Greg Pringle was preparing to leave Townsville to deliver scrap paper to Brisbane in a Volvo FH16 when Big Rigs saw him at the BP Cluden.
Looking much younger than his 55 years, Greg works for SEQ Transport & Pallets Pty Ltd which is a speciality transport company based at Stapylton in southern Queensland.
He lives at Toowoomba and Greg has been a truckie for 37 years. It was his second week in the job for SEQ.
The Warrego to Roma road, also the Carnarvon Highway near Rolleston and the Gregory Development route from Clermont to Charters Towers all need improving according to Greg.
The first truck Greg drove was an Atkinson Cabover and outside work he loves spending time with family.
“I also have a son at Innisfail in north Queensland and visit him whenever I can,” he said.
Regarding Covid-19, Greg said his work hasn’t affected him greatly because he adheres to social distancing and other rules wherever he is.
During his long career, Greg had worked for 20 years hauling livestock in the Northern Territory, WA and Queensland.
I asked Greg to nominate his favourite roadhouse.
“It would have to be the one at Bellata in NSW which has good food and service,” he said.
Bellata is about halfway between Narrabri and Moree on the Newell Highway in northern New South Wales.
On the side of the trailer Greg was towing was a sign advising his company is a proud sponsor of the Jack Beasley Foundation.
It was created in the memory of Jack Beasley and focuses on educating and driving change around youth violence.
Tragically On Friday, December 13, 2019 Jack’s life was cut short in a senseless act of violence at the young age of only 17.
In honour of his memory, the family and a close group of friends decided they want no other parent to experience the pain and grief they currently are living through.
They dedicate their efforts towards making necessary changes to the current youth laws, youth safety and more importantly putting together an education platform to teach the country’s youth’s about the dangers, repercussions and the snowball effect a single act of violence like this to one person has on the lives of so many.
Through education and change, they hope to make a difference and Jack’s legacy will live on.