Neil Carter: Tribute for Maleny Dairies contractor killed in truck rollover on Bruce Highway at Caboolture

The partner of a Sunshine Coast truck driver killed in a tragic rollover on the Bruce Highway says he was one of the best things that ever happened to her.

Sunshine Coast man Neil Carter was sadly killed in a truck rollover at Caboolture.

Lyn Griffin says she will never find another man like the one who made her laugh every day.

Ms Griffin and partner Neil Carter had built a life together on the Sunshine Coast, with plans to one day travel the country by each other’s side.

Tragically, the couple’s dreams have now been replaced by heartache.

Mr Carter was killed in a truck rollover off the Bruce Highway in Caboolture on Monday afternoon.

It’s believed the 59-year-old suffered a medical episode prior to the rollover and sadly died at the scene.

Lyn Griffin has paid tribute to her partner Neil Carter who died in a truck rollover at Caboolture.

Tributes have been flowing in for the Bridges resident on the Maleny Dairies Facebook page.

The business owned the truck involved.

Ms Griffin said those closest to Mr Carter were devastated by the news.

The pair first met about nine years ago when Mr Carter would visit the BP in Tewantin, where Ms Griffin works.

“He’d come in every day and get an Ice Break,” she said.

“I didn’t know he was interested in me and then one day he just grabbed my hand over the counter and held my hand.

“He said ‘would you like to go for a coffee, I’m a good listener’ so we went for a coffee and when his personality came out I was hooked.”

Ms Griffin said Mr Carter had a great sense of humour.

Ms Griffin said his “fun loving” nature had captured the hearts of all who knew him, including his two sons and five siblings.

“He just brightened every gathering that we walked into because he had such a wonderful sense of humour,” she said.

“He was a very generous and loving person.

“Whenever anybody asked for his help, he never says no. Always did what was asked of him.”

Ms Griffin said stores across the Coast always requested Mr Carter as their deliverer because of his knack to make people laugh.

Mr Carter died when the Maleny Dairies truck he was driving crashed on the Bruce Highway at Caboolture. Picture: 7 News

“He knew a lot of people and all the stores and customers (would say) ‘we want to have Neil to deliver our milk’,” she said.

“(He was a) wonderful person to know, to have in your life.”

Ms Griffin said the surprise 60th birthday party she had planned for her partner would now be an opportunity to remember the impact he made.

“All of his family was coming up from Victoria and lots of friends were going to come and surprise him,” Ms Griffin said.

“He was one of the best things that happened in my life.

“I’ll never find another person like him.”

Mr Carter was from Victoria.

Maleny Dairies owner Ross Hopper said Mr Carter started as an employee in 2013 and then became a contractor when the business sold a fleet of trucks.

“He was a good bloke,” Mr Hopper said.

“He was a jolly bloke in the workplace when he was waiting for his truck to be loaded, he was a good bloke to have around.”

Mr Hopper was given the tragic news by tow truck drivers on scene and was the first to tell Ms Griffin she had lost her partner.

“I rang her and let her know what had happened and that he’d died,” he said.

“It’s the hardest thing that I could do.”

Maleny Dairies staff did what they could to help and Mr Hopper said he was proud of the way they lent a hand despite the “horrible” circumstances.

Mr Carter on the job with Maleny Dairies.

“We can’t commend them enough on how great our staff are,” he said.

“It was great, the amount of staff that turned up last night to help clean up the load and put in a great effort, along with the towies on scene.”

Mr Hopper said the loss was a reminder to never take the people in your life for granted.

“Isn’t it good that when you miss someone, that all you can think about are good things and it makes you look at other staff and think good things about them,” he said.

“You never know when time’s up, it happens and the whole idea is to definitely appreciate people you’ve got around you now.

“Miss you mate.”