Convoy for Kids: Geelong comes out in force

“I felt that I’d lost all self-worth and was looking for some reason to feel good about myself,” said Vera. “Then I read an article in a magazine about a child with cancer and what they were going through.

“For me it was a light-bulb moment and I jumped in at the deep end, founding Camp Quality.

“The first couple of years were tough ones for fundraising. We were nobody and it took time to convince people of our aims and what we wanted to achieve. But eventually doors opened and today we raise funds in numerous ways to support children and their families who are fighting this insidious disease.”

In 1989 John Moran OAM (dec) – known to truckies around the country simply as The Ferret – along with truckie, David Gauldron, launched Convoy for Kids in Brisbane. The event was twofold in that it raised much-needed funds for Camp Quality, and also presented truckies in a totally new light to the world at large. And so the Convoy for Kids movement grew around the country.

The Geelong Convoy for Kids began in 2015, and Camp Quality’s Sandie Hall told us how it came about: “We knew some members of the trucking community here who had been touched by cancer and they banded together to support our kids and families. It grew from there.

“We help kids at every stage of the cancer experience, starting in hospital at the point of diagnosis. We have a school program that teaches kids about cancer to prevent bullying.

“We have a camp program – kid’s camps and family camps, family fun days and a whole suite of online programs including counselling, website resources and so forth,” Sandie said.

“We try and be there at every stage of what is often a long and hard journey and of course that costs. That we have a really strong community of supporters in Geelong, probably more so than anywhere else in Victoria, it’s just wonderful.

“There are truckies who turn up in ever-increasing numbers each year in their magnificent rigs – and we know how hard they work in their daily lives – it’s very humbling, and we are so grateful of the effort they make on our behalf.”

And turn out they did! This year the Geelong Convoy for Kids saw 173 trucks register for the run – well up on the 113 at the last event.

A total of $35,151 was raised this year from just one team, The Colac Crew, or The Colac Prats as Rodney Light likes to refer to this bunch of dedicated folk from the West Victorian town. The Colac Crew was the highest fundraising team and Rodney – along with wife, Kelly – was the biggest individual fundraiser, raising nearly $10,000.

Luckily for Rodney and Kelly, they’ve not been touched personally by cancer but, like most, know of someone who has.

“You never know what’s around the corner and while you wish for the best you know that the worst can happen. Someone mentioned the Convoy years ago; we thought what a great cause, got involved and got hooked.”

“Getting ‘hooked’ means sausage sizzles at Bunnings, raffling off loads of firewood, doing market days and approaching businesses for sponsorship. It’s a year-round effort but it’s all worth it to be here today with all these other legends, do a spin around the block in the convoy and see the appreciation from the Geelong throng who turned out in spades to watch us all drive by.”

Mario Gaffiero owns Just Fuel Petroleum (JPS) based out of Sunshine and comes to the convoy simply because it is a good cause. “It has been awesome in the past and today is no exception,” he said.

“We’ve been doing this for around seven years now for Camp Quality, although we’ve also supported other Convoys for other organisations prior to this. It’s for the children who can’t help what has happened to them.”

“The thing is it’s become a really good event. Each year it grows and there is so much acknowledgement out there on the streets now. It’s very well-recognised. It’s very well-organised as well. The people who run the show do a tremendous job in bringing people together and making it all happen.

“We love it and will always support it. We always do as much as we can to raise as much money as possible. A lot of our drivers would like to join in but we’re a 24/7 company supplying fuel to service stations all over Victoria and New South Wales.”

Hayden Hinkley is yet another who makes the effort to support the Convoy. “We all know someone who’s been touched by cancer. I’ve had family and friends who’ve had it. It’s a mongrel disease. It could be you or me or our kids,” Hayden said.

Hayden had help preparing his new (to him) 1985 Kenworth K100CR in the form of his four-year-old daughter who insisted on helping to wash the truck. “Well, up to hub height anyway,” laughed Hayden. “She washes me more than the truck. But I look at her and she’s the best reason in the world for supporting the Convoy for Kids.”

Andy Derham, fresh from winning Truck of the Show at Koroit turned up with his magic 1989 Mack, attracting admiring looks from both entrants and the Geelong public. “You don’t have to go too far to find someone who has been affected by cancer. It’s a great cause. It’s very close to a lot of people.”

Camp Quality’s Sandie Hall added: “Cancer is a pretty serious business. In Camp Quality we say laughter is the best medicine. We’re helping them smile and stay positive, and it actually helps with the treatment and gets them through.

“I’d just like to say thank you to the trucking community and all the participants in this year’s convoy. It’s pretty tough out there with the spiralling cost of fuel and the cost of living, so to see the biggest convoy we’ve had, with the biggest fundraising result, has just blown us away. With 173 trucks, $154,000 raised and still climbing, it’s amazing.

“People can donate any time of the year by looking up Camp Quality on Google and you can make a donation. Thank you to everyone who has supported this incredible result.”

We asked Sandie which truck was lead in the Convoy: “A big, shiny one,” she responded shyly. “Next year I’ll know the type of truck, I promise!”