With a population of around 940 people, you would be forgiven for not knowing of the township of Boort in Victoria’s Mallee region. Indeed it’s possible more truckie types know Boort’s local sign writer and highly regarded truck scroller, Heath Saunders.
A born and bred local, Heath grew up attending the town’s 137-year-old Agricultural & Pastoral Society’s annual show – one of the oldest of its type in Australia.
“My grandfather had a machinery dealership here years ago and used to display all his stuff here. We always loved it. It was basically down on its knees so I thought, let’s do a truck show in conjunction with it and hopefully revitalise this town institution.
“I must say I have got some great clients who’ve supported me through thick and thin, so I rang them up and asked if they’d be interested in doing a bit of a truck show. The first year – five years back – we had 70 trucks, which I thought was a good number.”
Anthony Janner with his Legend SAR – one of the Top 10. Image: Graham HarsantFast forward to 2025 and over 150 trucks attended the Boort Truck Show – and the Agricultural & Pastoral Society event is bigger than ever. Many of the trucks bore Heath’s scrollwork and signage, so he excused himself from judging, bringing in three independents.
In a departure from the norm, there is no entry fee for the trucks who go out of their way to attend. Not only that but the numbers they are given go into a hat and donated prizes are passed out after the award ceremony. We’re talking nine Engle fridge/freezers, a Milwaukee drill set, Nitro driving lights and lots more good gear.
A different (and useful) type of trophy. Image: Graham HarsantThe trophies themselves are also good/different, to borrow a line from Aldi. They were all metal Yeti insulated stubby holders, and each contained an Ampol fuel card for $200 or more.
Categories are kept to a minimum with a ‘Top Ten Trucks’ instead of the usual brand/age/etc divisions often seen at truck shows. In addition, ribbons were distributed to the winning trucks before the awards were actually announced, which ensured that the winners were all ‘Johnny-on-the-spot’ to receive their Yetis and that proceedings were done and dusted in no time. Great idea, Heath!
“We don’t have a lot of sections. We have the Top 10 which I think is one of our best ideas. They are in no particular order. It puts everybody a bit more on a level playing field.
“I like to believe that the show is not a ‘Clean Competition’. If a truck has character and it looks cool then it deserves to be in the top 10. I organise the whole lot, I run it and if someone has an issue they can come and see me. It’s not vying for sheep stations.”
The winner of Best in Show receives his Yeti along with $1000 cash and this year it went to Sam Freeman of Freemans Transport out of Ballarat with his Kenworth T909. On the road for only two months, Sam’s truck has been two years in the build with the Klos boys doing a sterling job. The signage and scroll work deserves high praise as well, done of course by Heath Saunders.
Sam Freeman (left) celebrates his Truck of the Show win. Image: Graham HarsantA modest Sam said, “I’d just like to thank the Boort Truck Show for today. It is good to win but I certainly didn’t expect it. As a fleet owner I like our trucks to look good and present well on the road, but there are a lot of exceptional trucks here.
“Today shows that there is a lot of pride in the industry. It gives young people coming into the business the inspiration to see what they can achieve in the transport game. I like to think that equipment like this gives them an incentive.”
Sam Freeman’s winning Kenworth T909. Image: Graham HarsantChooka and Jake turned up to Boort with Chooka’s classic 1989 Series II Mack Superliner. Originally one of Paul Constantino’s trucks, it went via Graham Lund who carted potatoes at Thorpdale to Steve Tyquin, where Chooka drove it for 10 years before purchasing it from him.
Enter Jake, who happens to be Chooka’s son and gained his skills working for the renowned Frank Christie of Peterbilt fame. Jake got to work on the old girl with help from Thackers of Bendigo to stretch it over three feet and added a KW 60 inch bunk, along with a whole lot more. Then Parsons Smash Repairs of Castlemaine painted it and Phil Deuce did the lines and scroll work.
Chooka (left) and Jake with the classic Mack. Image: Graham Harsant“It was pretty much a full strip down. We repainted the chassis, fixed a few little things plus a bit of engine work. Lots of shiny trinkets and bits and pieces made it our own.”
The truck has kept its original Super Dog moniker and Chooka’s wife puts a bowtie and top hat on the dog ornament whenever it goes to shows.
Boort Truck Show is definitely a must-see event, combining a great atmosphere, heaps of other things to do once you’ve viewed all the trucks, and a great layout on the footy field. “It’s like herding cats,” said Heath. “Some like to line up, others create organised chaos in the middle.”
The result is a great truck show with an equally great feel.
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