A Queensland mum has told how a truckie stepped in to save her daughter’s formal – and she had the time of her life.
Teenager Lilly Snape from Loganholme grew up around trucks and always wanted a flash rig to take her to her formal at the end of Year 12.
Everything was organised for the special day – until disaster struck at the last minute.
Lilly’s mother Rachel Snape told Big Rigs: “Just a few days before the formal, the driver who was meant to bring her found out he had to work and he had to pull out.
“Lilly has had it in her mind for years that she wanted to be brought to her formal in a truck, so when she thought it wasn’t going to happen, she was very upset.”
Lilly’s late grandfather, Paul “Winny” Winn, is on the Lights on the Hill Memorial Wall in Gatton, and the family have always found the committee to be a great source of support – so Rachel decided to reach out to them.
They shared a post on the Lights on the Hill Facebook page, asking if anyone could bring Lilly to her formal – and were inundated with offers.
“I was blown away by the support from everyone in the group,” Rachel said.
“It was amazing how many people offered to help us.”
In the end, it was Izaiah Watego from Watego and Sons Transport who stepped up with their eye-catching Peterbilt, Optimus Prime.
Watego collected a thrilled Lilly from her home last Wednesday night and brought her to Meadowbrook Golf Club, where the formal for YMCA Kingston was taking place.
“It was awesome,” Rachel said.
“She was the only one at her formal to be brought in a truck, and everyone was really impressed when she turned up.”
Lilly added: “I really enjoyed turning up in the truck, and I had a great night at the formal.”
Marshall Watego and his son Izaiah are well known for appearing on the TV show Aussie Truck Rehab, and their exceptionally flash truck is painted to look like Optimus Prime from the Transformers movie.
“Watego and Sons have done this kind of thing before – they love doing it – and they hung around for a while so everyone could take photos of the truck,” Rachel said.
“I just wanted to thank them and everyone who offered to help.”