A heartfelt tribute at the Tassie Truckies Memorial Wall Service

Jonathan WallisJanuary 28, 2025, 9:07 amJanuary 28, 2025

Another year had passed and here we were again on our way to Epping Forest on Saturday, January 11, for the Tassie Truckies Memorial Wall Service.

We were facing rising temperatures and a threatening sky. Happily, though it stayed hot, it remained pleasant for the folk who assembled at the Epping Forest Ampol roadhouse for the 10th Memorial Service at the wall there, and for the dedication of 16 new plaques on the rapidly filling Memorial Wall.

This now brings the number of plaques on the Memorial Wall to 217, and as committee member Jonathan Price told us, it highlights the need for an extension in the near future.

Another impressive line-up of trucks were on display at this year’s service. Image: Jonathan Wallis

On the day, 11 beautifully detailed rigs turned up, as well as a good crowd of 300 people – bringing a mixture of family and friends of those who were honoured, and other interested people.

It was a time for reflection, but also a time for a family- style get together.

There was great country music from Apache to entertain those who arrived prior to the service, delivered from the trailer / stage towed by Jonathan Price’s immaculate Huon Delivery Services 2019 K200.

There was also raffle of four limited edition prints of the Memorial Wall, with all the names around the outside, to raise funds, and Tia Hodgetts and Amanda Wilson manned a successful stall selling Memorial Wall merchandise. All proceeds from these fundraising efforts will go towards the upkeep of the Memorial Wall.

For the kids, there was plenty of fun to be had, including face painting provided by Colourful Kids Face Painting and Glitter Tattoos, from 10 am to midday.

Starting punctually at 12 noon, Jonathan Price welcomed the crowd and acknowledged the many people who have worked to make the day a success.

On behalf of the Wall Committee, he introduced guest speaker, the Honourable Eric Abetz, Minister for Transport, and Minister for Business, Industry and Resources. He spoke briefly about the size of and importance of the transport industry, his concern at the hazardous nature of the job, the heavy toll it takes, his government’s commitment to roads and to the establishment of rest areas, and he acknowledged the importance of the Memorial Wall to the entire community.

Following his speech, Rachel Rawlings read the beautiful and emotional “Truckies Poem”. Adam Hodgetts, on behalf of the committee, then thanked all who had contributed to the installation and maintenance of the Memorial Wall since its opening in 2015, including previous committee members, and donors – with a prominent mention of Big Rigs and its much appreciated continued support for the Memorial Wall and the Tasmanian transport industry.

Reverend Alan Bulmer then made a sensitive and thoughtful speech relating to the hard and demanding, and sadly often tragic, life of truck drivers, and their families, and then blessed the wall, finishing with a respectful reading of the Lord’s Prayer.

The 16 names were then read out for those to be commemorated this year, with one minute’s silence observed.

Floral tributes were placed against the wall from: The Tasmanian Memorial Wall, The Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial, and the White Hill Truck Drivers Memorial in South Australia, laid by Jonathan Price, Adam Hodgetts and Tia Hodgetts.

The flags were respectfully lowered to half-mast by Wayne Pearce and Jonty Price.

And then, whilst Pipe Major John Fardon from the Launceston RSL Pipes and Drums played “Amazing Grace”, the family and friends of those newly commemorated men filed quietly along placing red and white roses in the niches alongside their respective plaques.

Pipe Major John Fardon playing Amazing Grace. Image: Jonathan Wallis

The 2025 memorial was again another moving and emotional day, one thoughtfully organised with their customary efficiency and due reverence by the committee. We once again repeat that the Road Transport Industry in Tasmania is indeed fortunate to have this central, well maintained, and accessible monument, at Epping Forest, centrally situated between Hobart and the north of the state, to commemorate the lives of those many drivers who have gone on before us.

It has become obvious that an extension is now needed to allow for future memorial plaques, but Jonathan Price tells us that he is already in contact with both the Northern Midlands Council and the state government, and that he has reason to be hopeful that funding, and council permission, will both be forthcoming.

“The Wall”, as it has now become affectionately known, is situated adjacent to the Epping Forest Roadhouse and Truckstop, and it satisfies the need for, and appreciation of, a quiet and pleasant place for people to come and pay their respects to lost family and friends. Passing by this memorial we regularly see people there taking some time out to remember their loved ones, work mates and friends.

We were again reassured to see the Memorial Wall remaining secure in the capable hands of those present and past committee members who have proven to be truly dedicated guardians of this perpetual site, fulfilling a deep need for somewhere where these hard-working and worthy truck drivers can be respectfully remembered and their lives celebrated.