Ruffy was a man who left his mark on many.Ronald ‘Ruffy’ Victor Doyle
RON Doyle made an impact from the moment he came into the world.
He was born in the back of an old Ford coming down the Mitcham Hill towards Ringwood – to the delight of his parents.
This rapid arrival would be his trademark throughout life – always in top gear going flat out.
The driver of the Ford was named Ronnie Hull, and that’s where Ronald got his name.
Ron started his long love of the trucking industry at the age of 15. He started driving trucks in the 1970s, hauling goods along the vast stretches of road connecting the southern cities to the Top End.
The road across the Nullarbor Plain wasn’t made then, neither was the south road to Alice Springs, even parts of New South Wales had sections of dirt, hard trucking for sure but ‘Doylie’ was one of the hard men who conquered it.
His interstate experience began when he drove a car carrier for Nick Banavas before driving a heavy-haulage Foden for the Sydney-based Abood family.
Driving ‘S’ model Kenworths for Blomfield and Camerons were ground breaking days and working in the outback for Scarfe Transport was indeed a challenge – hauling drilling equipment and general freight in harsh country west of The Alice tested the men.
He drove the first tri-axle for Western Transport in the heavy haulage section, another ground breaking force in the industry.
He took on the task of transport manager for Eagles and Braham increasing the work load of the company, and jobs for others within the workforce of the industry.
He was a pioneer in his own right and the friendships he made along the journey held firm with camaraderie and mateship that other industries could only dream of.
He was one of the first truckies to be inducted in the Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs.
Ron met his wife Dorothy through the trucking fraternity 49 years ago and they were devoted to one another from beginning to end.
They lived in Briar Hill in the early years where the four children attended school and Dorothy, being the supreme mother and homemaker, took care of the children at home while Ron spent many weeks away at a time driving interstate trucks.
Ron then took an offer to work on the Thomson Dam project and the family moved to Woods Point in the early 1970s. This was also the period where his passion for motorcycles became an important part of his life, along with the Vietnam Viets, Hogs, and Outlaws Motorcycle clubs.
They moved around the country and eventually settled in Bearii on the Victoria-New South Wales border.
He was a strong and loyal man who lived life his way.
He was a captivating character that would demand an audience wherever he was and have them fascinated with his stories or rolling around in laughter with his jokes.
Ron is survived by his wife Dot, four children, nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
