History of Lights on the Hill Truck & Coach Drivers Memorial
Oh dear! my attempt at trying to draw what I wanted
In 2005 the then Gatton Shire Council
staff built the foundations
Progress
Flag poles and pathway
PREPAIRING FOR THE FLAG POLES
HIGHWAY COMPLETED
Designing the fountain
DESIGNED BY GARRY WHITE - WHEEL NAD STACKS DONATED BY MACK TRUCKS
READY NOW FOR THE OPENING
OPENING DAY 9TH OCTOBER 2005
YOUNG TAYLOR WILLIAMSON IN PINK BOW, OFFICIALLY OPENED THE WALL AGED 9, HER FATHER WAS KILLED IN A TRUCK ACCIDENT
OFFICIAL GUESTS AT THE OPENING
Dusty Fraser from 98.9FMMayor of Gatton Steve Jones
Patron John “The Ferret” Moran Kathy White & Denise Crawford
Narie From Mack trucks Kevin Saxby
Darren Hoskins Lou conducted the service for the day
Kelly DixonMick Bowden Geoff Smith
Continued next page
TAYLOR WILLIAMSON OFFICIALLY OPENED LIGHTS ON THE HILL TRUCK/COACH DRIVERS MEMORAIL ON THE 9TH OCTOBER 2005
Betty:- lost her husband Sharron:- lost her brother Merle:- lost her husband
Amanda - lost her father Amanda raised over $2500-00 from busking in Claremont Queensland
Lea Enchelmaier - bush poet wrote this poem for the opening day,
it is used at every memorial day
REMEMBER OUR TRUCKIESAs we look out and see the lights on the hill
I ask you to take a little time if you willTo remember those truckies who gave their lives
And to spare a thought for their families and wives.
For our Australian trucking industryIs surely the backbone of our great country
Hauling produce, merchandise, feed and stockThe trucks roll on around the clock.
From Adelaide to Alice on the Darwin runFrom Sydney to Perth across the Nullarbor they come
These truckies are a breed of their ownLike our Aussie swaggie they are born to roam.
The truck stop is always a welcome siteAs they drive through daylight and into the nightThey know the roads like the back of their hand
And with pride they travel across the land.
Climbing into the sleeper for a well earned napCatching a little shut eye for soon they must get back
Back to follow that white line down the road.
But the rugged looking bloke behind that wheel Has a heart of gold and nerves of steel
Hi is someone’s daddy and someone's sonSomeone's Partner a very special one.
So lets build a wall no matter what the costA memorial of remembrance of those we’ve lost
And as we look out at those lights on the hill Please remember our fallen truckies if you will.
By Lea Enchelmaier © 2005
Memorial days that followed:- held every second Saturday of October
Continued next page
Pastor Lynette Dawson
Part of the crowd at opening2009 memorial there were aprox 3000 people attended
Dionne White and Travis Sinclair sing the National Anthem with the children at the start of every memorial day
Families place flowers at the wall
A picture tells a thousand words
What more can we say“WE MISS YOU MATE”
Lights on the HillLights on the Hill was founded by Kathy White, Kathy started to raise funds in 2003 the wall was officially opened in 2005. Designed by Kathy with the help of JH Wagner and sons, built by JH Wagner and sons of Toowoomba and the Gatton Shire Council .All funds were raised by Kathy to complete stage one of the wall.
Kathy White would like to thank all the people who volunteered there time to help with this project without you it would have never happened.
Keep an eye on this site for stage two.
The first convoy was held in 2004 to help raise funds it was so popular Kathy was to afraid not to hold another one, this is how the convoy grew it is held each year in the last weekend of February.
Please donate to this magnificent cause
Kathy White