Lindsay Nelson at front, with Joan, Greg and Erin Barowski, Peter Filbey and Kingsley Nelson, who have all played a part in the old truck’s life. Picture: Jodie Donnellan
The phrase “it’s a small world” rings true for Lindsay Nelson.
A few weeks ago the Rochester resident placed an advertisement in the Bendigo Advertiser appealing to the public for the whereabouts of his late father’s 1942 Jailbar Ford truck.
“I knew it was out there,” Mr Nelson said. “I have a feeling for these sorts of things and it was a really good model, so I knew it would be somewhere.”
Mr Nelson said his father bought the truck in 1943 and had used it to transport wood during the war and then on the family farm.
The advertisement was seen by Bendigo resident Peter Filbey, who recognised the truck as belonging to his previous neighbours.
Mr Filbey contacted Greg and Yvonne Barowski, who immediately phoned Mr Nelson and invited him to inspect the truck.
“I knew it was the truck he was looking for,” Mr Barowski said.
“He was looking for a truck with FJ Nelson marked across the door.
“Even though my father had painted over it and put his name, the paint had faded and you could read FJ Nelson.”
The next day Mr Nelson confirmed the truck was the one he was searching for.
“I was astonished,” he said. “I have driven up that Bendigo road so many times and hadn’t ever thought it would be in Greg’s yard.”
Mr Barowski decided to sell the truck back to its original owner after he learned of the sentimental value.
“I wanted to know why he was looking for the truck,” he said.
“When he told me the story and that he wanted to restore the truck and spend a lot of money on it, it was an easy decision.
“He had a genuine reason.”
Mr Barowski said he remembered his parents driving around in the truck during his childhood.
“Dad bought it in 1959 and we basically grew up with it. It was used as a general farm truck. Mum used to drive it a lot, too.”
Mr Nelson said he planned to restore the truck to its original colours and signings.