In the backstreets of the Maddington industrial area, Larry Gill has been operating the Australian distribution of Tatra Trucks for the last 25 years.
His infectious enthusiasm has meant thousands of the bullet-proof off-road specialist trucks from the Czech Republic are working in Australian mining communities, making mincemeat of specialist tasks that a mass-production truck chassis can’t handle.
Highly respected by the team at the factory, Larry and his team at Offroad Trucks Australia took Tatra from a quirky east European oddity to an established specialist brand with impeccable performance credentials.
He made point of saying, “we have parts for everything we’ve sold, on the ground, paid for.”
On March 12, Larry said a final goodbye to his wife Gerry and their family, whom he adored, and the business that he loved.
His daughter Amber, general manager of Offroad Trucks Australia for the last three years, said the family were simply “numb.”
Trucking in Australia has lost a bright light.