Before gaining a job as a truck driver, Cairns-based Allan Gong worked as a tree lopper.
A cousin of famous Torres Strait Islander and Australian basketball player Patty Mills, Gong now loves life on the road delivering dairy products around the scenic Atherton Tablelands.
Big Rigs saw the 40-year-old truckie when he pulled up in the Hino refrigerated light truck he drives for Pauls.
“I deliver milk, other dairy products and confectionary around the Tablelands to places as far away as Ravenshoe, Dimbulah and Port Douglas to the north of Cairns,” he said.
We saw Gong when he was making a delivery to the Puma Roadhouse at Emerald Creek near Mareeba recently.
Gong said he is proud of his Torres Strait descent on one side of his family tree.
“I have many relatives on Thursday Island including from the Fujii, Ward and Mills families. I haven’t been up there for a while but hope to do so soon,” he said.
Before starting this job two years ago, Gong was a tree lopper.
“I gave it away because I was sick of green ants up trees and this is a great job where I meet lots of people and travel to nice places,” he said.
Outside work, Gong loves fishing and crabbing especially in the Barron River. He also barracks for the Dragons in the NRL.