Thursday 15th October 2015 4:20pm

NOLAN’S Interstate Transport felt the loss of hardworking employee Herbert (Bert) Black after 33 years of loyal hard work. Bert retired earlier this year after unfortunately failing his tri-monthly medical test from his GP.

“I’d much rather to still be driving trucks,” Bert said.

“It felt terrible to leave and I didn’t really want to retire. It’s a pain really.” “But this spare time gives me more of a chance to spend time with my family.” “And I used to really love golfing so I’ll get back into it as soon as I can, when my health improves.”

Bert said it was a good experience working for Nolan’s and felt like he was part of the family.

“It’s been quite enjoyable working for them, yeah. They looked after me and I personally think they are a good mob to work for.”

Bert spoke fondly of the late owner of Nolan’s Transport, Terry Nolan. “Terry was like a mate to me. He was godfather to my daughter Louise,” he said. “Terry and I had a few blues over little things, we’ve had our ups and downs but we were bloody good mates.” “I miss him terribly.”

Bert said the truck driving industry had changed a lot from when was a young man.

“We used to hand-sack trailers of potatoes. I loved doing spuds because it kept you real fit,” he said. “You would have to load 70, 50kg bags onto the back of the trailer; it was real work you know.

“The conditions of some roads are better to drive on but they aren’t doing enough to the roads that they could be.” “They’ve got docks now, at the truck depot, where you just back the truck into whereas back in the day, you would push them in and pull them out with a pallet jack. “You still have to do that sometimes, but I haven’t in over 18 months because Nolan’s have really been looking after me.” Bert drove his truck to Melbourne three times a fortnight for Nolan’s, right up until he was 77 years old.

“Because my walking was getting worse, they would unload and load it up for me, ready to go to

Melbourne. “I knew the roads very well and didn’t need a map. “I loved being on the road and I’ve never dropped a load.”

Born on April 24, 1938, in Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Bert went to school in Cairns and lived at Machans Beach with his family. There, he met his wife Sheila when he was only 19. “Sheila and I got married on August 16, 1958 in Cairns. “I’d like to thank my wife for all she’s done for me, raising the kids and everything else I couldn’t do because I was on the road. People don’t think to appreciate and thank the other-half who is at home looking after everything,” he said.

Bert left school in Cairns at just 13 when his mother needed a big operation and the family had to find the money for it. “Back then you had to pay for all operations. Dad was in the forestry industry and you can imagine what the wages were like then, so they asked me to leave school and get a job and help out. So I did,” he said. “Things like that don’t really happen these days because that kind of responsibility isn’t put upon young children, but you had to do what you had to do. “I think the rules to stay in school are stricter now.”

Among being a truck driver, Bert has tried his hand at being a saw doctor in a saw mill and as a mattress maker. “Of all the things I’ve done in my life, seeing my five kids being born is definitely one of the most memorable, other than getting married. I’m also so grateful for all of the great-grandkids they have given us.”

Gatton Star – Wednesday 14 October 2015

Herbert Black

Friday 8th August 2014 1:43pm

In regard to the donations in Memory of Terry Nolan,  the total amount donated was $11,112.27  from a total of 36 donors, comprising 18 individual donors and 18 companies to the Icon Cancer Foundation.

The generosity people have shown has been  overwhelming and a testament to the esteem in which Terry was held, and also to the generosity of the local community.

Some very large donations were made and these have not gone unnoticed, from the entire Nolan’s Family – thank you for your support to “Find A Cure” !  Words can not express our generosity
Thank you

Monday 21st April 2014 9:49pm

On the 16th April, the Lockyer Valley community of Gatton and visitors from around Australia, have come together in strength to say their final farewell to our father Terry Nolan, Transport Industry stalwart and local trucking industry legend.

We the family, are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our father who passed away with family present on Wednesday morning 9th April. Whilst Terry was battling with cancer for more than 7 years, we feel very blessed that we have had these extra years to spend this time with him, he spent very little time in hospital and had a refusal to accept that the illness would take over one day. He even had the opportunity to arrange his final fishing adventure; sadly he never got the opportunity to dip his line, but we know if he was still here with us he would say “Those Barramundi live to swim another day” !

Thursday 10th April 2014 1:26pm

On behalf of my mother Daph and the rest of our family, it is with much sadness that on Wednesday morning at 8.50 am, with the family present, we said our final farewell to Terry, who finally lost his long ongoing battle with cancer.

Whilst we as a family are slowing coming to grips with the enormity of the situation, we take time to thank the many people, too many to mention here that have called, emailed sent text messages and of course sent flowers, we sincerely appreciate this.

To all of the staff who work for Nolan’s Transport, every time you put your uniform, drive our trucks or talk to our customers remember our father and the legacy that he has created, we thank you for your continued support.