Donald ‘Bob’ Spiers; One-of-a-Kind
“He was an exceptional man,” says his wife Cheryl Spiers, “strong in mind, body, and spirit.” Anyone who knew our KEE director’s dad, knew of his larger-than-life character. Donald ‘Bob’ Spiers was incredibly hard-working, a great motivator and always ready to lend a hand, whether at the gym or on the road with fellow truckers. His dedication to fitness was unsurpassed, always giving 100% and inspiring those around him.
The Family Tradition
His family has a rich history. His great-grandfather, James ‘Jasper’ Spiers, was a Scotsman who joined the early settlers from Victoria, crossing the Nullarbor with the bullock train to WA. James was not only a landowner and jockey who won the prestigious Perth Cup, but he also ran for Parliament. He contributed significantly to the transport and infrastructure sectors, building roads and serving as the first president of the Wanneroo Shire. Don’s grandfather and father followed in the transporting footsteps, both becoming truck drivers, with Don continuing this family tradition.
Life growing up was not easy for Don. Post-war, his family struggled. His mother, Beryl, worked tirelessly as a cook at Maris Brothers College to ensure there was always food on the table. The family had little, with their house almost bare of furniture. Although his father became a successful truck driver, sadly his drinking habits often left the family without financial security. When his father’s drinking spiralled, his mum would wrap Don in a blanket and they would leave their house and sleep in a public telephone box.
Unbreakable Spirit
Don’s life was marked by resilience and determination. He left school at 14, taking on an apprenticeship as a spray painter at Wark and Wainwright in Leederville. His love for running began here, where he would run from his home in Dover Road, Scarborough to work and back every day. After a stint in the army, where he broke the 3000-meter record, he came back to Perth and won numerous races including the City to Surf and Fremantle Fun Run. Keen to keep his love of running in the family, Don also trained his sons in the art of racing. One year at Whitford’s Fun Run Don, Stephen, Damon and Clayton dominated the day, each gaining first place in their respective age category. The event organisers were so taken-aback by the Spiers formidable winning capabilities, that they were banned from entering the following year!
Don was on target to become a professional athlete until his ambitions were cruelly taken away from him when he was hit by a car while training. Through his passion, he didn’t give up and became the Senior Athletics Middle-Distance Coach at the prestigious Trinity College, where he imparted his knowledge and motivation on hundreds of young athletes to help them reach their potentials.
Building WA’s Infrastructure
Don’s career as a truck driver was equally impressive. He helped build the Narrows Bridge for Clough (driving a Leyland Hippo-Truck) and one of the biggest projects he worked on was for Bell Brothers, where he took the first locomotive off the wharf in Port Hedland for Hamersley Iron in the 70’s. He also used the famous salt-mines for training, running up and down the mounds to keep fit.
Having never touched a drop of liquor himself, when working in Port Hedland Don noticed that the men worked hard, but drank harder. One of the few pleasures they had after a long days yakka was the boxing nights at local pubs. Don had learnt to box at Scarborough Police Boy’s Club and (perhaps less intentionally) on the beachfront in the era of the Bodgies and Widgies. Ready to unleash this hidden skill, Don cunningly waited for the fellow competitors boozing to progress in to the night. Completely sober, he would then step in to the ring, knowing that putting money on himself would the safest bet to an easy win!
Father and Mentor
Clayton fondly recalls the road trips up north with his dad. “He was a dedicated marathon runner,” Clayton said, “but he needed a way to keep in training while hitting transport deadlines.”
So, what was the 1980s solution? Simple! He put six-year-old Clayton behind the wheel of his triple-road train. As he was unable to reach the pedals, his dad used the hand throttle to keep the truck at a steady 12kms ph, so Clayton could keep the truck rolling while his dad ran in front. A bit of old-school ingenuity at its finest!
Don’s work ethic was unmatched, often working 16-hour days without lunch breaks. He set up his own successful trucking business, purchasing his own F10 Volvo single-axle prime-mover. In 1995, Damon and Clayton joined the business as low-loader drivers and Spiers & Sons was born, later inspiring the brothers to build KEE Group in 2008. “What we learnt from our dad was his persistence,” said Clayton and Damon. “Never give up, never give in and never make anyone do anything you wouldn’t be prepared to do yourself. This has stayed with us throughout our lives and business”.
Throughout his life the gym remained an essential part of Don’s routine. Even up until his sudden death, he spent up to three hours a day training in a gym he had created in his garage. His commitment to fitness was admirable.
The Unbreakable Bond
Most importantly, his love for wife Cheryl was unwavering. Cheryl was 18 and Don 21 when they first met, reaching nearly 60 years together. They were in love with each other and true soul mates, not leaving each other’s sides. They built a beautiful house in Wanneroo and they lived with a menagerie of animals including pet kangaroos, dogs, ducks, chooks, bandicoots, bin-chickens and a favourite cat called Scruffy. “I miss Bob terribly,” says Cheryl, “he would wrap his arms around me and tell me he loved me every single day. He was an incredible man, a one-of-a-kind and will be sorely missed.”
KEE Group was built on the work ethic instilled by Clayton and Damon’s dad and his forefathers, and we’re proud to carry that legacy forward in serving the great state of WA.
Words and pictures by Katharyn Quinn
