THERE were 22 Victory College graduates attending their formal at the Gympie Civic Centre last night, but no parent was prouder than Kylie Thorgood, whose 17-year-old son Kevin defied all the odds to be there.

Kevin was born with autism and school has never been an easy nor particularly friendly environment for him.

Three years ago, he was so far behind his peers it didn't look like he would make it.

But then everything just seemed to fall into place.

Kevin passed Year 12 in an unmodified program, with honours, while holding down a part-time job for the past two years.

To reward him for his achievement, Kylie and her partner hired the Monster Truck Spot the Dog to take him to his formal last night.

The 3.5m-wide, 4m-high beast required special transport on a semi-trailer from the Sunshine Coast yesterday, and a four-man security team to keep the surrounding crowd at a safe distance.

The kind hearts at Gympie's Masondale's Transport provided the transport free, and The Shaft Nite Club provided the security team free-of-charge.

Kevin's tearful, grateful and proud mum said yesterday her faith in humanity had been reinforced by such generosity.

Kevin hopes to join the police force when he is old enough. He wanted to join the army but his autism precludes him from admission to the armed forces.