I don’t know how they do it, but the organisers of the annual Lights On the Hill Convoy must be slipping money to someone upstairs – someone with a big influence when it comes to weather patterns. For whilst I am writing this wrap-up amongst a barrage of lightning strikes, rolling thunder and whimpering dogs, it was only a few days ago the annual Gatton pilgrimage was undertaken under pristine weather conditions. Just like last year. Just like the year before. I swear someone has friends in high places and manages to book the perfect weekend conditions for the showpiece event that remembers and recognises our industry. However you do it, well done!
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This year’s convoy marked a special 20th anniversary of the Lights on the Hill Memorial Service and saw the official truck count hitting 732 between the two convoys, Brisbane and Toowoomba.
The lead truck for each convoy was drawn from a list of pre-registered vehicles and resulted in Jarrett Transport Solutions leading the Brisbane-based convoy away from its Mica St staging area. Meanwhile up at Brown & Hurley in Toowoomba, Darcy Transport had the honour of leading off the Toowoomba-based convoy.
Whilst the numbers of trucks were definitely impressive, and shows the importance and significance of the event to truckies, it was the outpouring of public support that also needs acknowledgement. There was hardly a section of road between Brisbane and Toowoomba where the truckies were not jumping on the horns or waving madly to the throngs of bystanders who turned out to enjoy the convoy and support the truckies.
The convoy was merely the entrée to a weekend of remembrance and celebration.
Once the 732 trucks had found their way into the Gatton Showgrounds, there was no shortage of entertainment to keep the little kids, the big kids and biggest of kids — the truckies — entertained. With free rides for the little kids, markets and food vans for the big kids, and a bar and concert for the biggest kids, it was a huge day out in perfect weather.
Headlining act Lane Pittman was just the top of the entertainment table. There were also great performances from Kerry Kennedy, The Viper Creek Band, Jase Lansky and a few more that I didn’t get a chance to catch. It was just non-stop.
I’d love to do a full rundown on the food vans there but that would not shine a good light on my dietary intake for the weekend. Take my word for it though, the food options were amazing. In between all the singing, drinking and eating there was also a group of judges going through the hundreds of trucks and assessing a plethora of prizes for the truck show winners. Truck of the Show this year went to the outstanding S&J McMahon Kenworth.
Whilst Saturday is all about the convoy and the celebrations, Sunday held the traditional Lights on the Hill Memorial Service at the Memorial Wall at Lake Apex Park in Gatton. With around 60 trucks in attendance, and a couple of thousand people on hand, 54 names were added to the wall this year. The emotional ceremony also included the planting of a commemorative tree by the local mayor, as a special acknowledgement of the 20th anniversary of the service.
It is sometimes hard to see the positives during the ceremony, as it is a time to reflect on the loved ones we’ve lost. However, this year’s event also demonstrated the strength and pride within our industry. A record number of trucks and what looked like a record number of supporters were on hand at the Gatton Showgrounds, as well as once again, an amazing weekend of weather. However you did it folks, keep that good weather coming, keep the tributes going and roll on 2025.
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