By Dominique Tassell
There was a strong local turnout at the Lights on the Hill Trucking Memorial convoy this year.
The convoy is held every year, and sees drivers travel to Lake Apex Park in Gatton, where a memorial sits as “a constant reminder of the sacrifices that drivers and their families make to keep Australia moving“.
Ricky Mele from Granite Belt Fruit Freighters drove for the first time in the convoy this year.
He took part in the convoy after losing a mate in a truck accident in Dalby earlier this year.
“I asked to go be part of the convoy for him,“ Ricky said.
“He was a real nice bloke, he’d do anything for you.“
“It’s a big thing,“ Ricky said. “It’s a big part of driving to see someone’s name go up there.“
“To have something to be remembered by.“
He said the community aspect of the event is also a reason many go.
“You get to catch up with people and say hi to a few new faces.“
Multiple local drivers also participated in the convoy in memory of Brett Knecht, a well-known driver in the region who passed away in a crash earlier this year.
Callum McMahon from Granite Belt Fruit Freighters used to work with Brett and said it was very meaningful to see his plaque go on the wall.
It wasn’t Callum’s first time participating in the convoy, but he said he hasn’t really done it for anyone in particular before.
“A couple blokes have passed recently,“ he said. “It hasn’t been very good last couple of years.“
He said while many are driving for friends they’ve lost, the event isn’t necessarily sad.
“It’s all about getting together and remembering the blokes you’ve lost,“ he said. “People go back every year for people they’ve lost.“
“It’s a way of remembering people.“
Jason Walker from John Dee participated for the first time in the convoy this year, and said he’s been talking about participating for a while now.
The convoy is for everyone in the trucking community, he said.
Plaques go up every year for people who have contributed to the community.
“You might have done 30 years of driving and retired,“ he said.
“A friend of mine got put on there four or five years ago, he had his own trucking business in Bateman’s Bay.
“He’d been out of it for 20 odd years.“
Jason said that, all going well, he’ll be participating again next year as he really enjoyed the event.
Jeff Stuart from Frasers participated for the fifth time in the convoy this year.
His family has a long history in the industry, and his grandfather has a plaque on the wall at Gatton.
He said the route has changes a few times over the years, and this year was the third time he’s driven through Toowoomba in the convoy.
This year was a little bit special, Jeff said, as he had a few people to drive for including his friend Ross Williams.
Everyone’s names are read out at the memorial service, in what Jeff said is a very meaningful moment.
This year there were a few names of people younger than him.
“It makes you think about a lot of different things,“ he said.
