Phyllis Jones became the second woman to be inducted to the Deniliquin & District Transport Industry Wall of Fame on Friday night.Mrs Jones, from Hay, joins an illustrious and growing list of district stalwarts to be honoured by the organisers of the Deniliquin Truck Show & Industry Expo.
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The only other female inductee to date is Kate Murphy, who was honoured posthumously.
Her award was accepted by her husband Alan Murphy, who was also inducted in the same year.
Also inducted at this year’s Wall of Fame dinner at the Deniliquin RSL Club were Gary Hussey and Gerald ‘John’ Beckton (dec).
‘‘People say it is a male dominated industry, but I have never felt that I didn’t belong or I shouldn’t be there when doing various roles,’’ Mrs Jones said.
‘‘There were not many women driving back when I started so you did get a lot of stares and comments. but never from other truck drivers. They were always very helpful and polite.
‘‘I am grateful for the recognition I received and it was fantastic to have all of my family here to see it.
‘‘I just do what I love — you never work a day in your life if you are doing something you love.’’
Mrs Jones started in the industry when she and her late husband Neville started NJ & NP Jones in the late 1960s. The business is still managed by the family today.
As the Jones’ built their business, Mrs Jones was able to watch and be a part of the constantly changing industry, including the proud moment two of her sons joined the family business.
But her involvement in the industry has spanned further than just the family business.
She is a member of Transport Women Australia, NatRoad and Livestock and Rural Carriers Association Victoria, and a former member of the Australian Road Train Association.
She is a member of Bulk Carriers section of Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association NSW, serving as treasurer for 14 years.
In 2001 Mrs Jones took out the Australian Trucking Industry Woman of the Year Award and two years later the NatRoad Quiet Achiever Award.
She was inducted into the Australian Road Transport Hall of Fame in 2004, is a life member of Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association, and inductee of the NSW Department of Primary Industries Hidden Treasures Roll.
Mrs Jones also received the Order of Australia Medal on Australia Day this year for her commitment to the road transport industry and says she will continue to be involved in the indutry as long as she can.
Mr Hussey, from Deniliquin, started his career as a truck driver at the age of 17. He has been in the transport industry for a staggering 58 years.
He initially carted grain, general freight, wool, fruit and fuel to the city and beyond for four years before joining the former Conargo Shire Council as a tip truck driver.
Always itching to try something different, he then joined J Murphy and Sons in 1975 for six years before going in to business with Mick McMillan in 1981. They built stock crates out of Neil Scott’s shed.
After 12 years they dissolved the partnership and started separate companies. Mr Hussey opened his business on Wakool Rd in 1993, repairing and maintaining heavy vehicles.
Mr Hussey is helped in the business by his son today.
As he was away for work and could not attend the dinner, Mr Hussey’s award was collected by his former business partner on Friday.
Mr Beckton spent 36 years in the transport industry.
He served as a mechanic in World War II before returning to Deniliquin to start his own business in 1947, transporting livestock, wool, logs, wheat, cars, petrol and general goods using a fleet trucks.
During the 1956 floods, Mr Beckton supplied a 4x4 Blitz truck to move goods and people through flood waters on the north side of town to the Deniliquin CBD. He also carried dirt and gravel to flood levee banks.
Mr Beckton also provided a community service by supplying a truck for the Miss Show Girl at the Deniliquin Show for many years.
Not only was Mr Beckton a community man, he also established trends in the local area as the first person to continually operate a three-deck sheep and two-deck cattle stock crate in the Deniliquin area.
He was a representative on various transport organisations, fighting for better conditions and regulations in the transport industry.
When ill health forced Mr Beckton to take a break from the business, he purchased a water truck and worked in road construction until his death.
Two of the seven children Mr Beckton and his wife Nance raised followed their father’s footsteps to join the industry.
Mr Beckton’s award was accepted by his son Dennis, who travelled from Queensland to be at the dinner.
