Most young girls from 12 to 14 are hanging out with friends, playing sports or studying — but country girl Linda Widdup was driving a truck.
Though, with a family full of truckies, some may say she was destined for it.
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Currently working at a demolition company loading and managing rigs, she is also the founder of Aussie Hay Runners, who support farmers following natural disasters by transporting donated hay to those affected.
“In between work, I’m setting up hay runs to farmers all over the country, like Victoria and New South Wales,” she says.
“We now have around 74 trucks that do the runs with us.”
Like many little girls, Linda’s father was her hero growing up.
Cruising in the passenger seat of her dad’s rig as a child was what originally sparked her trucking passion and eventually led her into a 30-year transport career.
Driving interstate since she was 18, Linda learned how to operate tippers, trailers and stock plates before she became a mum, which threw a bit of a spanner in the works.
But driving trucks hasn’t been her only interest.
At one point, Linda jumped out of the trucking realm to take on the world of food, training as a chef.
“That skill is helpful now, because if we ever break down, I can always knock up a meal for the boys,” she says.
Being a humble mix of small-town girl and quiet but diligent worker, Linda never does things to be recognised or celebrated — so she assumed her work within the transport industry had gone unnoticed.
That’s why she was over the moon to discover her team at Aussie Hay Runners had nominated her for Transport Women Australia’s Dream Maker Award.
“I was chuffed, I just didn’t believe it,” she says. “I was thinking, why me? I’m just a little country girl who does my own thing. But I guess the boys know how much work goes into planning these runs.”
The Dream Maker award is in recognition of the unsung heroes in the industry working hard behind the scenes to make the dream a reality.
This year’s successful nominees were invited to attend the Transport Women Unite Red Ball at the Australian Festival of Transport in Alice Springs, which took place at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.
Taking her mother and daughter along for the ride, coworkers and volunteers generously donated funds to cover their expenses.
“I’m very dedicated to my Aussie Hay Runners,” Linda says. “If someone can’t go, I’m in the truck and I’m off.
“My life has been the transport industry, but when you work behind the scenes, you don’t expect to get noticed.
“When they announced that I had won, I couldn’t stop bloody smiling, it was from ear to ear.
“I just thought to myself, there’s so many people that are much more worthy of this, but here I am, going to accept something that I’ve been working at my whole life.
“Any task that needs to be completed at work, anything at all, I’ll just do it.”
She recalls the thrilling moment they called her name, along with the presentation of the award.
“My arms had goosebumps and my heart was pounding. I was just thinking, ‘Oh my goodness, it’s really happening!’
“I was very overwhelmed, but it was just an absolute privilege to be there, especially amongst other ladies in the trucking world that are just amazing at what they do.”
Linda’s can-do attitude and willingness to get any task done no matter the complexity is what makes her a standout winner.
“I’ve got the award set up on my mantlepiece at home, I walk past and have a bit of a smile,” she laughs.
“I’m still beaming. It’s just lovely to be noticed for what you do, I’d say it’s a big feather in my cap.”
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