A tribute to Mack

By Justin Robertson
IT’S been six months since toddler Mackenzie Reid lost his battle with cancer.
His love for trucks will always be in the memory of his family and kinder mates.
During his time at the Garfield Kindergarten, Mack used to dress up as a firefighter with his twin brother Levi and pretend they were working.
They also used to make their own Mack trucks at any spare moment or opportunity.
So it was fitting that last week the Garfield Kindergarten unveiled a brand new red fire truck with the license plate “Mack”, to a group of family members and former kinder mates.
For kindergarten president Susie Wouters the timing was right to honour Mack in the best way possible: a big red fire truck memorial.
“We wanted to do something to remember him and have his memory always here,” she said.
“Naturally it’s still hard on the family and we’re still trying to cope with the loss.”
The kindergarten put on a special sausage sizzle barbecue for everyone who attended and thanked Bunnings for donating and making the truck and handful of local community traders for donating supplies for the truck.
Mack was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in February last year.
He suffered from a disease so rare that it had only been diagnosed in about 60 people worldwide.
His story touched the hearts of Garfield residents and community traders and all got behind him and his family to raise money for treatment.
The Facebook group “Backing Mack” now has more than 290 followers and tributes for the truck enthusiast continue to pour in.
Amy Lea said “We promised to never stop looking. We love you Macky boy, you are so very missed by all”.