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 AND 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 98.9FM Mayor 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 Dixon Mick 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 TRUCKIES As we look out and see the lights on the hill I ask you to take a little time if you will To remember those truckies who gave their lives And to spare a thought for their families and wives. For our Australian trucking industry Is surely the backbone of our great country Hauling produce, merchandise, feed and stock The trucks roll on around the clock. From Adelaide to Alice on the Darwin run From Sydney to Perth across the Nullarbor they come These truckies are a breed of their own Like our Aussie swaggie they are born to roam. The truck stop is always a welcome site As they drive through daylight and into the night They 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 nap Catching 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 son Someone's Partner a very special one. So lets build a wall no matter what the cost A 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 opening 2009 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 Hill Lights 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