The excitement of riding up front in a large truck with her dad, Gary Williams, when she was just a girl of five has never lost its shine for Pauline Kearney.

Recently, the Barooga businesswoman was recognised as the inaugural winner of the Rural Transport Woman of the Year 2025 by the Livestock Bulk and Rural Carriers Association and Repco Commercial for her contributions to the industry.

Pauline was taken by surprise when her name was announced at the National Rural Carriers Convention, held at the Rex Hotel in Canberra on Saturday, April 5.

The prestigious award was presented by LBRCA life members Phyllis Jones and Tracey Boschetti, two women of the industry who have been an inspiration to Pauline over the years.

“The award was announced in 2024 on International Women’s Day to promote the input by women into the rural transport industry. I was absolutely shocked when my name was announced, yet feel deeply honoured and extremely grateful. I just do what I do because I love the job and the people I meet!” Pauline said.

It appears that her entire life has been a constant involvement in various aspects of the transport industry, from washing trucks of a weekend at Pullars Transport.

At the age of 15, she and her brothers were paid $7 per truck for the fleet of 10 to 12 heavy vehicles.

At 17, Pauline left school and went to work in her parents’ business, Wilmac Transport Components.

It was an associated business with the trucking industry, where she studied bookkeeping and gained a broad knowledge of spare parts.

Such knowledge has been invaluable for Pauline over the years as a business owner in partnership with husband Glen Kearney.

By the age of 19, Pauline yearned to join the ‘boys’ and drive a large transport.

It became a reality when she obtained her heavy vehicle licence at DECA in Shepparton.

It was a great achievement for the teenager.

Meeting and marrying Glen was meant to be.

Glen worked in the grain storage business while driving trucks and carting livestock.

With a shared passion for the trucking industry, the pair were the right fit.

In 1997, after considerable discussion, the couple began their own business.

Initially carting containers from Grays Container Terminal in Tocumwal to the Ammunitions Factory in Mulwala, they later branched into carting grain.

Beginning with two trucks, today the company has a fleet of eight impressive Kenworth trucks, emblazoned with Glen Kearney Transport Barooga.

The business covers much of the eastern seaboard of Australia between Melbourne and Brisbane.

The company is highly professional and recognised as one of Australia’s most trusted names in the transport industry.

Under the leadership of Glen and Pauline, their younger son Jack, 26, works alongside his parents, learning everything about the industry.

Meanwhile, Pauline’s two brothers, Ken and Casey, also work in the family business.

Jack’s girlfriend, Lilly Bond, 22, has a strong family history in the industry too, with her grandfather Kevin Bond of Bond Bros.

She also has her heavy vehicle licence and drives on occasions. The Kearneys also have a team member in Wodonga.

The two eldest Kearney boys, Brendon, 32, and Matt, 31, operate their own business, Kearney Logistics, based in Cobram, and are successful in their own right.

“Several years ago we set up a heavy vehicle working group in Berrigan Shire, where we met quarterly, and it was well received where we discussed heavy vehicle access and other issues affecting the trucking industry,” Pauline said.

“An Education Day at the Barooga Recreation Reserve was very well supported and run by the driving school, with local police and SES present.

“We have also taken our trucks to local schools and kindergartens to make the young more aware of road safety and their environment.”

Being the mother of three young sons, it could often be difficult to make it into the office.

Pauline became a BAS agent working from home and caring for her young family, while bookkeeping and preparing contracts.

As the kids got older and showed a keen interest in obtaining their truck licence, she would sit beside them when they were drivers under instruction, supporting them all the way!

Their total dedication is reaping dividends today, with the family working together in related industry businesses.

In the 1980s, women were unheard of as truck drivers.

Today there are many more, and respect has grown throughout the industry for their ability to manage a role that previously was dominated by their male counterparts.

“I encourage women to enter the industry, it is very rewarding and there are many different aspects of involvement,” said Pauline, who also added that there is currently a serious shortage of drivers in the industry.

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Thursday, 26th June 2025

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