Granddad was ‘watching’ over Ethan’s special day

Daisy Hill resident Ethan Nilsen might well be the best-known 11-year-old in the City of Logan.

The youngster has been fascinated with garbage trucks since he was a small boy and has his own YouTube channel called Queensland Garbo, which features more than 600 homemade videos that have been viewed more than 210,000 times.

Ethan made national news earlier this year when he was given a surprise ride to school in a garbage truck.

The treat was organised to help Ethan process his grief in losing his grandfather and primary carer Sveinung ‘Simon’ Nilsen, a well-known local of Daisy Hill.

The pair would often sit together at a local bus stop on bin day to watch the garbage trucks at work.

Ethan’s aunt Rachel Nilsen says the media coverage of the ride to school made Ethan ‘a bit of a celebrity’, but it also had much more important benefits.

‘It helped lift his spirits after we lost Dad, and it built his self-esteem among school friends,’ Rachel says.

‘It was an experience he can look back on and talk about for years to come.’

Division 3 Councillor Mindy Russell says it was one of the best days in her time at Council.

‘To see the joy in Ethan’s face when he realised he was getting a ride to school in a garbage truck was amazing to see,’ Cr Russell says.

Ethan says he remains determined to do his granddad proud and become a truck driver.

‘It would have been nice if he had been there to see me in the truck, but I know he was watching me,’ Ethan says.

Photo at top: Cr Russell helped organise the surprise treat for 11-year-old garbage truck fan Ethan Nilsen.