Former star rugby league forward Chris Camenzuli drives an Isuzu for EPH and is based at Mareeba on the Atherton Tablelands, delivering Asian foods around north Queensland.
“Once a fortnight I travel down to Townsville, Bowen and Mackay. I have just delivered goods to the Casino in Townsville. The other week deliveries are made to Cairns, Port Douglas and Mossman and places in between. The most popular things are coconut cream and noodles,” he said.
The 42-year-old truckie had started the job just four weeks before I yarned to him on February 12.
“Before this I drove a Hino for a fruit farm. It was also a good job. I moved to Mareeba 10 years ago,” Camenzuli said.
Born at Ingham, he went to Palm Island 20 years ago and drove trucks while working on a road gang.
While there, Camenzuli earned a reputation as a quality football forward and was a key member of the Butler Bay Bulls side which beat the Jets in a Palm Island club final.
“I also played at Allblacks carnivals and my last one was against teams from Hope Vale and Woorabinda,” he said.
Estimating he would travel about 2000km a fortnight, Camenzuli said the Palmerston Highway from the Atherton Tablelands connecting with the Bruce Highway near Innisfail needed more work.
His favourite roadhouse is the Tully Mobil which he said had good access.