HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONROY

Story by Carl Kirkbeck

Conroy Removals as we see it today dates back to 1972, where a 21-year-old David Conroy was looking for an opportunity to start out in the transport industry. David approached a local Napier-based furniture removal contractor. A little negotiation and some financial support from his mother, and David purchased the business complete with one petrol-powered D Series Ford.

Eighteen months later a second truck was purchased,

photos by Doug Elliott

a TK Bedford. At this time, David’s brother Gary joined the business as a partner and started driving the TK. These early days for the business had the brothers driving country-wide, moving families and businesses, all the while Mum was back at home base manning the phone and looking after administration. Fifty years on, Conroy Removals now employs nearly 350 team members across twelve branches throughout New Zealand and Australia. A true Kiwi business success story that has been built on strong family values by both David and Gary.

When your birthday comes around you hope and pray for awesome presents. So when Conroy Removals turned 50 they were absolutely blown away with the incredible gift they received from one of their longstanding employees.

One of those team members is our friend Doug Elliott. Some readers will remember Doug from the story we featured in the February 2022 issue of New Zealand Trucking magazine. In that story, we featured the Alf Walling Mack replicas that Doug had scratch built. Well we are treated once again, as this month we look at three of Doug’s latest builds. Chatting with Doug we learn that he has been with

Conroy’s for the best part of 34 years. He has loved every minute of working for the family. “They are an awesome company to work for, you definitely feel that you are a part of the family, and not just another cog in the gearbox,” says Doug. So for Doug, when the idea of a 50th birthday celebration was discussed, there was only one thing for it – head to the workshop and replicate some of those great Conroy memories as a lasting gift to the family.

Anything can be scratchbuilt from styrene plastic, including an entire cab for a 1:25th scale D-series Ford.