A massive turnout of trucks have converged again on the Gatton Showgrounds in Queensland for the annual Lights on the Hill Memorial event.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday, September 30, with two convoys of trucks – one from Toowoomba and an even bigger cohort from Brisbane – meeting up for an afternoon and evening of entertainment.
Many of the trucks carried images and names of fallen truckies and hundreds of people lined the route to show their support.
The weekend concludes with the emotional memorial ceremony at Lake Apex Park on Sunday, October 1, for truck and coach drivers who have passed before their time.
“These people have contributed substantially to the Australian transport industry, and the wall is the organisation’s way of immortalising their sacrifices and triumphs in service to their country,” said the event website.
Names honoured at the 2023 memorial service:
Robert John ANDERSON “Pictures”
Brendan David ARMANASCO
Ian Frances BECKHOUSE “Becky”
James Gordon BOLER “Dad”
Craig Allan BUCHANAN “Buck”
John Edmund Stuart BUCKMAN “JB”
Daniel Charles CAPNER “Danny”
Wendy Maree CHAPMAN “Flea”
Scott Ronald CHRISTIANSEN
Dan CARTER “Danny”
Wayne Churchill CLARKE “Blister”
Samuel James COOK “Sam”
Shane Patrick CONLAN “Connie”
Glenn Colin CRAFT “Alma Fudd or Fuddy”
Gino De MARCO
Ian DONALDSON “Pommie B”
Stephen DUNBALL “Steve”
David John DURBIN “Boi”
John EUSTACE “Jed”
Karl Owen EXTON
Garry GORDON “Flash”
Daniel Eric James HALL “Danny/Ralph/BIGSXE”
Dylan John HARM “Dyl”
John HATCHMAN “Hatchy”
Russell John HATHAWAY “Russ”
Mark William HAYES “Wombat”
Edward Arthur HEINEMANN “Tom”
Garry James HINDS “Hindsie”
Christopher Anthony HOCKEY
Geoffrey Martin HOLLIS “Geoff”
Christopher Noel JOHN “Chris”
Glenn Neville JUST “Justy”
William George KELELHOHN “Ketels”
Glenn Raymond KING “Kingy”
Russell KINSEY “Rusty or Coighty”
Trevor Gary KINSEY “Farmer”
Peter Alan LAMONT “Scrubby”
Alf LAYTON “Daddy Cool”
Reginald James LEE “Reg”
Bryan Steven LEVEY “Cowboy or Steptoe”
Karen MALCOLM “Special K”
Edward Joseph MASTERS “Ted”
Kenneth Brian McCREA “Kenny”
Michael James McLeod “Micmac”
Bradley MIDDLEBROOK “Big Jiga”
Michael John MORRIS “Micky M”
Shane MORSE
Mervyn NAUMANN “Merv”
Brian Glen NITZ “Nitzy”
Kenneth James PADGET “Butch or Padge”
David William PEARCE “Duck”
Edward Douglas PERRY “Bear”
Kevin John PICCINELLI “Pincho”
Patrick Brian POLLARD “Pat”
Geoffrey Alan PRIEST “Priesty”
Franz Wilhelm PROFKE “Frank”
Gregory William (Greg) ROBERTSON “Robbo”
Claude Wesley RUSSELL “Pappy”
Desleigh Michelle SCOTT
James Robert SCOTT “Toss”
Robert Ernest SCOTT “Scotty”
Robert James SCOTT “Bob”
Garry Neil SULLIVAN
Rodney James THOMAS “Thommo or Rocket”
Kerry Kent USHER
Evan Kenneth William WALSH “Walshy”
Douglas William WALTON “Doug”
Brad WERNOWSKI “Bandit”
Stephen Clyde WHITE “Spike”
Frederick John WILLIAMS “Fred”
John WILLIAMS “Jack”
Craig John WOODCROFT “Dec”
Stewart McKeag YOUNG “Stewie”
To watch a livestream/video of the memorial, click here.