A
DREAM
COMES
TRUE

Isn't it great when you can help someone's dream come true. That's exactly what FleetWatch - with the help of SOS Breakdown in Cape Town - did for Andrew van Aswegen who had his dream come true last month when he and his girlfriend arrived at his matric dance in one of the largest trucks on the road. They were the stars of the evening writes our Cape correspondent, Stephanie Platt, who was there to enjoy the occasion.

The event even made the pages of the Sunday Times

Andrew, a Grade 12 weekly boarder at Somerset College in Somerset West, decided a couple of months ago that the most amazing this to do for his matric dance would be to arrive in the biggest truck possible.

"I started trying to find an enormous truck. This was not easy and no-one seemed willing to help. I did get hold of one company who said they could do it for R2 000 but there was no way I had that kind of money," he says.

He persevered though and while searching the web, linked into the FleetWatch website. Andrew then sent the following e-mail:

"Dear FleetWatch staff. I don't know if I should speak to the Editor or someone else but I need advice/help. I am in matric at Somerset College in the Somerset West area and I have a matric dance in two weeks time. The thing is, I want to arrive at the dance in the biggest truck possible. I don't know what you would call it but the type of truck with the extended bonnet, huge exhausts up the side of the cab and with lots of fairings." 

SOS Not just for rescue... but as the knight in shining armour providing a golden chariot

He says he couldn't believe his luck when he received an almost immediate reply from FleetWatch editor Patrick O'Leary saying: "Hi Andrew. Hang in there china. Your lady must be really special. Let's see if we can help you impress her - and the rest of the school. Dreams are wonderful things - especially when they come true."

It was thus I got call from the editor asking me if I could try find a local company which could cater to Andrew's wishes. Within days it was all arranged. And it's three cheers to Stephen Cross of SOS Breakdown who operates a Peterbilt 6x6 recovery vehicle. On hearing me out, Stephen agreed to do the honours and as readers can see from the cover and accompanying photographs, we managed to meet Andrew's requirements exactly. 

Andrew's girlfriend, Kim Whitaker, a Grade 11 learner from Herchelle School, knew nothing about her conveyance. Her jaw dropped open as they pulled up at Rondebosch common, where the truck was waiting for the couple. Beside Andrew's family - mom, dad, grandparents, sister and even the maid - who were all there to see them off, locals taking their evening walk on the common stopped and gaped as the truck pulled off, giving spectators a couple of good blasts from the hooter.

After the 40km journey, they pulled up at the school where their arrival caused quite a stir. "It was absolutely amazing," says Andrew. "Our vehicle was so big that all the other cars simply had to follow. We led a whole convey into the school. It was everything I hoped it would be."

The letter received by the editor of FleetWatch from Andrew after the event says it all:

"Thank you so much for making my dance all it could be. I couldn't believe it when you first contacted me and I still can't believe what happened. We certainly gave the school a show and had some fun doing it. Kim absolutely loved it and fell straight into the theme of things.

"You should have seen the expressions on people's faces when they looked up into this huge cab to see two formally dressed people drinking champagne. Absolutely everyone saw us arrive and the flashing lights only helped. You said we should set out to impress the school and we certainly did. Everyone was saying that it was the coolest thing ever to arrive in."

A thoroughly polite and likeable young man, Andrew plans to study 3-dimensional graphics at Cape Technicon next year.

Editor's Note: Glad we were able to help Andrew and a big thanks to our Cape correspondent Stephanie Platt who organised the whole bang-shoot on the Cape Town side - and was there on the night to ensure all ran smoothly. And of course, to Stephen Cross of SOS Breakdown who so willingly gave of his time and resources to make this young man's dream come true. As a matter of interest, Andrew, Kim and the SOS Peterbilt made the Sunday Times as one of the most unusual and novel ways of arriving at a matric dance. What the heck. This trucking industry is great - isn't it!