Peter Edmunds accepts his father’s Wall of Fame plaque.
Simon Edmunds was a true Riverina character whose life was defined by hard work, mateship and a lifelong passion for trucks.
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He grew up on the family property, ‘Mooroolbark’ near Moulamein, and attended schools in both Moulamein and Deniliquin.
While school was not his favourite place, by the age of 15 ( in 1974) he had returned home to help his father, Peter, on the family farm.
When the family eventually sold the property, Simon took his first steps into the transport industry, approaching local carrier Ian Chessells for a driving job.
For the next two years he transported grain and fertiliser between Deniliquin, Melbourne and Geelong, gaining valuable experience behind the wheel.
It kickstarted a career that lead to Simon being inducted to the Deniliquin & District transport Industry Wall of Fame this year.
When he was unable to drive for a brief period, Simon worked for the Purtill family at the North Deniliquin Truck Stop, cooking meals and serving fuel, a role he thoroughly enjoyed.
But it was not long before Simon was drawn back to the transport industry. He joined Ashley Ross in Finley, travelling interstate and hauling bulk freight across Australia.
After a couple of years on the road, a chance encounter with Ted Fitzmaurice changed the course of his career.
Following Ted's advice, Simon met transport operator Sherby Grimison and, after sharing a few beers and a conversation, accepted a position with the Grimison operation.
In Simon's own words, "the rest is history".
For the next 33 years, Simon either worked directly for Grimisons or subcontracted to the company with his own truck.
He became a familiar and respected figure in the livestock transport industry, travelling throughout Australia and earning the admiration of colleagues and customers alike.
Simon had a particular love for Western Star trucks.
Even as much of the Grimison fleet transitioned to Kenworths, he remained loyal to his beloved Western Star.
He relished every aspect of trucking: the freedom of the open road, the power and presentation of a quality truck, the solitude of long-distance driving and, most importantly, the camaraderie shared among transport workers.
Most people knew Simon by his nickname, ‘Peko’.
The story behind the name dates back to a television bear character that reminded children it was bedtime each evening.
While travelling with friends one night, Simon suggested stopping earlier than usual to camp.
One of his mates joked that he was just like ‘Peko the Bear’ wanting to pull up before dark, and the nickname stuck for life.
Sadly, Simon was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012.
Despite the challenges of his illness, he continued working whenever he could and remained closely connected to the industry he loved.
After a long and courageous battle, Simon passed away in June 2021.
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