Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian road transport industry has lost a true icon in Barry 'Sleepy' Grimson. I want to read some words from a very dear friend of mine, Mike Williams. Mike is one of the co-owners and co-directors of on the road media—On The Road Radio and On The Road Podcast—Truckin' Life and steering the future trailer. These are Mike's words:

Vale Barry "Sleepy" Grimson

I had set out to write some sort of obituary, a telling about a man and the role he played on the vast stage of life. Instead I find myself unable to recall the days and dates. I can only remember how much the news affected me.

There are only a handful of people over the years I could truely call a mate. Only a handful who could come to my door in the middle of the night asking for a hand, where I would without question grab a shovel and head to the car.

The first time I met Barry I'd just started at UTH, he had been there for many years. He was a tough looking fellow with outrageous mutton chops, hair combed back and a ready smile. He helped me a lot when I first started. I knew bugger all about tankers and Barry was always only a phone call away.

We seemed to hit it off right from the start. I spent hours talking with him in person and on the phone. I interviewed him several times for various bits I was writing and podcasts I was doing. Barry never declined. He was always good for a yarn. We would meet on the road from time to time and make a brew together on the side of the road. Barry was always worth a good chin wag. Barry taught me a lot about the trucking history I thought I knew and opened doors for me to talk to others. He was generous and giving of his time. We didn't always agree though, but that was ok we just agreed to disagree and moved on. He could do that.

Bob McMillan and I thought that the men of The 1979 Razorback Blockade should be remembered at the Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs so we lobbied them and finally a new award was created called the "History Makers Award" I was very proud to see that award conferred upon the men. Barry had always downplayed the importance of his role at Razorback but it changed the direction of trucking in Australia. Barry was no stranger to a bit of activism though, he'd played his part in several stoppages and protests. He was part of getting CB radios made legal in Australia and as a strong supporter of the TWU he stood for the rights of workers without fear.

Barry was a man who talked the talk and walked the walk. The word legend gets thrown around but in my mind he certainly was one.

He loved trucking, he loved his family and friends, he was staunch in his convictions and had the courage to stand strong and defend them. I've got no doubt he was a larrikin. A bloke cut from cloth that's no longer on the shelves.

My condolences to Lesley and all his family.

I'm deeply honoured to have known him and shared a small slice of his life. I will miss him.

With the time remaining, I'd certainly like to pay my respects to Barry and to Lesley.

I had the privilege of travelling up to Shellharbour to catch up with Barry. As we know, Barry was one of the ones that Mike and I had raised money for to go to Alice Springs and take the families of the men that were left. Unfortunately we paid the airfare and we paid the accommodation, but Barry couldn't make it because of the illness that he'd just been diagnosed with. When I caught up with Barry and Lesley at their home, they were so generous with their time. They wanted to share with me a T-shirt that the family had got made. The whole family were going to come—his kids and his grandkids. They were black T-shirts for Barry, Lesley and the whole family. On the front there was a photo of Barry with those insane mutton chops standing proudly in front of his Kenworth Prime Mover. On the back there was a cartoon of a Kenworth Prime Mover with the words 'My pop is on the National Road Transport Museum hall of fame.' Unfortunately, they didn't get to wear those shirts in Alice Springs, but I was so glad that I was in Alice Springs to honour that great man and the other men.

Barry, vale, mate. We really have lost a true icon, a legend and a champion of truck drivers in this nation. Your memory will never be forgotten. Thank you, Barry.