A former transport operator and truck driver with millions of kilometres under his belt will be farewelled this week, with a fitting tribute.
Grant Fischer passed away on May 16, aged 59.
Growing up on a farm in Henty, New South Wales, Grant developed a love for trucks from a young age. Like many country kids, he began honing his skills on the family’s property from his teens.
“Grant was born into it. His dad had trucks on the farm, so that’s where he learnt – it all started from there,” said daughter-in-law Alex Fischer. “There were a lot of transport companies in Henty when Grant was growing up.”
Grant went on to work for several transport companies including Wettens, Rodney’s Transport and Taylor’s through the 1980s and into the 1990s, before he took the plunge and bought his own truck.
With that he started Fischers Haulage in 1992.
Throughout his long career on the road, Grant travelled right across the country, hauling everything from livestock to tippers and general freight.
Then in 2013, Grant made the decision to sell his last truck – a 2007 Kenworth T904. He went on to work for Booth Transport and Dawson’s Haulage, before he started working for his son Aaron Fischer in 2018.
Grant passed on a love of trucks to Aaron.
“When Grant had his own trucks, Aaron was doing his diesel apprenticeship,” explained Alex.
“Grant sold up all together in 2013 and went back to driving. Then in 2018, when we decided we wanted to buy our own truck, we were trying to come up with a name – and we just kept coming back to Fischers Haulage. Aaron has always been very proud of his dad, so he wanted to carry on that name,” she said.
“So they sort of swapped roles. Grant always loved to add his 2 cents worth and that was something that Aaron really valued, because his dad had such a good name, a good reputation and he learnt so much from him. They were both two peas in a pod.”
Grant was forced to make the difficult decision to retire from the industry he’d been part of all his life, about 12 months ago, due to his health. “It was really hard for him to get off the road,” said Alex. “But up until his last four or five months, he would always come by the yard to see what was going on.”
Throughout his life, Grant’s family meant the world to him – including his five kids Aaron, Hayley, Lauren, Brooke and Cooper. And his six grandkids Logan, Ellie, Thomas, Katie, Lakeyn and Dulcie.
“He was a dearly loved father, father-in-law and grandfather. All his grandkids knew him as Truck Pa,” revealed Alex.
“Unfortunately he never got to meet Dulcie. She’s only six weeks old. They were coming down to see him on the Saturday but he passed away the day before.
“Grant loved his kids and his grandkids, and his grandkids just adored him.”
A funeral service will be held for Grant on Saturday May 31, at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henty, New South Wales.
Grant will take to the road for one last drive, as trucks and Harleys take part in a convoy through the town, before he is laid to rest.
“He loved his trucks and loved his Harleys. We’ll do a final lap around Henty, which is what he wanted. The convoy will be led by his Harley, followed by the last truck he drove when he did a two-up trip with Aaron. His coffin will be carried on the back.
“The convoy will include our trucks, along with his closest friends and families, and people he’s worked for over the years.”