By Amelia Willmer
Scores of Warwick people were at 53 Grafton Street last Saturday for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque honouring the founder and staff of R.W. Matthews and Sons.
“Geez it was a buzz,” said delighted family spokesman Ivan Matthews.
“Of the 62 people who attended, only 29 were family, which goes to show how deeply the business was embedded in the hearts and mind of local people.”
The firm employed hundreds of people from its commencement in 1928 until it closure in 1969.
The company provided the only daily freight service from Warwick to Brisbane.
The trucks, laden with Darling Downs wool, wheat and barley, headed daily to the Brisbane wharves.
On return they brought machinery and parts essential to the agricultural industry.
Warwick photographer Trevor Martin was on hand for Saturday’s plaque the unveiling which featured the mighty little D30 International truck, the first of the Matthews’ fleet.
