Gunnedah man celebrates half a century at Namoi Valley Brickworks

Not to be deterred from making his delivery, Col put a hankie over his eye and continued on to the hospital, unloaded and then drove all the way home.

“I rang Nancy and said, ‘I’ve got a problem here’,” Col said.

After a quick trip to Tim Duffy Optometrist, Col took the truck back to Namoi Valley Brickworks and headed home to the Waterways Wildlife Park so his wife Nancy could drive him to the hospital. But first Nancy wanted him to cut down eucalyptus leaves for the koalas, so he climbed up on the ladder before heading to Tamworth hospital. 

This is just of the many stories that Col told the NVI’s Vanessa Höhnke when she sat down to chat to him on Monday about his 50 years at the brickworks.

Col started at the brickworks on Mullaley Road on January 10, 1965 at the age of 16 after working on a Goolhi property for four years.

NVB director Michael Broekman said Col’s job interview with former co-owner Case van Dorst consisted of “Can you work?”.

Col’s 19-year-old brother Barry was already working at the brickworks and Col soon joined him, dragging bricks out of the kiln, loading trucks and firing kilns.

“I used to burn kilns from midnight to 8am,” Col said.

In 1966, he married Nancy Bedford after meeting her at her aunty’s 18^th birthday party, and he left the brickworks, returning again in 1969. He started delivering bricks in 1972, sharing the work with Ted Smith until Ted finished up in the mid-1980s and Col became the sole driver. He has since clocked up more than five million kilometres on the road.

“I haven’t walked around the shed since,” Col said.

The 71-year-old has been all over the traps, delivering to Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, the Central Coast, Bega and Wagga Wagga to name a few.

“Once Col took over the truck, we flogged him,” Michael said.

“If we had a load, we sent Col.”

Col loves life on the road, armed with his “Slim Dusty cassettes” and the UHF – “I talk to a lot of mates”.

“He loves to listen to Jules [Bailey] in the morning and John Laws,” Michael said.

Col confirmed this, saying, “I won’t let anyone talk to me while that’s on”.

“I like delivering bricks. I like customers,” Col said. 

“I love to yarn but I always get the job done.”

He said he likes “a real challenge” and Michael said Col is never deterred by a difficult delivery.

“If we know it’s a tricky site, we say, ‘We don’t think you’ll get there’,” Michael said.

“It’s like a red rag to a bull. He says he’ll get there.”

There have been a few sticky situations over the years including a bingle with a Porsche in Sydney and a runaway forklift. 

“It’s the only time Col’s called me in 50 years and told me ‘I don’t think I’m getting this forklift out, you better come out and get me’,” Michael said.

The stoic Gunnedah man has no plans to hop down from his truck any time soon.

“I’ve kept this job for such a long time because I had help from Nancy. It was a team effort,” Col said. 

“Put it this way – I get to go on a holiday every day and I get paid for it.

“I’ve got no intention of retiring. I told Michael to get another driver before I turn 80.

“This is a retirement truck, this one. I’m only a steering wheel attendant now.”

Michael said “it’s been an absolute pleasure” to work with Col.

“Col’s never taken a day off sick unless he’s on his death bed, and even then, he returns to work well and truly before the doctor wants him to,” Michael said.

“Col is a professional driver who has always prided himself on bringing the truck home straight. 

“He’s a model employee and something’s that’s extremely rare today for someone to have that extra long commitment.

“We’re very grateful that Col has elected to have Namoi Valley Brickworks as his career.”