White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial Convoy

More than 50 trucks took part in this year’s White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial Convoy in honour of lost friends and loved ones

Back in the good old days, Murray Bridge, 80 kilometres east of Adelaide, was generally the first stopping point for all those under-powered trucks that slogged their way up and over the Adelaide Hills.

On any evening, the road houses over the bridge would be full of truckies who had stopped for tea.

And so it was fitting that on November 23, 2014, the White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial was officially unveiled on Murray Bridge’s Adelaide Road – the very same road that everyone rushed up and down to get to Melbourne.

This year’s induction ceremony and service was held on November 5 at 11am.

Earlier that morning, two convoys gathered – one in Adelaide and the other in Keith – and made their way to Murray Bridge, merging together to form one cavalcade.

This year more than 50 trucks, many with banners honouring lost friends and loved ones on the grill or bullbar, joined in the procession. They made their way down White Hill through a crowd that numbered in excess of 500.

Once parked, the ceremony commenced with an opening prayer from the Salvation Army’s Tim Watson. Following the prayer, Murray Bridge mayor Brenton Lewis, MP Adrian Pederick and National Road Transport Hall of Fame founder Liz Martin spoke to those gathered.

White Hill Truck Drivers’ Memorial founder and president Keith Wood told those assembled that the two sections of the wall – one dedicated to truck drivers and the other to those who have lost their lives in any work associated with the transport industry – had been named in honour of Tamika and Khaleb Hourn, who tragically lost their lives while travelling in a truck with parents Sharon and Darren. They are depicted shooting an arrow over to each other.

At the conclusion of the service, the convoy regrouped and did a couple of laps of the town, heading down the main street, through the riverbank precinct with horns blaring and finishing up at the Murray Bridge racecourse for a fun family afternoon.

It was a well organised day, highlighted by the auction and log book throwing contests, and with the sun shining there was plenty of undercover seating.