A new venue is set to transform the Lights On The Hill Memorial Convoy, held on February 28, into a group one event
This year will see the dawn of a new era for south-east Queensland’s Lights On The Hill Memorial Convoy.
Since its inception, the twin convoys from Brisbane and Toowoomba have linked up outside Gatton on the Warrego Highway before converging on the town’s showgrounds.
To allow for the increasing number of truck owners and drivers who are becoming involved each year, the Lights On The Hill committee has announced a new, and bigger, venue for 2015 – the Gatton Racecourse.
As well as providing more than enough room for trucks to park, this year’s event, held on Saturday, February 28, will be able to take advantage of the racecourse’s existing facilities.
“We’re going from where we could only hold 600 trucks to where we can hold 3,000,” says Lights on the Hill president Kerry Wilkins.
“Because the last thing we want to do is turn people away, or make them park outside.”
The twin convoys will depart the BP Archerfield in Brisbane, and Brown & Hurley in Toowoomba, at 9.30am. However, instead of turning left into the showground off Eastern Drive in Gatton, this year the convoy will continue along Spencer St to the racecourse.
First class entertainment will await this year’s convoy participants and attendees, notably award-winning country music acts Adam Brand and McAlister Kemp. The list goes on, with Jayne Denham, Paul Costa, Terry Clark, Tanya Self, Jeff Brown and Kerry Kennedy & Double Barrel adding to the live entertainment which will continue right through until midnight.
The racecourse gates will open at 9am. Food and drinks stalls, a licensed bar, market stalls, kids’ rides, auctions, as well as a truck and ute show ’n shine will add to the family fun day’s entertainment.
Truck and vehicle entry for the convoy is $50, while general admission to the grounds starts at $20 for adults ($30 after 5pm). For a family of four, prices start at $50.
On-site camping is available, although organisers advise patrons to pre-book.
Photography: Greg Bush