Girl power a driving force in the Pilbara as women empower one another
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Women in remote parts of Australia are leading the way in transforming industries post-mining boom.
From trucks to motorbikes, groups such as the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls (PHHG) and Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters (PMS) are reinforcing positive changes in outback Australia.
Heather Jones, a trailblazer in the truck-driving industry, has been living in the Pilbara for more than 27 years.
"In 2013, or 2014 I think it was, there was a group of us girls in Karratha — 30 female truck drivers," she told ABC TV's Back Roads program.
"We decided to become more visible and just actually promote women in the industry.
"We threw a few names around and came up with Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls, and that was just the banner to promote the women in the industry."
Ms Jones recognised that women currently made up just 1 per cent of the nation's heavy vehicle driver workforce.
The Karratha-based, not-for-profit organisation has now led to two pink trucks being seen among the red hills and dirt on deserted outback roads.
It brings newly licensed truck drivers — men and women — into the industry, giving them real-life work with 160 hours of on-the-road training.
Ms Jones said there had been mixed reviews when the pink trucks first began moving on the Pilbara roads.
"To start off with there was a few noses out of joint up here because we had pink trucks, but they got used to it," she said.
As time progressed, there was more demand, with as many as 500 people currently on a waiting list to join driver training.
Pink roadies keep on truckin'
A colleague of Ms Jones, truck driver Mel Murphy started her job 12 years ago.
She said it felt good to be taking on the role, despite disbelief from others that women could drive trucks.
"For so long it's been a male-dominated industry, and slowly over the years it's starting to change," Ms Murphy said.
"It feels excellent … I love the challenge and yeah, every job you do is different."
Ms Murphy said she originally copped a bit of flak when she told men about her job.
"I'd tell 'em I drive trucks … 'Oh, you drive trucks?' … I went 'Yeah I drive trucks' and they're like 'You actually drive?' and I said 'Yeah, I actually drive the trucks. I certainly don't push them up the road do I?'"
PMS bikies providing Pilbara power
But truck drivers are not the only ones in remote parts of Western Australia providing an outlet for women on the road.
Leah Scholes founded the Pilbara Motorcycle Sisters — a group of strong women who are empowering other women with community work, and tackling cultural issues such as preventing domestic violence.
"We're just a really great bunch of ladies. We love getting together for a bike ride," Ms Scholes said.
"One of the main things we really want to do is get ourselves out there in the community as far as family and domestic violence is concerned — raising awareness, suicide prevention and awareness."
She said it was important that PMS had a presence for women feeling helpless in remote areas.
"Especially if they've come from other areas and they are new to the Pilbara perhaps, and they might not be knowing that many people … the main thing is that we are there."
But unlike truckies in the area, Ms Scholes is adamant that she does not take any flak from the blokes for women on bikes.
"None whatsoever. We're tough bikie chicks, don't you worry about that," she said.
From two wheels to a dozen
For some women in the Pilbara, there is a crossover between groups, making it just a matter of how many wheels to ride or drive.
While women truck drivers are sought after, Ms Jones's latest student of the PHHG program, Tangiora Hinaki, is a local radio presenter, singer-songwriter, filmmaker and mother of eight children — who now is taking up the challenge of driving the pink trucks.
"I'm already a motorcycle sister and this is just like the next step," Ms Hinaki said.
"You know it's all about, you only live once, and life is a journey and I love learning and picking up new skills."
Women like Ms Hinaki look up to Ms Jones as a role model and aspire to be fully trained.
"She's very clear, succinct, and I think she's got a very gentle approach," she said.
Boom day downturn
Although Ms Jones has been driving trucks for almost three decades, she said the women in groups such as PHHG and PMS represent what a robust part of the world the Pilbara is.
"The Pilbara is a tough place … it really is … you're a long way from the cities," Ms Jones said.
"During summer it's really hot and hard up here and I think you either survive up here or you die.
"You can break out of the box, out of the mould, it's great. Where else would you rather be?"
And although the mining boom may seem over for now, Ms Jones said locals needed to remain at the forefront of decisions as jobs and wages were on the decline.
"The mining industry I think really does need to employ local people. All of that money then stays in town and it goes back into the community," she said.
"So rather than the fly-in, fly-out people, to employ local people would be a huge benefit.
"I think the Pilbara means endless opportunities. You have a look at the land and the variety and everything we've got here. It's just absolutely amazing.
"Post the mining boom — well, we'll still have mining obviously — but there's a lot of opportunities for big businesses and small businesses and for just the local community."
- Watch Back Roads on ABC TV 8pm Monday
- Past episodes or extras are on iView or at www.abc.net.au/backroads
#BackRoads
Heather Ewart returns to the Back Roads of Australia, to discover more resilient country towns and the inspiring people who live in them. She meets communities whose good humour and inventiveness will inspire and uplift.
Topics: community-and-society, community-organisations, regional, driver-education, women, karratha-6714, wa
