Sunny’s epic journey – All roads lead to Brisbane
The Sunny Tracker comes to life. 2023 Brisbane Truck Show mascot Sunny the Koala has been all over Australia, and in fact, all over the world, spreading the word about this year’s truck show.
A six-month odyssey, a pilgrimage and so much more.
He has made friends far and wide with truck show exhibitors and friends taking him to see what they do, or something like that.
Did he make it to Brisbane? Watch and find out. Enjoy.
About Sunny – the Brisbane Truck Show mascot
Sunny the koala earned his name from the Brisbane Truck Show logo. The crest has been part of the logo for two decades and is instantly recognisable to most folks from the trucking industry no matter where you might hail from across Australia.
So, settling on a name for the new Brisbane Truck Show mascot was not an arduous or contentious task.
Given that Brisbane was recently announced as the host city for the 2032 Olympic Games, we were inspired to follow their lead and emulate the iconic torch relay – with a twist.
The Sunny Tracker
In the lead-up to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show, Sunny dropped in to visit as many of the near-300 exhibitors as possible, criss-crossing the country.
We tracked Sunny’s progress as he went, checking out what unusual forms of transport he might be subjected to, and what interesting activities he got up to while he was in their hands.
Where did Sunny go?
Exhibitors were enthusiastic in putting their hands up to host Sunny. Their ideas for giving Sunny an experience that is unique to their brands were irresistibly novel.
We archived some of the visits below, but the best way to see what an epic journey Sunny had is to watch the video above.
2023
January
2022
December
November
October
Sunny is still living his best life. He has been seen all over the place in the last few weeks at both ends of the Nullarbor and everywhere in between thanks to Ben from The Drone Way.
He wanted us to show you Big Red’s suggestion for an alternative to gum leaves.
Sunny is travelling around Australia catching up with Brisbane Truck Show exhibitors as part of his All Roads Lead to Brisbane relay.
Merry Christmas
Sunday 25 December 2022
Catch Sunny’s chat with his mum, organised for him by his host over Christmas/New Year, the magical Ben from The Drone Way.
The Drone Way and Sunny
Wednesday 21 December 2022
Sunny the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show mascot is not happy…
To WA then heading off across the Nullarbor
Tuesday 20 December 2022
Sunny and Yogi headed back to Western Australia and took in the vastness of the Wheatbelt (above left), out to Katanning where Yogi hails from.
Sunny is now on another big adventure as part of his relay across the country in the lead-up to the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show. Ben Stamatovich is our ambassador for BTS23, known for his amazing drone photography along the Nullarbor (above right) and rural Australia. You wouldn’t think a koala would be afraid of heights… right?! More to follow…!
Picasso Koala Pawtrait
Thursday 15 December 2022
The HVIA team, who produce the Brisbane Truck Show, met up for a creative session as part of our Christmas celebrations.
CEO Todd doesn’t have a pet, but does have a vested interest in the well-being of one very special koala. So given the opportunity to paint his favourite animal the choice of subjects was simple.
We’ll leave it to you to judge his success.
A bleary-eyed bear*
Sunday 4 December 2022
Sunny and Yogi got to know each other pretty well over the last couple of weeks.
One thing Sunny learned was that Yogi likes playing cards. 500 was the order of the night and unfortunately Sunny lost all his matchsticks.
*It’s just irresistible alliteration – of course we know koalas aren’t really bears.
NZ Trucking Show
Sunday 27 November 2022
Sunny and Yogi invited our friends from across the ditch to join us in Brisbane in May at this week’s awesome Trucking Industry Show held in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Brisbane Truck Show exhibitor Allotrac was also in New Zealand for the event. Naturally, Sunny stopped by to say g’day to their crew.
IRL Sunny at South Bank
Friday 25 November 2022
Sunny visited South Bank in Brisbane – home of the South Bank Truck Festival – to check out the layout and meet up with the show’s major sponsors NTI and Truck Assist.
Women in Trucking (USA) and heading home
Friday 18 November 2022
Sunny was a hit with the delegates at the Women in Trucking Accelerate conference.
The last we heard from him, Sunny was about to climb back into his bag for some shut-eye after some refreshments at LAX.
Thanks to our mates Simon from NXT Journey and Yogi from Kendall Trucking & Co for looking after him… we think.
Sunny – destination Dallas, USA
Saturday 12 November 2022
Here’s Sunny, just about to fly out to Dallas for the Women in Trucking Accelerate conference.
The two larrikins with him are Simon from NXT Journey and Yogi from Kendall Trucking & Co. This photo is at Sydney’s Mascot Airport. First, however, Sunny took an express trip from Brisbane to NXT Journey HQ in Cootamundra, to get acquainted to his luxury digs provided by NXT Journey – then the drive into the big smoke.
Thanks fellas for taking care of Sunny on the next phase of his big adventure. Safe travels you lot! Just don’t bring him back with an American accent.
Sunny at the Supercars GC500
Friday 30 October 2022
Sunny the Brisbane Truck Show mascot visited the Gold Coast 500 Supercars event with our Platinum Partners, NTI and Truck Assist. He quite enjoyed the Corporate hospitality.
We’ll tell you more about his trade skills later, but Sunny also aspires to drive fast cars – if only he could reach the pedals.
Sunny wants to see you in Brisbane
Saturday 29 October 2022
This is the “All roads lead to Brisbane” campaign, so Sunny wants to make sure you know a bit about the destination.
He put his cocktail down just long enough to show you the Brisbane River with South Bank Parklands down over his shoulder. That’s where the South Bank Truck Festival is held.
The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is almost visible over there too. That is, of course, where the Brisbane Truck Show will be held from 18-21 May 2023.
Sunny meets the crew
Tuesday 11 October 2022
Lifesize Sunny dropped in to meet some of the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show exhibitors who were in Brisbane to get a head-start on their preparations for what is set to be the biggest show ever.
Shortly Sunny will be heading off on a six-month relay, as part of a fun social media “All roads lead to Brisbane” campaign. Sunny will be criss-crossing the country, visiting exhibitors and going on adventures with them.
Sunny is going to be exhausted by the time we get to May – we’d better make sure there are plenty of juicy eucalypts on hand.
Sunny in Germany for IAA Transportation
September 2022
Pictured is Sunny in Hanover for the IAA Transportation event during September, inviting European visitors Downunder for the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show.
That was a big trip – and while the German food is definitely scrumptious, there was bearly a gum leaf in sight. (Did you see what we did there?)
Sunny is pretty stoked with his Truckie Gear bag (generously provided by NXT Journey), however, was quick to jump out and grab the window seat once on board. Cheeky koala!
