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December Newsletter

To all my friends of whom, fortunately, there are many,



It doesn’t seem long ago that I turned 60. We had a great big party. We celebrated long into the night but I woke up the next day a senior citizen. My senior citizen’s card remains a reminder that I am well past my use-by date.

But I shouldn’t complain. After all, no one is paying attention to me any more. And secondly, why would I complain about the monthly electronic newsletters that I get reminding me what us senior citizens can get on special?

Evergreen Tours are offering fully guided tours, with a nurse and easy wheel chair access ... !

The best of all is cheap Tuesdays at the cinema; I can now afford a choc-top ice cream!

Retirement villages are sending me brochures of their newest facilities complete with happy snaps of the inmates (residents), smiling after a day of playing golf and bowls and when the sunrises doing Tai Chi.

Spare me! I could not stand all that. I have no interest in spending time in heaven’s waiting room!


Well, believe me or not, last week I turned 65! I am now allowed to retire - finally!

My friends wonder why I still work. Why?! Because the alternatives are disastrous! Gardening and day-time telly?! No thanks!

Why, once we hit a certain age, do we fall into the category of being incapable of work??



Sure, I have changed some of my responsibilities since my age became greater than my IQ. I don’t drive trucks any more and it’s been a while since I lifted a piano over a balcony. But I still love going to work.


I thrive on the adrenalin of dramas, decision-making and the day-to-day problems and issues.

Besides, I’m a highly active member of all sorts of interesting organisations - Family Business Australia, Toast Masters and others.

There is far too much to do in life. One must make the most of it all while one’s around!

Even though my age is now more than I can count to, I’m still very active and so is the business. We’ve made some big changes in the office this year, changes that had to happen.

I’m now the Brand Ambassador for Two Men And A Truck and as soon I know what that means, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got!

My two beautiful daughters have all of the admin under control - Catherine and Elizabeth. Plus, we have appointed Matthew as our CEO.



But I must admit, it was hard in the beginning - letting go and accepting that I was no longer in control. But we all know the importance of getting young, smart, new blood into the business, driving it ahead in new directions.

Thankfully, Matthew is not family. It’s very helpful to have someone that can’t get caught up in the emotional side of the family business issues.

Over my extensive years of service I have seen and done a lot but I could have been a whole lot more successful if I just knew back then all that I know now ...

These young kids who are running businesses and managing their careers today, they haven’t see bad times. They don’t know what high interest rates mean. No theory from a text book can help you learn that. That is strictly on-the-job training and it definitely doesn’t come free!

Us senior folk have got something that the young folk don’t - wisdom.

But it’s time for this old bloke to take some time to reflect and smell the roses. I’ve worked hard. I’ve raised a family and I’ve built a business. Maybe instead of my senior’s card they could have given me a medal ... ?

I remember when I was young, it was unheard of that a wife would work. Mother stayed at home and looked after the family. One income in those days was enough to support a family. We didn’t have much but what you don’t have, you don’t miss.

Stress was not the same. It was much less intense and people seemed to be just as happy. So what is it that technology has achieved exactly? Do we really need all this electronic communication?

You come home from a day at work and you are still checking your emails and spending hours on the computer. Your work is with you all the time.

We are now entering our last weeks before starting another year. I have enjoyed writing my monthly blogs and I will continue again next year.

One reader sent me a comment recently - she said “Richard, you must have a strange brain”

I replied “Thank you for your feedback. You are correct”

On behalf of us all at Two Men And A Truck and my family, we would like to wish you a great new year and may your god be with you.

Have a great time. Look after your family and yourself.


Richard Kuipers
1300 880 412