish next.
This truck was Mark’s best mate’s father-in-law’s – his name is Frank Fitzpatrick, so naturally Mark named it after him
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Yard, Workshop & Fabricating division located at Trentham, Victoria (Closed Saturdays). Please contact one of the above for an appointment.
DEALS Showcase
Trucktools
POWERS
AHEAD
Trucktools’ rise from small family operation to national heavy vehicle tool supplier continues accelerating across Australia
Trucktools has spent almost 30 years building a reputation as one of Australia’s leading heavy vehicle specialty tool providers.
As a business, Trucktools evolved from the combined transport and automotive experiences of the Heldoorn family, particularly brother and sister Mark and Annelie, and has grown into a trusted supplier for truck workshops across the country.
“Not o en do brothers and sisters work alongside each, but in this instance, it works,” Annelie says.
Prior to opening Trucktools, Mark worked alongside their Dad, John Heldoorn, in a transport business specialising in local and interstate furniture removals.
Annelie got her start working for many years in the automotive tool industry.
She says it was a casual conversation between the siblings about 25 years ago, where they had settled on the idea of selling tools themselves.
The pair took the risk of turning that idea into a reality, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“We originally opened our rst location in Hallam, specialising more in automotive speciality tools,” Annelie says.
“We found that over time, our clientele was predominantly coming from the truck service industry.
“Over the years, our product range grew into specialised tools for the Australian truck repair service industry.
“It’s taken many years of research and development to get to where we are today.”
Where Trucktools is today, is well and truly on the radar of truck service centres across the country.
“Our business has grown to be the largest truck specialty tool supplier in Australia,” Annelie says.
We have expanded our warehouse operating due to the continued increase of specialty tools and equipment for the truck service industry.
“When travelling Australia, it’s great to hear that diesel mechanics across Australia have heard of Trucktools. The old word of mouth is still working hard and strong across our beautiful country. We are fortunate that we have built great relationships all over Australia.”
Trucktools ships tools and equipment nationwide. Our specialised tool range from truck engine tools, suspension and driveline tools, heavy vehicle stands, engine rotator stands, king pin presses and a massive range of wheel and axle nut sockets and more, Annelie says.
Trucktools is a Nation Wide Capricorn Preferred Supplier. All Capricorn members across Australia can order directly from us with ease.
Mark Heldoorn at the Brisbane Truck Show
Images: Trucktools
Trucktools HQ is to be found just one kilometre o the Princes Freeway at Pakenham in Melbourne’s fast growing south-east corridor.
“Our location has made logistics a breeze,” Annelie says. “On and o the freeway with ease”.
You can contact Trucktools on 1800 000 561 or email info@trucktools.com.au. The warehouse is at 16-18 Tango Circuit, Pakenham – we encourage customers to contact Trucktools first to check stock availability on the day for urgent pickups. Truck access available.
King pin press
The trucktools.com. au warehouse, just one kilometre o the Princess Freeway at Pakenham
The Trucktools bar set
To suit a Cummins ISX –Injector Sleeve Remover / Installer Kit – on truck application
Here’s a glimpse of some handy adapters
Century
This 99-year-old 54C International Harvestor took Gregory O’Meley 18 years to nd
Words: Tiane Gavillucci
Images: Gregory O’Meley
It was one decision away from being melted down and forgotten forever. Parts for a 1927 54C International Harvestor truck sat in a museum scrap pile, waiting to meet its end as it headed toward the blast furnace.
Gregory O’Meley now owns this small piece of history which he says is an absolute rarity.
“There's only two in Australia that we know of, and there's only about 12 le around the world,” he says.
“There was only 1300 produced. From what
I can gather, International Harvester would have kept about 20 per cent of the production and then shipped the rest around the world.
“We may have only gotten 10 per cent of the production, so it's pretty special.”
A er Gregory saw a picture of a 74C Super Duty International Harvester truck in 1997, he began his quest to own an International chain drive.
“All before my exposure to the "internet" or Facebook etc, I went to swap meets and
This truck was almost sent to the furnace
networked with likeminded enthusiasts, hand wrote letters to hundreds of vintage car, truck, steam and machinery clubs hoping someone would have seen or heard of one,” he says.
“I would follow up any leads with more letters or phone calls in which would lead to more contacts.
"In the rst few years of my search the reality of nding a chain drive Inter became rather dim, so as a consolation I started to collect some remains of the Heavy Duty Class 3 series trucks of the mid-twenties, the 33, 43 and 63, but none of the 103s.
“Some of the remains were in such poor condition most people would have scrapped them, if it were not for me showing any interest.
“I did save any usable parts for future use or to share with others for their own restoration
projects, I have even posted parts back to America.”
Time passed, life rolled on and 18 years went by of searching with still no luck in nding a chain drive Inter truck or even another brand for sale.
But his luck changed in 2016 when a grainy Gumtree listing appeared.
“One of these adverts contained an unrecognisable blob of rusted steel which intrigued me to click on the ad, and there it was,” he says.
“The sad looking remains of a 1927 54C International with a 1927.43 on top, located in the Herberton Heritage Museum near Atherton in far north Queensland.”
The advert read, ‘Free to Good Home', so he contacted the curator Darryl and explained his quest.
“Darryl explained he had rejected others
Gregory is an International enthusiast
It may be rusted, but it’s a piece of transport history
who wanted to cherry pick parts of them,” he says.
“The terms were to take the lot or take nothing at all, which was not going to be a problem for me.”
Gregory took a look at the truck, shook hands and organised transport to take it home.
The truck itself carries clues from a working life that’s mostly undocumented.
Gregory says the dimples in the front cross member are called polling pockets, where timber poles were placed to shunt railway wagons as a quicker way of sorting carriages without a locomotive.
truck is now 99 years old
Somewhere along the line, the chassis was stretched and double skinned for strength, and a second gearbox was added to crawl through steep terrain.
“The 54C had its original solid rubber tyre wheels converted to pneumatics,” Gregory says.
“Now that I had secured the 54C I needed
the solid tyre wheels from Victoria I had seen many years ago.
“Sixteen years had passed, I rang the owner and asked had it been scrapped? He said no. Due to its di cult resting place and the distance away from the scrappy. It wasn't nancially viable.
“Being so close to Bass Strait it was in extremely poor condition but still had a lot of parts to save.
A er dissecting it and taking one ton of steel to the tip, I loaded up the goodies and headed home.”
Gregory says the rig used to work around tin mines.
“It would have been very hilly, but I can only assume that it was doing some pretty heavy hauling in the country, hence the second gearbox so they could gear it down,” he says.
Restoration has never been the goal for Gregory, in fact, he believes restoring it would strip away the very thing that makes it special.
“It’s too far gone to be restored,” he says. “And
The full view of the 1927 54C International Harvestor truck
The
I think if I tried to, it wouldn’t look right. I think it’s better o being the historic piece that it is.”
But he did his part in making the truck more complete.
“I thought I had overcome the biggest hurdle of nding the chain drive and then getting it home,” he says. “But complacency and procrastination crept in.”
He had come too far, he had to keep going. So, nding a medium sized radiator was now at the top of his list.
The front axle and wheels were found in a scrap pile bound for the furnace and he found a radiator o Facebook.
“Due to all the leaf springs being oxy cut out of the 54C - why? We will never know - I had to borrow a set of front springs out of its baby brother, a model 43, which was absolutely identical,” Gregory says.
“The rear replacements were found hiding underneath a 1971 C1500 International, which was a 95 per cent match, apart from the top leaf being a bit longer eye to eye.
“With the front springs and axle being removed prior to arriving at the museum, the engine sump sat on the ground for years causing it to rust out, allowing condensation to form inside which has destroyed the engine of the 54C.”
An engine from a 63 is serviceable and will be transplanted into the 54C in the next two years for its centenary re-up in 2027.
By next August however, Gregory aims to have this truck driveable for Dubbo.
“The truck is not restored, just operational,”
he says. “Right now, I've got other sh to fry.”
With over 20 trucks at home and other projects to complete, Gregory’s a busy man.
“I'm under the pump to get a couple of motorbikes ready,” he says.
“I'm taking them over to South Australia to Salt Lake Racing.
“I’m not getting any younger and I want to knock a couple of things o my bucket list.”
The truck has already made some appearances. The old, rusty banger sat at Bathurst lined up next to polished, gleaming show trucks.
People stopped, stared and took pics, and Gregory couldn’t have been happier.
And this is why he does what he does.
Gregory isn’t in transport by trade, he’s just an International enthusiast.
“I looked at some other trucks of the 1920s but they had timber spoke wheels, and they're very expensive to rebuild,” he says.
“My one has cast iron wheels which are pretty impervious to the weathering and the age of them.
“This hobby is just something totally unique, so I went on that search for a chain drive, and it took me 18 years to nd what I was looking for.”
It survived the mines, the hills, the scrap pile, and nearly a century of neglect. And Gregory O’Meley waited 18 years to prove he was exactly the person, t for the job.
To contact Gregory about the truck, email him on rustisacolour@bigpond.com
for quite some time
The truck, with its chain drive set up, sat in a museum scrap pile
WTP PTY. LTD.
2015,FittedwithISL cummins,
2010,Daycab,fitted with cumminsengine,18speedroadranger,46160 diffsonKW8bag,freshlypaintedandreadyfor locksanddifflocks,airbagsuspension, Bucher
The days are ying by in the lead up to the 2026 North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show
Forty days. As this edition of Deals on Wheels magazine hits the streets on June 22, that’s how long the truck lovers out there have to wait for the opening salvo of the 2026 North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show.
The crowds just couldn't get enough of the trucks at the Casino Truck Show in 2025. Image: Prime Creative Media
Twenty-one days on the other hand is exactly how long those with trucks they’d like to enter in the event have until truck registrations open at 9am on July 13.
At just $30 per truck, with just 550 spots available for the show itself and only 200 spots for the popular truck parade the spots are sure to go quickly.
Registrations will close when capacity is reached, or on Wednesday, July 29, whichever comes rst – and all information about rallying points and bump-in times will be available online at www.casinotruckshow. com.au.
Casino Truck Show co-founder Darren Goodwin says the “Casino Truck Show is basically the grand nal for the transport industry”.
“It’s a fantastic day for everyone to catch up in the transport industry from all walks of life.
“And it’s also a good time for the general public to get amongst all the big equipment that they see on the highway, but this time it’s actually up close, and they can see the detail and the pride that people have in their equipment”.
Goodwin says the excitement starts to build on the Thursday of show week as the rst arrivals come in from around Australia and start to polish up their trucks in time for Friday Night Lights on the evening of the Saturday show.
He says the show now also attracts and international audience with people travelling from New Zealand and further a eld to come and enjoy all that Casino has to o er.
Richmond Valley Council General Manager Vaughan Macdonald says the truck show is one of the region’s biggest events of the year, with tens of thousands of people attending.
“We’re really looking forward to it happening again on the 1st of August, on the Saturday, but come on the Friday for the Friday Night Lights, make it a weekend –make a week of it. Come to town and have a
good time,” Macdonald says.
Located 726km north of Sydney and 228km south of Brisbane, Casino is 64km inland from the coastal town of Ballina in NSW.
The show takes over the CBD of the town on Friday and Saturday night with the trucks parked up, on bitumen, along the major streets.
The location makes is a great all-weather option, particularly popular with truckies who spend hours polishing their gear and don’t have to worry about mud and dust undoing their work should it rain.
In terms of what show goers should expect, the below summary might help.
Major Event Highlights
• Friday Night Lights – Friday, 6pm to 8pm. A night-time truck showcase with lights, chrome and live music rocking out across two stages.
• Truck Parade – Saturday, 10am. Trucks parade through Casino town Centre Street featuring 200 trucks.
• Trucks on Show – 550 stunning trucks
parked in the streets of the CBD for easy viewing by the public
• Auction – Saturday, 2:30pm. Featuring some incredible donated items, including a custom engine bar counter for the man cave.
• Trophy Presentation – Saturday, 3pm. Featuring 80 trophies over seven industry leading categories
Entertainment – two stages
• Friday Night: Tate Cole, Khan Rocks
• Saturday: Thor Phillips Band, Sabotage Band, Country Mud
Other highlights
• Exhibitors and merchandise stalls
• Food vendors
• Free kid’s entertainment
To keep track of all things
Casino Truck Show - go to the website www.casinotruckshow.com.au or follow along on the socials at www.facebook.com/casinotruckshow
From the truck parade, to the trophy ceremony and the live music blaring from mobile stages, the Casino Truck Show has it all. Special credit to Adam Hourigan for the bird's eye view image of Casino Truck Show 2025 too
DEALS Events
CASINO
Champions
With the Casino Truck Show right around the corner, Deals on Wheels interviewed some of last year’s show favourites
It’s absolutely a standout rig. Image: Warren Aitken
The winners of the 2025 Casino Truck Show le a lasting impression.
So much so, that with the show right around the corner, Deals on Wheels thought it a good idea to introduce a few of last year’s awardwinning trucks and truckies.
Jinks goes bang
If you’re into country music, you’d know the name Cody Jinks.
The American country western singer who has released hits like, ‘Loud and Heavy’, ‘Hippies and Cowboys’ and ‘Must be the Whiskey’. Now, he has a dark workhorse tributed to him.
The embassy grey 2025 Kenworth T909 is named ‘Jinks’. It’s a grain tipper for Ambrose Haulage with a mural on the back of the cab.
“It’s got Cody all over it,” Pittsworth Fleet Maintenance owner Mark Holt says. “There’s a big airbrush mural on the back, so I was expecting to get some kind of win at Casino.”
“The theme on the truck was gloss, so all the roof lights, anything that we tted to the truck's a er-market accessories, was gloss.”
On the Ambrose Haulage Facebook socials page, the owners explain why they name their eet a er Cody Jinks.
“During the relentless and heartbreaking years of drought we gave the carting of bulk grain away,” the post reads.
“We all did a little dance, crossed our ngers and prayed. A lot. Then it rained and rained.”
“A er some much needed soul searching and a recommendation of Jinks from a friend who found solace in his music; we rediscovered the colour in the grey and knew that we were always about farming, bulk grain and our signature colour – embassy grey.”
Then the pride of the eet, ‘Cast No Stones’ made its arrival, and along with every truck in the eet, every rig got a name, and a story to go with it.
Names like, She’s All Mine for the 904, Outlaws and Mustangs for the 909, the SAR Legend rocks the name Hell Bent and Whiskey Bound and the 604 carries the title, All It Cost Me Was Everything.
“At Ambrose Haulage headquarters we take our inspiration from Cody Jinks. Our favourite
The famous Cody Jinks on the back of the cab. Image: Pittsworth Fleet Maintenance
This rig certainly takes your breath away. Image: Pittsworth Fleet Maintenance
It’s easy to see how this truck took home an award. Image: Joshua Broom
It was a surprise for Joshua when he found out he won best Western Star. Image: Joshua Broom
artist who stands for real, hard-working values, just like we do,” the post says.
“Jinks’ songs tell real stories - of hard work, grit, and staying true to who you are. That’s what we believe in too. His music resonates with the way we run our business: honest, nononsense, and built on determination.
“When you see one of our prime movers out on the road, know that it’s more than just a truck – it’s a statement of who we are.”
The back is decorated with a black and grey image of Cody Jinks as a skeleton, pointing two guns to the front, with writing at the bottom. Sporting the number plate ‘JINK5’, for the cherry on top.
“We got that truck o ine from the factory and then had 12 weeks to get it ready for the Brisbane Truck Show last year. Then it went on the Moore Trailers' stand in May, then got on the road for a bit until Casino in July,” Mark says.
“Once it was at the Brisbane Truck Show, we knew that it would get some wraps, and it did.”
The Kenworth took home Best Custom Truck, and rightfully so.
Mark grew up in Albury Wodonga, and started his apprenticeship on tractors, then moved into trucks when he was 17. He turned 36 the day a er our interview, so that’s almost two decades working with big rigs –impressive.
The truck will most likely make a return to Casino this year, but not at the Pittsworth Fleet Maintenance stand. So, keep an eye out for a shiny, dark Kenny, and get your quick Cody Jinks x.
Unexpected Western win
Joshua Broom was in the middle of a conversation when the awards for Casino Truck Show’s nest rigs were being announced.
It wasn’t until his wife Kailee shouted at him to get up, did he realise he was a winner.
“Yeah, I de nitely wasn't expecting it,” Joshua says. “It was a bit surreal; there were a lot of mixed emotions running through me.”
“It’s taken us a long time to get this truck to where it is today, so to be recognised and voted for the Best Western Star, oh I’ve got no words for it.”
The 2003 Western Star 4900 has a strong history and good looks to go with it.
“It’s a truck that I’ve always wanted to recreate based o a well-known company that ran up and down the coast in the early 2000s,” he says. “So, I've found this one and put it back to how it was, and I think a lot of people can appreciate that.”
Joshua bought it o a guy from Rainbow Beach who had tippers behind it – and its state was pretty sad.
“I'd say 75 per cent of it has been repainted – I'm trying to keep as much original paint as I can, but obviously maroon is a hard colour to keep in good knick with the weather,” he says.
Joshua gave it a rebuild a couple of years ago, from a former C16 engine, now to a C17. He’s put his own little personal touches to it, but ultimately wants to keep it in that early 2000 era of transport.
“I bought it in 2019, so it’s taken me from then
Lines
stand
The JKL Freight
colours help this Western Star to
out from the crowd.
Image: Joshua Broom
DEALS Events
The winning Kenworth doing its job. Image: BTHR Moving
The 1986 model Kenworth C500 won Best Specialised Truck. Image: BTHR Moving
to now, to get it where it is now, but it's still not 100 per cent complete,” he says.
“Now there’s just the little things to do. I’ve got to change the tank lights to more of a period correct theme, install a few more lights in the bull bar that I'm missing, and I haven't done the interior yet, but it’s next on the to-do list.
“I just really want the outside looking Mickey Mouse.”
Joshua says if the stars align this year, he’ll be back at Casino with his winning rig, but admits that there is some great competition out there these days.
“There's a lot of good Western Stars going around at the moment, so I'm just happy to get down there and be a part of such a great show,” he says.
“The people of Casino are so welcoming, it's such an awesome event. To be down there again and be a part of it would be a win in itself.”
House movers
When Connor Krahnen’s 1986 model Kenworth C500 rig from BTHR Moving won Best Specialised Truck at Casino, he had no idea.
“It was a bit of a shocker for me,” he laughs. “We weren’t even there, we had actually le early because we live across the border, so we got going a bit early to beat the tra c out of there.”
BTHR Moving have owned the truck for near 20 years, but before that, it was in the hands of three other owners.
Three Rivers Logging built it, before another
fellow bought the truck from a Kenworth dealership a while later, taking it interstate for work.
It was sold to another company called Reed Transport that’s now no longer around, and in 2005, BTHR Moving bought the truck o them and have owned it ever since.
“For a while we used it as a backup truck, and it mostly just sat in the shed,” Connor says.
“Then about ve or six years ago, we did a big upgrade on it. We upgraded the rear end of it to Neway suspension, and I put all my big tow hitches and toolboxes on it as well.”
Connor’s grandpa started the family business in the 80s, so Connor’s dad followed in his footsteps.
Originally, Connor helped out his dad on the weekends. He went to uni, became an engineer and started work in the o ce. A er a year, he quickly discovered that o ce life wasn’t for him, and o cially joined the business, moving houses while dabbling in some engineering alongside that.
The Kenworth moves houses for a living, and with some o -road works, things can o en get a bit wet and muddy.
“We’ve got this push pull system on the truck, which is e ectively a dehydraulic cylinder mount on the back of it, so the h wheel connection slides back and forth hydraulically,” Connor says.
“So, when we get stuck, we can use that by alternating the truck and trailer brakes. We can use it to push ourselves out of the bog.
“We did all that work to it, upgraded the suspension, then they put a 20-speed slicer
Connor was surprised to claim the win.
Image: BTHR Moving
DEALS Events
The 2015 Legend Edition T950. Image: Bower’s Heavy Haulage
The Kenny brought home the Best Heavy Haulage title at Casino. Image: Bower’s Heavy Haulage
gearbox in it, which is another very old bit of history.
“Then we put in a torsion bar suspension under the back end of it, which was very rough and lightweight, so a few years later we cut that o , and we extended the chassis a little bit, and then put the heavy Neway suspension under it.”
While winning Best Specialised Truck at the Casino Truck Show was a shock at the time for Connor, he understands why a rig like his took home the top place.
“It’s a Kenworth C500, there’s not a lot made and they’re a very distinct, unique looking truck,” he says.
He described the bonnet and front end of the Kenworth as very square, and explains that this truck shares the same cab as the old W models, but the bonnet is much di erent.
“It's a much bigger, more imposing looking truck, and then that, along with what we've put on the back end of it – like the push pull system and the gantries – makes it stand out.
“It polishes up pretty good that old thing.”
This year BTHR Moving plan to roll into Casino again with not only their award winning Kenny, but also a K200 – and who knows, perhaps another win?
“We might stay around for the presentation this time,” Connor laughs.
All wows for Bower’s Shaun Tull wasn’t expecting one of the Bower’s Heavy Haulage rigs to come home with a Casino trophy.
“There’s a lot of fancy trucks at the show, and a lot of hard work goes into each of them,” Bowers Heavy Haulage o ce manager Shaun says.
“So, it was great to walk away with something.”
Bowers 2015 Legend Edition T950 truck stole the Best Heavy Haulage title at Casino, an honour for the workers there.
“The best thing about it, is its natural build I think,” he says. “It hasn’t been xed up since 2015, and it was sign written like an old school truck.”
Each truck of the eet is white with grey stripes across the cab, carefully decorated in traditional scrollwork, looking deadly while carrying huge loads down Aussie roads.
With Casino Truck Show entries open soon, Shaun says the boys are red up to get on down for one of Australia’s biggest trucking events of the year.
“We’ve got a couple of new trucks added to the eet that we’ll take with us this year. Last year we took ve, this year’s trucks will be a bit di erent,” Shaun says.
“Here’s hoping for another win!”
Trucks have been bred into Shaun since his early days with his dad who was also a truckie.
“It was a consistent deal since then, it’s just kept going and going, till I ended up here at Bowers Heavy Haulage,” he says.
“I’ve been here for 15 years now.”.
Let’s see if this year sees Bower’s claim another win to their name.
A hard worker and showstopper.
Image: Bower’s Heavy Haulage
DEALS Events
CALENDAR Events
JULY 2026
North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show
July 31 to August 1
Casino CBD, NSW
Colac showed up and out with a dazzling lineup of Kenny’s. Image: Highway Photography
The Casino Truck Show is one of Australia’s largest truck shows with a large parade through the CBD, Friday Night Lights, hundreds of trucks on display, trade stalls, live music and family entertainment.
The show attracts tens of thousands of visitors and several hundred trucks (500+ trucks in recent years).
For truck registrations, exhibitor packs and sponsorship, check the o icial site/contact forms when registrations open.
For more information, look for @ casinotruckshow on Facebook or Instagram or go to the event's website at casinotruckshow. com.au/
AUGUST 2026
Golden Oldies Truck, Tractor, Bus and Quilt Show
August 1 & 2, 2026, Dubbo Showgrounds, NSW
There’s a whole heap going on in Dubbo in August, when the best looking golden oldies gather up to show o their stu .
This year's event will feature a truck show, a tractor pull, bus muster, quilt show, live entertainment, food vendors and various trade stands.
Lowood Truck Show
August 15, 2026
Lowood Showgrounds, QLD
Stay tuned... The Lowood Truck Show is making its return, and we're keen to make it the biggest show yet!
Wondai Truck Show
August 22, 2026
Wondai Queensland
Bring your shine or bring the dust – this community just loves seeing your rigs on display! From polished chrome to hardworking road warriors, every truck has a story to tell, and we can’t wait to see them all lined up again in 2026. Join us for another show stopping year packed with great trucks, great people, and an unforgettable atmosphere at the Wondai Showgrounds. Start polishing, start planning, and we’ll see you there!
Thallon Truck Pull
August 29, 2026
Thallon, QLD
The Thallon Truck Pull is good ol’ country family fun at its finest, with loads on o er for everyone. At the heart of this thrilling event is a spirited competition of strength and skill. Crews of six take on the challenge of pulling a 12-tonne prime mover over 25 meters in the fastest time. Each team gets three attempts—fastest time wins! For more information go to thallontruckpull.com.au
SEPTEMBER 2026
Sunnydale Vintage Day & Truck Show
September 5, 2026
Kojonup, WA
Don’t miss one of Western Australia’s best country events! There’s plenty to do, including the show & shine, vintage tractor and and machinery displays, stationary engines and demonstrations, live music and entertainment, food vans and stalls bush tucker, kids activities, a petting zoo and more!
Rusty Iron Rally
September 5 & 6, 2026
Macksville Showgrounds, NSW
Save the date over the Father's Day weekend, and bring your dad and grandfather along to visit vintage relics from their time.
Queensland Mack Muster
September 12, 2026
Mount Archer, QLD
Come along to the Mack Muster for a truck show, food trucks, bar, entertainment and onsite camping.
OCTOBER 2026
Heritage Truck Show
October 17 & 18
Beaudesert Showgrounds, QLD
This event is a family friendly gathering and is a chance for the trucking community to come together with the local community to celebrate the trucking industry. Come and join in the fun and see history being preserved.
NOVEMBER 2026
Camp Quality
Newcastle Convoy
November 8, 2026
Maitland Showgrounds, NSW
Camp Quality’s Convoy Newcastle is a fun way for anyone who drives a truck to help Camp Quality bring positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing cancer – and their families. Supporters will cheer our Convoy on as we rumble around a 38km loop starting and finishing at Maitland Showground. It all kicks o at 8am, Sunday 8th November.
Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show
November 14, 2026
Bathurst Showgrounds, Bathurst, NSW
This annual event is held in honour of truckie Dane Ballinger and is a chance for the trucking community to come together with their families and the local community to celebrate the trucking industry.
For more information go to www. bathursttruckshow.com.au or search Dane Ballinger Memorial Truck Show on Facebook.
Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show
November 28-29
Castlemaine, VIC
The 38th Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show will be held over two days at Campbell’s Creek Recreation Reserve. Saturday kicks o around NOON with a Best on Ground trophy up for grabs. Sunday morning starts with a truckie’s brekky, then a parade through town, followed by a day of showing o the trucks while listening to great live music, working your way through the food stalls, and exhibitor sites before the trophy winners are announced around 3.30pm.
See www.rotarycastlemaine.org.au
If you have a truck show you'd like to see featured here, please email tiane.gavillucci@ primecreative.com.au with the details.
Are you keen for blue skies and beautiful rigs? Image: Emma Sim.
There will be happy faces everywhere you turn. Image: Highway Photography
G ski
HEADS SOUTH
With South Australia’s biggest infrastructure boom in a generation underway, Gorski Engineering has planted its ag in Wing eld – because to truly serve a market, you need to be part of it.
The new Gorski Engineering hub in South Australia will o icially be open from July 1
There’s a saying in business that’s easy to overlook: you can’t truly sell into a market until you’re part of it. For Gorski Engineering, that philosophy has driven every stage of the company’s national expansion – and it’s the reason a new South Australian operation o cially opens at 425–431 Grand Junction Road, Wing eld on July 1.
For general manager Paul Baker, the Wing eld location isn’t just a sales o ce – it’s a commitment.
The new aluminium tipper and six-axle dog trailer for Monaghan (SA)
The move is well-timed. South Australia is in the midst of one of the largest infrastructure build-ups in its history. The North-South Corridor – a $15.4 billion project to create a continuous non-stop motorway through metropolitan Adelaide – is generating enormous demand for tipping equipment, earth-moving trailers, and the kind of heavyweight civil construction machinery that Gorski Engineering has built its reputation on for more than 50 years.
“The move into South Australia is not only about growth – it’s about being closer to our customers, understanding the needs of local industries, and continuing to provide innovative transport solutions backed by dependable support,” Baker says.
“South Australia is experiencing signi cant infrastructure and development growth, with major projects such as tunnel developments and large-scale civil works creating increased demand for high-performance tipping bodies and trailer solutions.”
That demand is something Gorski Engineering has already been experiencing from a distance. Word of the company’s lightweight aluminium tipper bodies and
Images: Gorski Engineering
dog trailers had been spreading through SA’s transport and civil construction sectors –but Baker and the team knew that a phone number and a website only gets you so far.
“To sell into a market, you need to be local,” Baker says. “You need people on the ground who understand the projects, the roads, the operators, and the challenges they face dayto-day. That’s what the Wing eld operation gives us.”
The decision to open in SA was also reinforced by the strength of Gorski Engineering’s dealer relationships in the state.
Outstanding dealer support has been instrumental in building the brand’s presence ahead of the o cial opening, and the new facility will give those dealers – and their customers – direct access to sales, parts, and a ersales service support from a local base.
It’s a combination that’s already winning over operators on the ground.
Monaghan’s (SA) owner Phil Monaghan spotted Gorski Engineering’s aluminium tippers and trailers on the road and liked what he saw. When it came time to t out a new Freightliner with an aluminium tipper and six-axle dog trailer for a demanding 52-kilometre circuit on a major road project, he made the call, and he's glad he did.
“Jeremy’s been sending me photos along the way – and they look great,” Monaghan says.
The "Jeremy" Monaghan refers to is Jeremy Gorski, who is heading up the South Australian operation as Gorski Engineering's South Australia Representative.
Jeremy brings a hands-on approach to customer relationships – something that has already made an impression on early clients.
"To say that I am beyond excited is an understatement.," Jeremy says.
"To bring the Gorski name to another state is something that makes me so proud., and something that is a massive achievement from the whole team.
"We aren't who we are without our team, and it's a credit to everyone's hard work and dedication.Being here and being a part of the businesses and the development of what will happen in South Australia, is eye-opening to see, and something I take a lot of pride in.
"To help other businesses grow. It's why we do what we do. It's why there's so much passion in this industry."
For Monaghan, Gorski's lightweight aluminium equipment translates to up to a tonne of additional payload – a signi cant advantage when you’re running 24/7 on a long-haul dirt circuit.
With the South Road upgrades expected to run for ve years and Monaghan’s eet currently sitting at 12 trucks (with more on the
way), the relationship looks set to grow right alongside the project.
It’s exactly the kind of story Gorski Engineering is aiming to replicate across South Australia.
“A major focus within these projects is the increasing demand for aluminium equipment solutions,” Baker says. “Lightweight yet durable, the aluminium tippers and trailers are becoming a preferred choice across tunnel and infrastructure applications due to their payload advantages, e ciency, and performance.”
The SA expansion follows Gorski Engineering’s successful establishment of a Queensland base in October 2024 and builds on a business that started in a small shed in Victoria more than ve decades ago.
Today, with facilities in Victoria, Queensland, and now South Australia, Gorski Engineering’s national footprint is starting to match its national reputation.
“As Gorski Engineering continues to expand nationally, our focus remains the same,” Baker says. “Delivering premium quality equipment, strong customer relationships, and industryleading service across every sector we support.”
Gorski Engineering’s South Australian operation is located at 425–431 Grand Junction Rd, Wingfield SA. Call 1300 996 161 or visit gorski.com.au
The move into Queensland has been a good one for the Gorski team
Jeremy Gorski and Paul Baker at the new South Australian o ice
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WA Mack Muster and Truck Show delivers record crowds, unforgettable displays and next-level family entertainment across Perth
Words & Images | Warren Aitken
WOver 11,000 people attended this years event, setting new records. This Show is a massive part of the WA transport scene.
ow! Consider me o cially blown away. Wow!
I guess that is a pretty abstract way to start a truck show summation but allow me to expand and expound on those seven words.
I am lucky enough to get to a lot of truck shows. A LOT. I am lucky enough to get to a lot of truck shows repeatedly.
The ones I o en return to are shows that I have really enjoyed and the readers of this publication love to experience with me.
On my return visits I am rarely disappointed. Shows that are well run and are well represented tend to stick to their winning ways and keep that high level of performance.
One of those shows that is always on my repeat cycle is the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show. The Bi-annual event has always been one of my favourites – good cause, good people, good location and great trucks.
Hence, I was happy to make the 4500km journey over from Brisbane once again. This year however, the hard-working volunteers that organise and run this show didn’t just maintain a good show, they li ed their game.
There was no ‘one thing’ that elevated the show itself, it was a cumulative e ect of multiple little things that really made the 2026 WA Mack Muster and Truck Show the best yet.
I guess my job now is to now try and
explain, because I nished the day with those seven words, I started this story with: Wow. Consider me o cially blown away. Wow
Before we get to the show let’s look at two things that haven’t changed. The why and the where.
The motivation behind the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show is fundraising for the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research – an institution dedicated to cutting edge cancer research and on a mission to make cancer a non-lethal disease. It is hard to nd anyone not e ected either directly or indirectly by cancer, so it is a cause we can all get behind.
In 2020, the rst year the WA Mack Muster raised funds for the Harry Perkins Institute, they raised over $100,000. In 2022 they more than doubled that by raising around $250,000, and then two years ago in 2024 they doubled that again, with a total just over $500,000. This year the committee, with the aid of some incredible sponsors, aim to surpass the record 2024 total and while the gures are still to roll in, it seems like a pretty achievable goal.
As for the where, Quarry Farms, Whitby WA. Every two years this incredible wedding and event venue transforms into a mecca for machinery and this year, more doors and parking were opened up for this event.
Situated just outside Perth, it’s an amazing
location - aside from the fact that as I age, the walk-up Mack Alley seems to steepen.
There is a huge pavilion at the top of Mack Alley and plenty of parking for trucks, stalls, the DJ stage and most importantly, the bar. The Hill leading to the pavilion is the general truck parking area and all up the place comfortably ts the 400-odd trucks on display, with the road train and second entertainment area located at the bottom of the hill. So, you can survive without walking up to the top, but you’ll miss some cool trucks.
That’s the why and where. Let’s look at the how. The WA Mack Muster and Truck Show is a single Sunday event that works over several days. Yes, I realise the hypocrisy of that statement, but we are in Western Australia, so it works. Staging up for the event normally begins on the Friday but this year started even earlier. That is because a new addition to this year’s show was the Road Train area near the car parking allocation. There were several remarkable road train displays set up to give the public a closer look at these gigantic combinations that operate on and o the WA roads, capped at the end by two gigantic MGM Bulk quad tipper set ups. You would almost knock over your 10,000-step limit just checking out those two setups. Tippers, belly
dumpers, even stock trucks, there was a road train for every inclination.
One of the major fundraising events tied to the Sunday Show is the Friday Night Gala dinner. It’s a night where everyone gets suited and booted, dines out on incredible food, share a few bevies and then opens their wallets for the charity auction at the end of the evening. Obviously struggling journos like me are there just for the free food and drink but it is nice to watch some of the biggest names in WA Transport getting out and supporting a good cause.
The prep work begins early Friday for the worker bees
The Stars of any show are the iconic Bicentennial Macks, and there were three of them that rocked up to this year’s event
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Another new attraction, and a very popular one was this road train ride down in the bottom paddock
Daniel Magenta put on a great sales pitch as he informed me that the 1986 Ultraliner - that he drove to this year's event - is up for sale if I was interested
Jake Wagner with the Ex Shell, 1952 Foden that Jim Piercy restored. You don’t see a lot of these around
The Historic Commercial Vehicle Club had another impressive display this year. Some real history sitting around for people to enjoy
Sunday morning and the picturesque Quarry Farm location is stacked
Blair Parker’s Maroon T909 took out the coveted Truck of the Show award
The always smiling Chris Dwyer getting in and finishing o the cleaning on his MacTrans Mack
One of the main men behind the WA Mack Muster is Matt Lawrence with Ryan Demasi
The ever-sharp Bandana Earthmoving team rocking up in style again this year.
What made this Gala Dinner even more impressive was an incredible Donation from Mack Trucks Australia of a 2025 780hp Big Bunk Mack Superliner.
Jason Templeman arrived with his two JKT Macks looking on point
The auction was broadcast live across Australia via Smith Broughton Auctioneers webcast and the big Superliner, with it’s 70’ bunk and MP11 top of the line motor went for a staggering $615,000. All of which goes directly to the Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research.
It’s also worth noting the enormous generosity from the West Australian operators at the other end of the scale, literally.
Bruce from Drake Collectibles was on hand to o er the latest in his incredible Bicentennial Mack Model collection, auctioning o the rst ‘Ned Kelly’ diecast model, as well as Ben Hall and John Stuart models. Ned Kelly went for an incredible $17,000, with the three of them in total raising $27,000.
Saturday at Quarry Farm is a chance for us dogged truck nuts just to sit back and watch everyone start to roll in.
As the sun passed over, Mack Alley began to ll up and up, and at the top, Kenworth Corner started to stretch around to Kenworth Avenue. A vast array of food vans and entertainment began to park up, and my keen eye was already detecting a massive step up in the size of the day coming.
Sunday morning, I was out of bed before the local Midland drunks had even cleared the
pubs steps, and I rocked up to Quarry Farms nice and early. In part to ensure I got a parking spot close to save me lugging my gear up and down through the show and also in part to beat out the remaining trucks that would make up the 400 entrants at this year’s event. I got the park but didn’t beat the trucks. Mack Alley was bulging and Kenworth Avenue was stacked with Stacks.
By the time the gates opened at 10am for the public the last remaining spots on the Quarry farm hill were packed and the car park was chocka. I heard tales told of kilometres of tra c in both directions waiting to get into the carpark, the local support was incredible.
Let’s discuss the show now, what they have always done well at this show, and what they have stepped up again with this year is the interactivity of the event. Not sure if that’s a real word, or if my editor will cull it for a legit variant but it sums up the show. It is very interactive. Not just from the number of truckies hanging around showing people their rides and explaining their roles. But also, the activities for the families and kids.
Up in the pavilion you have one room set up with an elaborate remote control truck display. Bridges, building and even construction sights. For the rst time this year there was also a static model display in one of the other rooms and that was a huge winner for me. The skill of those model builders was incredible.
A massive kids favourite is the huge purpose-built sandpit, and it also seems to get bigger each year
These little photo cutouts were all over the grounds and kids were encouraged to get a photo and collect all the stamps for chances to win cool prizes. It’s a great way to get the little ones involved
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The Charles Hull Contracting crew had a fleet of outstanding Macks lined up in
Up the top end of the show, they still have the kids corner where there was every imaginable distraction on hand for the future truckies of the world. There were also plenty of food options available up that end as well. I can vouch for the Dumplings and the handmade Pizza, although it was quite the wait.
The walk down the hill is always easier than the trudge back up. But in order to appreciate all of the trucks you do spend a fair bit of the day walking up and down the aisles.
There is tremendous support from both the large WA companies and many of the small independent operators as well. There is a great mix of modern Macks and Kenworth, Volvos, Stars, Scanias and Mercedes. In fact, when you couple in the impressive historic truck section of this event it is hard to pick a manufacturer that wasn’t represented.
Once you got through the truck watching, you end up back down the bottom of the hill where the committee once again have fronted up with endless entertainment and consumables. They even had a huge screen playing the AFL live so the parents could watch that while they sent the kids o to one of the many rides and games available.
There were sponsor displays and stalls spread appropriately throughout the entire area, and you were never short of something to see or someone to talk to.
Another advantage of having the hill to walk up is when you are up there you get an appreciative view of not just the show, but the support the show has from the West Australian public. The car parks were packed and there
were lines of tra c waiting to get in. There were throngs and throngs of spectators throughout the grounds, from truck spotters and historians to countless families with sugared-up o spring in awe of the trucks and treats.
The photos will tell you more than I can at the moment. I am sitting at my gate waiting on the big tin taxi home still smiling a er my latest WA Experience.
If you check out their website, you will see the WA Mack Muster and Truck Show with the self-proclaimed ‘Western Australia’s Premier Truck Show’ moniker.
It is a deserved title, and they really have stepped it up another notch. Plenty of extremely high-quality trucks. Awesome participation and representations from the Historic Truck Club, the Remote-Control model club, the static model club. A non-stop DJ that kept everyone on their toes, enough interactive family activities that the kids never had a chance to get bored.
They were smart with the added shade and shelter from the blistering Perth sun. There was static truck displays and recruitment stands from a mix of di erent companies. Food choices were many and varied and of course the bar was fully stocked with all the right libations.
By the end of the day, I’d racked up nearly 30,000 steps and all of them with a huge smile. Full credit to all of those that put this event together. It is a fantastic cause and a fantastic show. As I anticipate how they will up the ante again in 2028, I shall nish with the same sentiment I started with.
Mack Ally this year
A new addition to this years event was a static model truck display and there was some incredible builds on show
Murray and Kerry Belfield with the Outlaw Mack they pull fertiliser tankers with
DEALS Data
Isuzu continues to dominate the medium and light duty truck segments. Image: IAL
So sales for April
Australia’s new truck and commercial van market has continued to weather the storm of 2026 delivering a total combined sales result for April 2026 of 12,003 vehicles sold – a drop of about 13 per cent on last year’s sales of 13,773 at the same time.
Across the heavy, medium and light duty categories reported in the Truck Industry Council’s T-Mark Data report, April 2026 was the closest to April 2025 in Light Duty with 872 trucks sold this year, compared to 888 in 2025.
Heavy Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Medium Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Light Vehicles – Monthly Sales
Heavy duty truck sales of 1,005 for 2026 fell 105 trucks short of April 2025’s result, while in the medium duty category the 360 trucks sold in April 2026 was almost half of the 660 sold in April 2025.
The top five brands across all categories in terms of sales volumes at the end of April 2026 were Isuzu, Hino, Fuso, Kenworth and Volvo.
Heavy duty
As at the end of April 2026, heavy duty sales volumes were down 10.69 per cent year to date, when compared to the same time frame in 2025.
All up, 4,010 heavy duty trucks had found new homes by April 30, 2026, versus 4,490 in 2025.
As at the end of April this year the leaderboard looks like: Kenworth (827), Volvo (676), Isuzu (613), Scania (350), DAF (228), Fuso (213), Mercedes-Benz (208), Hino (205), Mack 200), UD Trucks (193), Iveco (99), Freightliner (60), MAN (55), Western Star (49), and Dennis Eagle (34).
Medium duty
Sales results in this category for the year to date at the end of April 2026 put sales 36.62 per cent behind April 2025’s results for the same period.
This year 1,435 medium duty trucks sold in the first four
months of the year, compared to 2,264 in 2025.
In terms of where this year’s sales have been delivered, the list looks like this: Isuzu (778), Fuso (253), Hino (233), Iveco (54), Hyundai (30), Mercedes-Benz (26), Volvo (25), MAN (13), DAF (10), UD Trucks (6), Foton (5), Foton Mobility (1) and Kenworth (1).
Light duty
Total sales of light duty trucks for the first four months of 2026 were 3,518, putting them 7.42 per cent below the total sales of 3,800 achieved for the same period in 2025.
Isuzu continues to dominate this segment with 52.2% market share, year to date, with Fuso coming in second at 15.2 per cent share.
The year to date sales leaderboard for light duty trucks is as follows: Isuzu (1,984), Fuso (579), Hino (293), Iveco (270), Fiat (259), Mercedes-Benz (83), Hyundai (51), LDV (46), Ford (21), Foton Mobility (2), Volkswagen (2).
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AntOn by Jungheinrich is a new material handling equipment brand with an initial electric o ering for businesses seeking reliable and cost-e ective solutions
Material handling equipment provider Jungheinrich has announced the Asia-Paci c launch of its new value-focused brand – AntOn by Jungheinrich – following its successful European debut.
Supported by German safety standards and testing expertise, AntOn o ers customers reliable and straightforward cost-e ective solutions, with the initial AntOn portfolio including the CBH 2.0, CBM 2.5, 3 and 3.5-tonne load capacity electric forkli s.
O ering travel speeds of up to 17km/h, these models feature advanced lithium-ion batteries for rapid charging and extended operation, long service life, and minimal maintenance for reliable and e cient material handling.
The portfolio also includes the electric compact PTL 1.5-tonne load capacity pallet truck, featuring an additional battery slot for continuous performance, with the portfolio set to expand towards a full product range in the future.
Jungheinrich says the launch of the AntOn brand responds to strong growth in Asia-Paci c’s material handling value segment – driven by accelerating industrialisation,
logistics expansion, and construction activity across India and Southeast Asia, alongside the ongoing diversi cation of regional supply chains such as Australia.
In Australia, growth in logistics, warehousing, and infrastructure is driving demand for cost-e ective, reliable material handling equipment, Jungheinrich adds.
Rising operating costs and ESG expectations are accelerating the shi from internal combustion forkli s to electric solutions, Jungheinrich says, with lithium-ion technology increasingly adopted for its lower cost of ownership, zero maintenance, fast
charging, and reliable performance.
“With more than 70 years of material handling expertise, Jungheinrich delivers end-to-end solutions supported by an established parts and service network across Asia-Paci c,” Jungheinrich APAC vice president Manojit Acharya.
“AntOn by Jungheinrich extends our o ering to customers for whom reliability, simplicity, and value matter most, delivering cost-e ective solutions that get the job done.”
For more information on the AntOn by Jungheinrich range, visit: jungheinrich.com.au
The AntOn by Jungheinrich CBM 3.5-tonne load capacity electric forklift
The PTL 1.5-tonne load capacity electric pallet truck. Images: AntOn by Jungheinrich
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