When truckie Dan Hillcoat and his wife Kristine put their four-month-old baby Matty to bed on October 7, 2011, they had no idea it would be the last time they held their son alive.
Tragically, Matty was found unresponsive in his crib the next morning, having fallen victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
In the years after their son’s death, Dan and Kristine searched for a way to spare other parents from the pain they experienced.
They came across River’s Gift, an organisation that fundraises and advocates for scientific research around SIDS, as well as safe sleep education.
“The founders of River’s Gift lost their son, River, the same year we lost Matty,” Kristine told Big Rigs.
“We had been making a donation to them each year that coincided with the date Matty passed away.
“So, we were connected with them in that way, and then they came up with the idea to do something called ‘Unite to Stamp out SIDS’ – throwing it out there that anyone who wanted to could organise an event to help raise money.”
Best Fleet went to B&K Bulk Haulage. Image: Ren Graphic DesignDan and Kristine, who own their own transport company, Hillcoat & Sons, decided to stick with the industry they know best, and organised a truck show in Gympie, Queensland in honour of their little boy.
The first ‘Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies Day Out’ took place in 2017, and it’s only gotten bigger and better since then.
This year they had 201 trucks, with awards handed out across 25 categories – from ‘Best Livestock’ to ‘Too Busy to Buff’.
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing took out Rig of the Show with its stand-out Kenworth T909, while B&K Bulk Haulage won Best Fleet.
“There were so many great trucks, the judges had a tough job!” said Kristine.
“There were some really nice fleets – Morgan’s Long Distance Transport from Yandina brought 20 trucks, so they easily took out the Biggest Fleet award.
“Laurie Williams brought his Bullet Burnout truck and some of his other tow trucks.
“We had so many Kenworths – I had four pages of Kenworths registered!”
Black Cat Civil took out Best Heavy Haulage with this beauty. Image: Ren Graphic DesignKristine said the show was a great day out for families, with a truck parade, car, bike and 4X4 show, a tractor pull, wood chopping, chainsaw sculpting and much more.
“The highlight was the truck parade, where all the trucks roll into the showground arena and parade in concentric circles, so you get a really good look at the trucks,” she said.
“We also had the Junior Truckies’ Fun Zone, with multiple amusement rides, a sand pit and petting zoo.
“There’s quite a lot of people who come along who have been affected by SIDS, they’ve been coming since the very first show and they bring more and more people every time.
“It’s great to bring the community together, and see everyone supporting each other.”
The final tally has yet to be confirmed, but Kristine estimates that this year’s Matty Hillcoat’s Truckies Day Out raised over $100,000 for River’s Gift, the Gympie Show Society, and TIACS, a free phone and text counselling service offering mental health support to Australia’s blue-collar community.
“TIACS offers a service that’s targeted at truckies, farmers, tradies, people like that,” said Kristine.
“That’s us, that’s our community. The bulk of the money raised will go towards River’s Gift and the Gympie Show Society but we chose TIACS as our third charity partner because we know what it’s like to have tough times and rough days.
“We are still crunching the numbers but we are blown away with what we’ve raised so far, and so grateful to the community.”
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing’s new 909 won both Rig of the Show and Best Heavy Recovery Truck. Image: Ren Graphic DesignTake a look at the list of winners below
Rig of the Show
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Kenworth T909
Best Fleet
B&K Bulk Haulage
Morgans Long Distance Transport
Bernie Tobin Transport
Largest Fleet
Morgans Long Distance Transport
Powers/Sanbella
B&K Bulk Haulageand and Masondale Pty Ltd (tied)
People’s Choice
Morgans Long Distance Transport – Kenworth T909
Masondale Pty Ltd – Kenworth T610
Bernie Tobin Transport – Mack LTL (1956)
Too Busy to Buff
Hanicourt Transport – Kenworth T909
Powers/Sanbella – Mack Super-Liner
Tony Doyle Transport – Kenworth 904
Best Light/Medium Rigid
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Peterbilt 355
Claytons – Isuzu
MAK Haulage – Kenworth K100
Best Heavy Rigid/Tipper
Boardman Sand and Gravel – Mack Trident
Little Rocks Tipper Hire – Kenworth T658
B & K Bulk Haulage – Kenworth T909
Best Heavy Recovery Truck
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Kenworth T909
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Kenworth K200
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Western Star 4900
Best Heavy Haulage Truck
Black Cat Civil – Kenworth T909
Masondale – Kenworth T909
Corbet’s Group – Kenworth T659
Best Livestock
Corbet’s Group – Western Star 4900
Best Ruff n’ Tuff Log Truck
Masondale Pty Ltd – Kenworth T659
Masondale Pty Ltd – Kenworth T410
J. Maguire – Western Star 4800 Series
Best Vintage Truck 50+ Years
Ken Lawrence – Daimler DM5A (1912)
Steven Stockden – Ford (1937)
Bernie Tobin Transport – Mack LTL (1956)
Best Classic Truck 30-49 Years
Paul McMahon – Kenworth K100E
Red Rock Group – Kenworth W924 SAR
L&T Haulage – Kenworth 925
Best Truck 10-29 Years
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Western Star 4900
Rocklea Truck Electrical – Kenworth T900 Classic
Hanicourt Transport – Kenworth T908
Best Truck 4-9 Years
Hanicourt Transport – Kenworth T909
Alastair Mackay Transport – Kenworth 610
STA Trucking – Kenworth T909
Best Truck 0-3 Years
Morgans Long Distance Transport – Kenworth T909
STA Trucking – Kenworth SAR Legend
B&K Bulk Haulage – Kenworth K200
Best of the Rest – Bonneted
Colin Lobwin – Ford Louisville LTL 9000
Powers/Sanbella – White Road Boss
Red Rock Group – International ABD184
Best of the Rest – Cabover
Carroll Plant & Haulage – Mercedes Benz 2233 V Series
Universal Haulage – Atkinson MK2 3800
Morgans Long Distance Transport – Hino 300
Best Western Star
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Western Star 4800
Waldock Transport – Western Star 4800 Constellation
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Western Star 4900
Best Mack
Bernie Tobin Transport – Mack LTL (1956)
KDW Haulage – Mack Trident
Corbet’s Group – Mack Super-Liner (1985)
Best DAF
Michael Hogg – DAF XF530
Best Kenworth
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Kenworth T909
Morgans Long Distance Transport – Kenworth T909
B&K Bulk Haulage – Kenworth K200
Most Soot
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Bullet Burnout truck
Warren Kopp Transport – Mack R600
Corbet’s Group – Mack Super-Liner (1985)
Best Lights
Anywhere Truck and Machinery Heavy Towing – Western Star 4900
P3 Transport – Kenworth T909
Whordley’s Bulk Haulage – Kenworth K200
Best Custom Truck
Bean Express – Kenworth T909
Rocklea Truck Electrical – Kenworth T900 Classic
STA Trucking – Kenworth T909
Matty Merit Awards
Powers/Sanbella – White Road Boss
Colin Lobwein – Ford Louisville LTL 9000
Corbet’s Group – Mack Super-Liner
T&M Hanson – Mack Valueliner
Red Rock Group – International ABD184
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