The parking lot at Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS) looked like a tractor lot last Friday, as a grassroots student and staff effort brought together a tractor tailgate event.
“We decided to bring in the spring tractor event, but also one of our students, Dylan Auliffe, is battling cancer,” said school guidance councillor Randy Jameson, who explained the event was coordinated out of respect for Auliffe, who was unable to attend.
Stressing the event was not a fundraiser or a request from Auliffe or his family, Jameson said the event was about the school community.
“It’s a celebration of our rural roots and being spring, and underneath it, we knew Dylan would like it,” Jameson explained.
Organized by five of Auliffe’s childhood friends, all of whom are now in Grade 11, including Amy Allan, Tom Reeves, Josh McEachern, Ashler Young-Evans and Aydan Csuhai, the event was inspired by a conversation between Auliffe and Reeves last year.
“A year ago I went to a similar event and told Dylan about it and we decided it would be cool to do something like that here,” said Reeves, who estimated approximately 40 tractors, heavy machinery and small engine equipment were on hand for the event.
Explaining the significance of the event, McEachern said, “Dylan likes to work on tractors. Dylan, Tom and Aydan would build lawn mowers into racing tractors.”
In honour of Auliffe’s love of these machines, the school community, with a largely rural population, took part by driving to school in their family-owned vehicles.
“This is for our friend Dylan, who was diagnosed with cancer two years back … and this is about us rallying for him,” said McEachern.
Wellington County OPP officers also took part, ensuring the safety of all involved.
Jillian Stevens, a guidance councillor at CWDHS, said the event came together quickly this week and she credits the support of staff and students.
“We started planning on Monday and by Wednesday we started talking it up,” Stevens said.
“A lot of this is due to the tech department teachers, Rob McColeman, Geoff Patterson and Chris Priester. It’s expanded now and the community has come.”
Stevens referred to several heavy equipment machine operators who took part from a nearby construction site and who know the Auliffe family and decided to add their machines to the tailgate party.
The event, held all afternoon, included a free barbecue for students, who were allowed to take part between classes or during breaks.
“It just expanded from having a tailgate party to including a barbecue,” said Stevens, who added the students are thinking of their friend, Auliffe.
As hundreds of students came and went throughout the day, Reeves was happy to see the event a success.
“I am very impressed at the turnout. I think it shows a lot about the school and how they support Dylan,” he said.
The school hopes to make the tailgate event an annual spring tradition.
