A LIFETIME on the road has seen Bunbury man Napoline Vittorio recognised among about 100 new inductees in the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame.
For the fourteenth year, Shell Rimula has partnered with the National Road Transport Hall of Fame Reunion, acknowledging Australians for their achievements and lifetime commitment to the transport community.
New inductees were recognised for their lifetime of service to the transport industry in Alice Springs on Saturday, August 30.
Born in Italy in 1928, Mr Vittorio arrived in Fremantle in 1936 at eight years of age.
From a young age, he started driving trucks for his father on a greengrocery round as his family had a market in Mullalyup.
At 16 years of age, Mr Vittorio was granted a special licence that would allow him to drive a Chevrolet table top, an ex-army ford V8 and a Dodge truck – all loaded with fruit and vegetables for householders in the area.
His time in the industry spans from transporting fruit and grocery to driving tankers distributing fuel to service stations and mines.
Now in his retirement, Mr Vittorio still enjoys driving – these days in his Mercedes motor home with a Mack Bulldog on the front.
“It’s a great honour to have been inducted into the Wall of Fame this year – I couldn’t be prouder,” Mr Vittorio said.
The Shell Rimula Wall of Fame is part of a four day event in Alice Springs which includes the induction ceremony and the Shell Rimula Inductee Gala Dinner.