Truckin’ In The Outback

Lachlan and Leon Dagg

BY ALF WILSON

AGED just 18, Lachlan Dagg is one of the youngest truckies I have spoken to and it was by extreme coincidence that I discovered that he and his father Leon Dagg are descendants of famous Australian bushranger

Ned Kelly.

I was sitting in a Warwick Roadhouse in January enjoying breakfast when Lachlan, his girlfriend Jasmine Taylor and Leon walked in to order some takeaways.

Lachlan was driving a Foton light rigid truck in which Jas- mine was a passenger and it was parked outside.

In another vehicle beside them was his father Leon, 50. When they entered I mentioned to my wife that he struck a resemblance to Ned Kelly because of his dark beard. My wife urged me to yarn to them when they left and they were happy to oblige.

Myself and the trouble and strife (wife Jenny) had both been to Victoria to visit Glenrowan where Ned Kelly was captured by police in June 1880 and three members of his gang were killed after a siege at the Glenrowan Inn.

At Glenrowan is a giant Ned Kelly statue and a museum which features a re-enactment of his stand against police.

And of course a picture of Ned Kelly showing his beard.

Lachlan said he had been driving for a while and that the Foton was going to Kalara to pick up cattle which had been at a farm on agistment to deliver to the Warwick saleyards.

“I do the driving and hopefully Jasmine will in the not too distant future too,” Lachlan said.

I asked Leon if he had ever been told he was a clone of Ned Kelly and his answer was quite unexpected.

“I am related to Ned Kelly somewhere along the line from back then,” Leon said.

Leon who sometimes drives the Foton said he had been to Glenrowan.

Lachlan added that the worst road he travels on is the Cunningham Highway. “The stretch between Warwick and

Cunningham Gap is rough in places.”

He likes stopping at the BP Aratula Roadhouse and enjoys his life.

“I just love picking up cattle,” he said.

Leon lives at Jimboomba and makes loading ramps for trucks and other vehicles.

“I have made one for the Foton which is a Chinese model but has a Cummins motor,” Leon said.

Also travelling in the Foton was Lachlan’s pet dog Archie who is delighted to go on trips. I really enjoyed yarning to the trio who are genuine friendly bush people.