Driver joins list of fallen at memorial
Family, truck fraternity remember fun-loving bloke who helped out
FALLEN truckie Bob McKillop will be remembered by friends and family as a “fun-loving bloke always willing to help out”.
Mr McKillop died tragically when his truck overturned and caught fire in January. He will be honoured in the Lights on the Hill Trucking Queensland Truck and Coach Drivers Memorial today.
His name will be added alongside 25 truck drivers to the memorial wall at Gatton’s Lake Apex Park, a place to remember truck drivers who have died on the roads and those who have spent most of their lives in the transport industry.
Memorial president Kerry Wilkins said far too often families received a knock on the door from police saying their loved ones would not be coming home.
The pain of the death of their first-born at the age of 60, was still raw for Mr McKillop’s parents, Doug and Joan.
“We still can’t believe it’s happened. We’re getting there, but we have a lot of bad days,” his mother said.
“When he was little he had rheumatic fever and was in bed a lot. As soon as he was allowed to do sports at school he went hell for leather.
“We talked to a lot of the guys after the funeral and the younger truck drivers said he helped them
He was always busy doing something. He was always quite willing to help anybody.
– Doug McKillop
a lot and gave them advice.
“Every Sunday he would give us a call. He talked to his father for hours and all they would talk about was trucks. I miss that.”
Bob’s love for trucks and cars was shared by the family.
His father was a truck driver for 20 years and the two would spend time working on cars in the shed.
“Even after he was a qualified mechanic he used to bring his bloody car to me to fix,” Doug said.
“He was always busy doing something. He was always quite willing to help anybody.
“He virtually lived for his jobs in trucks.”
His parents said it was a tragedy that so many truck drivers died on the roads.
Mr McKillop’s three grown children, Heath, Jodie and Amanda, were honoured by the tribute, especially as their father had been involved in the Lights on the Hill in previous years.
“I thought it was pretty fitting he got up on there. We miss him heaps.
“His four grandkids miss him too,” Heath said.