When Betina Wilks saw the countless trucks lined up along the Bruce Highway in Ayr, right outside her doorstep, she quickly stepped in to lend a hand.
For the past few days, she’s been heading along the highway to offer food and snacks to the many truckies who’ve been queuing up and waiting to pass through the flood-impacted route.
“I’m a rural girl from Mt Isa, so I know what it’s like to be isolated. I know what these guys mean to us and what they mean to their families back at home,” Betina said.
Trucks queued up along the highway in Ayr. Image: Betina Wilks“These drivers are being ramped up for a kilometre, so they can’t just jump out and go to the toilet or stop to buy food. They are basically stuck in their trucks until they can start moving again. They can’t do anything, so I thought I have to do something.”
What started with Betina raiding her pantry for goodies that she placed in a box and left out for truckies to help themselves has gone up a notch, with her now preparing home cooked meals, and delivering them straight to the truck drivers out on the road.
“On the first day it was so hot, so I went and bought some Zooper Doopers for the drivers. One of the truckies I met gave me a donation. I said I didn’t want it as I was happy to be doing this. He said, ‘No you have to take this’. So I went to the shop and bought some bread and other supplies,” Betina explained.
“With the help of my neighbour and friend Christine, we made 45 sandwiches and delivered them to the drivers.”
As a disability pensioner, Betina struggled with all the walking, so Christine was quick to step up and help distribute the food along the highway. “With my disability and my shoulders the way they are, I can’t go too far,” Betina said.
Talking to Big Rigs while in the kitchen preparing another meal for truck drivers queued up on the Bruce – this time pasta bolognese – Betina said she’s been overwhelmed by all of the support she’s received.
“The gratitude has been overwhelming. The truck drivers I’ve met couldn’t be more grateful. They are all smiles and say thank you very much,” she said.
“I had a truck driver’s wife drop off 14 meals today so I’m just waiting on a friend to come and help me heat those up so we can distribute them.
“I also went to the Ayr Woolworths and the manager Matt has given me a $200 voucher to use for supplies. Matt and Peter there were amazing. They also gave me a heaps of fruit and vegetables, and donated food containers and cutlery.
Betina with Matt from Woolworths at Ayr. Image: Betina Wilks“Then the lady at the local coffee shop, Home & Style Store/Ayr Coffee Co, gave me heaps of mince, sausages, vegetables, stock and cash too so I could get what I needed.”
While truckies are grateful for everything Betina is doing, Betina says she’s also grateful that she’s able to do what she’s doing. “You couldn’t ask for nicer people than these truck drivers I’ve met,” she said.
“I tell them without you guys, we’re stuffed. These truck drivers are the backbone of our country. We’d be lost without them. I really do appreciate everything our truck drivers do. I see them go past my house every day and see them honk their horns for the kids, and the kids absolutely love it.”
Betina has also been ensuring the police directing traffic at the nearby roundabout are fed too, dropping off sandwiches and meals.
“I’ll endeavour to keep doing more. I appreciate how easy I’ve got it because I’m not flooded in, so anything I can do to help, I will. I’ll be cooking up more food for tonight so I can head out to wherever the drivers are stopped.”
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