Phyllis Jones honoured with Trish Pickering Memorial Award

Transport Women Australia Limited (TWAL) has bestowed the 2020 Trish Pickering Memorial Award on well known and loved trucking identity, Phyllis Jones OAM.

The award was presented at a small gathering in Jones’ hometown of Hay, NSW.

TWAL had intended to present the award at an end of year event with much fanfare, but Covid-19 restrictions and border closures put paid to the plan.

Jones initially thought she was attending a family dinner.

She was surprised and excited to be presented with the award by the immediate past Chair and previous winner, Pam McMillan.

McMillan had multiple duties on the evening, representing TWAL and standing in for current TWAL Chair, Jacquelene Brotherton, as well as representing the sponsor, Wes Pickering.

Both Brotherton and Pickering were unable to attend due to border closures.

“We were able to start the award last year with the wonderful support of Wes Pickering,” said Brotherton.

“When the recipient of the second award came up for discussion during a TWAL board meeting earlier this year, Phyllis Jones was at the front of my mind as I’d spent a lot of time with her in the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association and was also lucky enough to have presented her with a Life Membership of the Association back in 2010.”

Brotherton said Jones was put forward as a candidate for the Trish Pickering Memorial Award and was accepted unanimously by the eight board members.

“We presented Jones’ name to Wes Pickering and he was stoked that we had chosen her, agreeing we couldn’t have picked a better candidate for the award,” she said.

The award was established in 2019 by TWAL with the generous sponsorship of Wes Pickering, in memory of his late wife, Trish.

The inaugural Trish Pickering Memorial Award was presented to Pam McMillan at the 20th Anniversary Gala Dinner of TWAL in November 2019.

The award was established to recognise the achievements of women in transport, in particular for their dedication to improving the transport industry and for outstanding contribution over a long period of time.

It is based on four pillars – strength, independence, leadership and acting as a role model.

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