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Statement from Lights On The Hill Trucking Memorial

Kathy White, Lights On The Hill President and 2009 ATA Awards finalist, talks about the success and disappointing aftermath of February's Memorial Convoy and Truck Show

Lights On The Hill’s (LOTH) annual convoy was a huge success, says Kathy White, founder and President of Lights On The Hill Trucking Memorial Inc.

“I do not have the official count to date,” says Kathy, a 2009 finalist in the Australian Trucking Association‘s (ATA) National Trucking Industry Woman of the Year award.

“We know there were around 700 trucks and 89 utes. We would like to thank T&G Insurance, Heavy Haulage Australia as our major sponsors for this year, and our Truck Show trophy sponsors Theiss Services, Western Star, Richlands Heavy Haulage, Getting Gone Escorts, Truckline, Mactrans Heavy haulage, RT Health, Road Transport Insurance, Sail Moves, Nolan’s Interstate Transport, Centurion Country Loans and Brett Boyes and Sons Transport.”

“The companies who donated merchandise for our auction were Volvo Truck and Bus, Brown and Hurley who also gave us the two beautiful trucks at the stage, Bridgestone Tyres of Kunda Park, Mack Trucks, Brisbane Truck Sales, Gleeman’s, Gibbs Japanese Parts, Deep Reflections Metal Polishing and Truckers Beds.

“We raised over $4,000. Thank you to all the companies who donated towards the auction, McKay Furniture for the use of the Travis Sinclair trailer which they have purchased, Nolan’s for the use of the Lights on the Hill mural trailer, Dusty Fraser our MC for the day from 98.9FM, and auctioneer Graham Squires from Ray White Rural, Withcott.

“To all our volunteers — the truck show judges, parking attendants, entries, children’s section, merchandise and the Endeavour Foundation for the food, bar and gates, to our volunteers at the gates as well and all volunteers around the grounds thank you — you are special people.”

Kathy gave volunteer awards to Lea and Ivan Enchelmair, Gary, Nita, Joel and Kaycee Simpson, and Radio 98.9FM’s Dusty Fraser for helping with Lights on the Hill from the beginning. She says the Ute Show was run by Will and his family from Boomer Bull Bars at Toowoomba.

“This was run very well and I thank all the volunteers who helped with this section,” Kathy says. “It is nice to have the utes as a lot of the truck drivers own utes and like to have them
in the convoy.

“Craig O’Brien who works for Rocky’s Own Transport is the web builder for the internet site ‘40fm.net’. Craig offered to provide volunteers to run the truck on behalf of LOTH. Leanne Dinning from 40fm volunteered to organise the truck show for LOTH acting as the co-ordinator. In that capacity she had possession of the truck show results and the entry forms for the convoy. Leanne has since delivered all of the paperwork to Mr O’Brien. Sadly a dispute has arisen as to the ownership of that paperwork. Mr O’Brien, on behalf of 40fm, has claimed ownership of the truck show and copyright of the forms and the results. He will not hand over the results or entry forms to Lights On The Hill,” Kathy states.

Kathy acknowledges that without Leanne’s coordination and other volunteers from 40fm the Truck Show would not have occurred.

“Their efforts are greatly appreciated in assisting and promoting LOTH’s cause. The dispute over the forms however has meant that LOTH has been unable to properly acknowledge sponsors of and entrants in the Truck Show including winners of the various categories. LOTH has also been unable to deal with complaints that some entrants in the Truck Show were not judged at all.”

Kathy says LOTH apologises to the truck drivers who attended the convoy and entered the show but were not judged; and to all participants who feel cheated that the results of the day have not been suitably broadcast.

Kathy says LOTH has made determined efforts to recover the entry forms and the results as this paperwork is vital to Lights On The Hill to get the final count and to invoice companies.

Lights On The Hill says it is not associated with any other group and is
run by four people — the President Kathy White, the Treasurer Dionne White, Secretary Gary Simpson and Vice President John Zupp. Merchandise managers are Nita and Gary Simpson.

“Lights On The Hill is designed to remember the drivers who have passed away, to support the families left behind by way of placing deceased names on the wall, holding the annual memorial and the convoy. This is what the convoy is about — to bring the truck drivers together to remember their mates, to catch up with each other and to promote the trucking industry and the truck drivers. It is
also to raise the funds to build the memorial wall,” Kathy states.

“Every truck that enters in the convoy is helping to build the wall as the entry fees go straight to the improvement and maintenance of the wall. Truck drivers be proud of what you do, we at Lights On The Hill are proud of you.”

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