ISUZU
news Million kms and still going strong. Remember 1988 – Australia’s bicentennial celebrations were in full swing, Kylie was singing ‘I Should Be So Lucky’ and John Leveque’s FVR Isuzu started pounding the roads. Twenty four years later John’s Isuzu is still going strong – all the more remarkable when you take into account that it’s running on the original engine, gearbox and diffs. Based in Highett, John is a sub-contractor with Toll’s ‘Fast Division’ and has been driving for 28 years. John has owned the truck for 18 years and does much of the minor servicing himself but for any major work he takes it back to Patterson Cheney, Dandenong. The truck turned over the million km mark at the start of the year and shows no signs of slowing down. John keeps it in excellent condition as evidenced by this photo. Here’s to the next million!
RSPCA Mobile Animal Care Unit delivered. An Isuzu FSD 700 Long fitted with a custom designed body by Rambler Concepts was recently delivered to RSPCA Victoria by Patterson Cheney Trucks. The flexible set-up of this unit will allow the RSPCA to use it for a number of different applications including assessment of injured or sick animals during disaster emergencies. Appropriate surgical responses can be put into place immediately utilising the on board, fully operational veterinary theatre. The unit can also provide disease outbreak support, lost and found registration, a holding area for lost animals or as a base for the co-ordination of emergency responses and communication back to head office during disasters. The vehicle comes into its own when veterinary staff are required to attend inspectorate cases and provide immediate veterinary assessments.
In conjunction with local councils, the RSPCA unit also extends to providing facilities for mobile de-sexing, microchipping and vaccination clinics within suburban and remote areas with high feral or stray animal populations. Ultimately
these initiatives reduce the number of animals that end up in shelters. The unit will also be used within the community for educational purposes promoting numerous animal welfare initiatives. TRUCK FORCE | JULY 2012
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