Les Bond’s long and distinguished career in the transport industry spans more than five decades and reflects a lifetime of dedication to keeping Australia's freight networks moving.
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The 2026 Deniliquin & District Transport Industry Wall of Fame inductee was born in 1947 and left school at 15, and spent two years working on the family dairy farm before taking up work in shearing sheds around the Deniliquin district.
At 21, Les began what would become a lifelong career in transport.
He joined Les Jones of Hay, hauling general freight and livestock across Australia behind the wheel of an International truck.
He later moved to South Australia to work with Lake City Freighters at Mount Gambier, a company that would eventually become the well-known Scotts of Mount Gambier, where he drove a Dodge truck for five years.
Les Bond and Anthony Joss with the 57-seater zero emissions bus that joined the Dysons fleet in 2024.
Returning to Deniliquin, Les combined part-time work with local livestock carriers Grimison's and Murphy's while also helping out as a taxi driver.
He then joined Knights of Kilmore in the bulk liquid haulage sector, spending 15 years as a company driver, primarily operating International trucks.
An opportunity to purchase his own truck saw Les become a full-time subcontractor with Knights, running a cab-over Kenworth.
In 1989, he returned to his hometown and began subcontracting for Deniliquin Freighters, where he spent many years and eventually concluded his truck driving career.
Never one to slow down, Les transitioned to bus driving with Purtill's Coaches, which later became Dyson's Bus Services.
Even today, he remains behind the wheel occasionally, continuing a remarkable transport career that has helped connect communities and industries across Australia.
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