The Border Watch, Allan Scott Tribute, Page 1

Allan Scott

e t u b i r T 1923-2008

Allan Scott, pioneer, truckie, self-made man BY GRAHAM GREENWOOD LLAN Scott AO, was one of a kind. A self-made man, he was a legend in the trucking industry, a fearless leader and decision-maker who rarely took a backward step. Allan Scott, who died this week aged 85, was a typical knockabout Aussie bloke, who was as much at home watching the footy, having a beer with his friends, telling or listening to a good joke, as he was making decisions for his multi-million dollar business interests. Some say he was one of a kind in the trucking world because of his amazing hands-on approach to business but despite his amazing success and wealth he rated himself simply as a “truckie” and an “ordinary bloke”. On the way to the top, his determined, relentless and tough negotiating style made some enemies. But he also won the respect of many business associates and staff, for his loyalty, honesty and generosity. He was a risk-taker, but an achiever and no matter what

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the crisis, no matter what the challenge, Allan Scott was never backward when it came to making the tough decisions. He was a loyal man – loyal to his family, wife Grace, his late wife Margaret, daughters Robyn, Zena, Julie and son Ray, friends and staff, and also to Mount Gambier. It was his home, it was where he started his transport business, where he built his empire, where he brought up his family and lived for more than half a century He ran two transport companies – Scott Group of Companies and K&S Corporation – from headquarters in Mount Gambier. Allan Scott built a trucking and business dynasty and became one of South Australia’s richest men and among the top 100 in Australia. For many years the Scott Group of Companies was South Australia’s largest privately owned company, employing more than 3000 people. Allan Scott and his business entities were the major shareholder in the publicly listed K&S Corporation Limited, with more than a 65pc shareholding and held a major shareholding

❐ Allan Scott with long-time friend Bob Long during their joint presidency of East Gambier Football Club in 1984. The Bulldogs were led by Allan Scott as President in 1967-68-69 and again in 1971-72. in Heggie’s Bulkhaul Ltd (now known as Scott Corporation). Other wide-ranging business interests included transport, motor dealership, media, property holdings in several states, bloodstock (horse racing),

hotels and restaurants, farm and land development and various shareholding interests, conservatively putting Allan Scott’s worth between $600 and $800 million, depending on the market value of his businesses, at any given time.

He resisted attempts to move his headquarters to capital cities, often saying, “with today’s telecommunication networks, it is just as easy to run the businesses from Mount Gambier. Why would I move?”

It started in the army ALLAN Scott’s association with trucks and the Australian trucking industry began during his service with the Australian Army in New Guinea. He put up his age from 17 to 18 so he could join the army and later saw active service against the Japanese in New Guinea. On one occasion his regiment was moving trucks, heavy equipment and artillery, through the rough terrain of New Guinea when they came upon a narrow railway bridge, high across a river. After the sergeant called for volunteers to drive the equipment across the bridge – only one stepped forward – Allan Scott.

to complete the task and on each crossing the tyres of the transports, carrying the heavy equipment, were only inches from the edge of a bridge, 30 metres above the river. His driving efforts won praise from his superiors and it began an association with trucks that continued for more than 60 years.

❐ Portrait of Allan Scott just after he joined the army in 1940.

With amazing skill, one by one he carefully drove the trucks across the narrow bridge of about 50 metres. It took more than half a day

Following the end of the Second World War Allan Scott returned home to Milang in South Australia and started a small transport business. In those early days Allan Scott hauled the famous Hills hoist clothes lines from Adelaide to Sydney, returning with another Australian icon, the Women’s Weekly magazines. It also began a long association he was to have in the fuel business when he took over the agency for Golden Fleece.

❐ A Commer and two International trucks at the Wehl Street depot in the early 1950’s.

When Allan Scott sold his Milang business, it opened up an opportunity to start his longterm association in the trucking business in Mount Gambier.

❐ ABOVE: Scott Group of Companies chief executive officer Bruce Grubb (left) and chairman Allan Scott inspect a fleet of prime movers at Scott Corporation’s newly relocated Wollongong branch. Scott Corporation was formerly known as Heggies Bulkhaul Ltd. ❐ LEFT: Ray Scott sits on the front of one of the Scott fleet in the North Terrace depot in the early 1960s. The Border Watch, Friday, October 31, 2008 - 25