Early days around the family business

Many of the memories Ken Russell holds of his early days around the family business at Russell Transport were often spent out with the drivers.

Being long-time employees, they were always around the family. It was nearly impossible to not build familiarity.

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It was those early experiences that led him to stay around the family business into his adult life.

“One of the drivers worked for grandad and dad, and I always went out with him in the truck when I was eight or nine,” Ken recalls.

“There was another gentleman who still works with us, Phil Thompson, who’s just turned 80. Still has the envy of the work ethic. When I was 14 through to 19 that’s who I would be sent with.

“I remember one time where we went out to the Amberley Air Force base, and they were unloading aviation fuel. I went into the hangar and over to the platform where they practiced parachute jumps from. I dare say no child would be allowed onto that base now!

“When your family has a lot of equipment, you play around on it. We would jump from trailer to trailer in the yard.

“Dad taught us to be jacks-of-all-trades. We were electricians, plumbers, roofers, anything that needed to be done.”

Julie hasn’t spent quite as much time with Russell Transport as Ken, but has well and truly established herself as a trailblazer of the transport sector.

She was named National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year in 2015 and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2023 for her services to the road transport industry.

She spent time working away from the Russell clan for a number of years, before being brought back into the fold as a Director in 2007.

The time away gave her the perspective and knowledge to continue adding to the legacy of Russell Transport’s 100 years.

Even though she enjoyed her time elsewhere, she says there’s nothing quite like family.

“To get to three generations, it’s special thanks to the people around us, some of which have spent their whole careers with us,” Julie says.

“That almost extends the family network.

“You’ve got solid support structures around you, that have your back like family does.

“Each generation has had really strong support from the people in the business.”

“Julie and I had a dedication to the business from looking at the dedication and drive of my father and grandmother,” Ken adds.

Of the current day Russells, Phil has been the longest-serving, taking over from father Roy in 1970 and working 45 years in the director role.

He became well-known in the Brisbane community, and oversaw the growth of Russell Transport has become today.

Phil vividly recalls the days of his father delivering four gallon tins out of the back of a single storage shed at the oil refineries with his Dodge.

“He slowly built it up in the five years after he started to three trucks,” he says.

“Now that I look back over dad’s 45 years running the business, and he kept working until his 80th birthday, I’ve got a lot of respect for what he did it and how he did it and the effort he put in.

“As I look forward, I can see that I’m fortunate to have another generation to keep it going. I enjoyed my time. It was a reflection of what was around between 1970 and 2015. Don’t know if I’ll get to my father’s 80th year but I’m getting close!”