The rigs were aglow and a few tears were shed at the NSW town of Oaklands in March when the rigs from the Riverina and beyond gathered for the annual truck show. Peter and Di Schlenk write
The Oaklands Truck Show was a bittersweet occasion for the family and friends of the late Wayne ‘Marto’ Martin when the Saturday night light show on March 18 was named in Wayne’s honour.
As the venue’s lights were turned off, the LEDs of close to 100 rigs were switched on, creating a spectacular glow around Oaklands’ Recreational Ground.
Dawson Haulage driver Wayne had attended the 2016 Oaklands Truck Show and, together with two other Dawson Haulage trucks, took out the small fleet category.
Four days after the show while travelling near Deniliquin, Wayne was involved in a fatal head-on collision.
The respect that Marto had was evident at his funeral when 110 trucks lined Plunketts Road at Barnawartha for his farewell.
The Oaklands Truck Show Committee says dedicating the light show after Wayne was its way of honouring his memory. In addition, Peter and Michelle Martin, Wayne’s parents, donated a perpetual trophy for the show, as well as the award for the winning driver.
Dawson Haulage also donated $500 cash towards the winner of the small fleet award the following day.
While it was a big Saturday night, the best was to come up Sunday which kicked off with a bacon and egg breakfast, thanks to the Berrigan Lions Club, while the Finley Lions Club also provided assistance for the truck show.
Tandem sky jumpers parachuting onto the grounds was the first of many events on March 19, including children’s activities and the Rocker Cover races.
As the afternoon progressed, Dawson’s Haulage driver Andrew ‘Dicko’ Dickins did his bit for charity, participating in the world’s greatest shave where he lost his long locks and beard. Andrew, who drove a T950 Kenworth ‘Legend’, later picked up the award for Best Truck 4 to 9 years.
Local driver John ‘Jack’ Henry Good was inducted onto the Oaklands’ Honour Board. The annual acknowledgment recognises the contribution an individual has made towards the industry within the Oaklands’.
Jack says one of the highlights of his career being awarded a certificate, tie pin and belt buckle for travelling 500,000km in a Mercedes-Benz while working for WJ & HE Hayes Transport in the 1970s.
R & S Trucking’s 1993 Kenworth T900 was awarded the trophy for Truck of the Show, while Burkinshaw Transport’s T409 SAR was runner-up.
This year’s two-day event was another success, and the committee, volunteers, industry and families are looking forward to the 10th anniversary 2018 Oaklands Truck Show.