Winton's Truck and Heritage Museum has been an important local and tourist landmark on the Hughenden Road for over 10 years.
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But now it has a new attraction, a memorial garden with a remembrance wall dedicated to those who helped make the beautiful museum and its lovingly-restored artifacts a reality.
The Museum was officially opened at the Winton Outback Festival in 2007 so it was appropriate that the garden was unveiled on Saturday morning as an official part of the week long Outback Festival program.
That meant guests were joined by locals and tourists for the packed opening.
The Museum's Peter Stephens said the museum was opened through the generosity of many people and gradually grew bigger and bigger.
"To remember some of the people who have passed on who were in the instigation of this organisation we decided we'd put this memorial garden up," Mr Stephens said.
"As time goes on we'll end up with more names inscribed on the wall."
Names on the wall include former mayor Butch Lenton who was represented by his wife Ros and livestock trucking legend Alan Grant.
State member for Gregory Lachlan Millar was on hand to help Peter and wife Robyn Stephens open the memorial garden.
Mr Millar said the trucking industry was a significant contributor to the economy of Queensland and this place in Winton was one of his favourite museums.
"Coming from agriculture myself and hanging around trucks, I enjoy coming here," Mr Millar said.
"This is a real tribute to our industry, not just in Queensland but right around the nation.
"If we don't have trucks Queensland moves nowhere, Australia moves nowhere."
Mr Millar said this was a great recognition of the trucking and livestock industry but also gave an opportunity for tourism dollars to stay in town.
"People come to this museum and probably reminisce over some of the trucks that they used to work on," he said.
"And this plaque now remembers some significant people like Butch, Buddo and Dave who were on the committee and made such a great impact."
The plaque is dedicated to "valued members who have made a significant contribution in the development of forming Winton's Diamantina Heritage Truck and Machinery Museum since its inception in 2014".
The four names on the wall: Roy "Shawie" Shaw 1929-2018,
David "Big Dave" Gillies 1943-2017,
Graham "Butch" Lenton 1956-2017
Alan "Buddo" Grant 1962-2017
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
