Trish Pickering Memorial gong recognises lifetime of achievement
Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) presents the 2020 Trish Pickering Memorial Award to well-known and loved trucking identity Phyllis Jones OAM.
The award was presented at a small gathering in Jones’ hometown of Hay, in New South Wales.
“TWAL had planned to present the award at the end of year event with much fanfare but with the Covid-19 restrictions and border closures, Phyllis thought she was attending a family dinner,” TWAL chair Jacquelene Brotherton says.
“She was surprised and excited to be presented with the award by the immediate past chair and previous winner, Pam McMillan, with the award.”
Read about this year’s TWAL scholarship winners, here
Jones, a former TWAL board member and the 2001 National Road Transport Woman of the Year and 2002 NatRoad Quiet Achiever, is a Transport Hall of Fame inductee who, along with driving livestock trucks and tippers since 1964, has been treasurer of the Livestock Transporters Association of NSW and a member of NatRoad and the Australian Road Train Association (ARTA).
She has also been a campaigner for children’s health.
McMillan had multiple duties on the evening representing TWAL and standing in for Brotherton as well as representing the sponsor, Wes Pickering, both of whom were unable to attend due to border closures.
TWAL established the award in 2019 with the sponsorship of Wes Pickering, in memory of his late wife, Trish.
The inaugural Trish Pickering Memorial Award was awarded to Pam McMillan at the 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner of TWAL in November 2019.
The award is to recognise achieving women in transport, for dedication to improving the transport industry and for outstanding contribution over a long period of time.
Brotherton notes that the award recognises these attributes and is based on four pillars – strength, independence, leadership and acting as a role model.