A record number of trucks took part in the Canberra Convoy For Cancer Families on February 2
When the sun’s out and the temperature nudges 39 degrees C, the best place to be is indoors and in air-conditioned comfort. Try telling that to the owners and drivers of the 427 trucks that lined up for Canberra’s Convoy For Cancer Families on February 2.
The day was a scorcher, but that did not deter the record number of entrants for the convoy, organised by the Cancer Support Group ACT Eden Monaro’s Own.
“Last year we raised $107,000 and this year it will be well over $150,000,” convoy organiser Melissa Gardiner says.
The number of trucks in 2013 totalled 407; this year it was 429, a record number for the convoy.
Melissa is the manager of the Cancer Support Group Eden Monaro’s Own.
The trucks began congregating at 6am around the streets of Beard, one of the ACT’s new industrial areas over the railway line from Queanbeyan. At 10am the signal was given and the convoy set out for the northern Canberra suburb of Gungahlin.
The convoy, however, took the scenic route, along Morshead Drive to Parkes Way, skirting the northern banks of Lake Burley Griffin and on towards Barton Highway.
Visitors to the nation’s capital could have been forgiven for thinking this was another protest convoy. However, the many enthusiastic locals that lined the streets had received the heads-up through media outlets WIN TV and radio station FM104.7 that this was a showcase of Canberra’s road transport industry supporting a worthy cause.
This was the second year of the convoy’s renaissance, after going into hibernation for a few years.
Melissa Gardiner says she was overwhelmed with the support, not only from the trucking community, but from the general public which lined the convoy route.
See the February edition of Owner//Driver for the full story. In the meantime, see Owner//Driver’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ownerdriver for bonus photos.
Photography: Greg Bush