“ The Lights On the Hill”[Slim Dusty] or “On the Road Again”[ Willie Nelson} could aptly be the sound track of Manny Carlin. The highways and byways have seen him travel all corners of Australia resulting in his induction into The Australian Transport Hall of Fame in 2024

Born Ian, second of five children of well known Wando Vale and Casterton families Jack Carlin and Smith Manny left school at fourteen. His mother’s insistence, intuition and understanding that his life skills and interests laid outside the classroom opened up his world to experiences far and wide.

His working life began at the family’s Grain Store and Mart which was in the Old Butter Factory building in Casterton. Deliveries of grain, chaff, groceries and vegetables from Mt Gambier and the district his initiation into driving.

His indepth recounting with fellow mechanic Gavin Lowe of his years with legendary truckers Leon Jordan, Jimmy Simkin, Smith boys and Pat Chapman recounts unbelievable hours, road and weather conditions scratches the surface of years of service across all areas of agriculture, stock yards, feed lots and more. Buying his first truck from Boss Leon, Manny’s journeys and livelihood business continued and like all whose hours are spent on the road across our nation he acknowledges wife Jean stating ‘Jeans’ kids Trictia, Cindy and Darren all turned out well.

Listeners will travel across our nation and be in awe of the miles, the work ethic and the service that prove this 2024 Australian Transport Hall of Famer is a title truly befitting of Manny Carlin