Outback ice-cream van serves sweet joy amid sorrowStephanie GardinerAAPSat, 6 September 2025 11:53AM
When Ruskin Gee’s wife died suddenly, he decided to honour her memory by giving others a sweet scoop of happiness.
Mr Gee and his wife Kelly used to operate the Gee Whiz ice-cream van together at events around their home town of Goulburn, southern NSW.
It was always Kelly who knew how to expertly dip a soft serve ice-cream in chocolate topping, while he was more comfortable at the wheel.
After her unexpected death in 2023 Mr Gee took on the van solo, travelling more than 1800km to the Birdsville Races, in outback Queensland, to serve punters in the 35C heat on Saturday.
A photograph of his wife is displayed proudly at the window: “Operating in memory of Kelly Maree Gee 1968 -2003.”
“Now I do it for a reason,” Mr Gee told AAP, in between selling soft serves and sundaes covered in sprinkles and chocolate sauce.
“I just spread a bit of happiness around – life’s not meant to be all about that mighty dollar.”
Mr Gee, a former truckie, likes to take the van to retirement homes and small bush schools, delighted by their reactions to a classic cool treat.
His customers at the races were mostly groups of older men, along with a jockey.
“I checked my weight and I’m OK, so I’m just getting some ice cream for energy,” the jockey said as he tucked into a plain vanilla soft serve cone before saddling up.
To make the trek to the outback event, Mr Gee towed a horse float kitted out with a mattress and swag behind the ice-cream van.
“I was a truck driver for 30 years and I never believed in getting somewhere fast – I’d rather get there than not get there,” he said.
“Take your time and it’s alright.”
The long-life New Zealand ice-cream fares well in the truck, though not so much on the outside.
Mr Gee kindly told several customers venturing into the outback sun: “Quick, eat your ice-cream.”
He stopped to gather his emotions while speaking about his wife and their four children and six grandchildren, but brightened up as he talked about his enduring purpose in life.
“Everyone loves ice-cream. The kids love it, old people like it,” he said.
“Some people say, ‘we haven’t had a Mr Whippy for 20 or 30 years’, which is sad.
“It’s just a little thing that makes you happy.”
This AAP article was made possible by support from the Birdsville Race Club.
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