In partnership with BP Australia and Jets Transport Express Qantas, Women in Transport Australia (WiTA) is thrilled to announce the winners of the organisation’s TOOTS Awards held at the Darwin Convention Centre on July 5.
In a powerful reminder of the significant contribution female heavy vehicle drivers make to the Australian road transport sector, over 160 guests from across the nation gathered to celebrate leadership, friendship and excellence in an event that eclipsed the inaugural 2024 awards in Adelaide.
“For too long, the work of the nation’s female heavy vehicle drivers has gone unsung, so WiTA is delighted to be able to facilitate the opportunity for these gutsy, colourful women to come together to network, to celebrate and to let their hair down,” WiTA CEO Lyndal Denny said.
During a glitzy gala dinner attended by event partners that included BP Australia, Jets Transport Express Qantas, Billirrawarra Truck and Training, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Sutton Road Training Centre, LogBook Checker, Linde Material Handling and CJD Equipment, MC drivers Kellee Hill (NT) and WA owner/driver Tiarn Andrews were named the big winners taking home Female Driver of the Year and the Young Female Driver of the Year Awards, respectively.
The Territory’s Recharge Petroleum, Victorian MC drivers Amanda ‘Macka’ McKenzie and Sharna Chapman, Queensland MC trucking veteran Suzette Byrnes Statham O’Reilly and West Australian MC owner/driver Tiarn Andrews were also named national award winners in their respective categories.
From a 1960s female trailblazer – to a fleet owner, MC driver and mum-of-four – the following remarkable women have been recognised for their extraordinary achievements.
Victorian-based MC driver and owner of Runnymede Transport, Sharna Chapman is also a single mum to four beautiful children.
A recognised role model, mentor and advocate for women, Sharna was awarded the 2025 DEI [diversity, equality and inclusion) Award, sponsored by Linde Material Handling for her tireless work mentoring women seeking to establish successful trucking careers in this male-dominated sector.
Sponsored by CJD Equipment, TOOTS Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and septuagenarian Suzette Byrnes Statham O’Reilly was smashing through societal barriers in her Kenworth as a gutsy 20-year-old in the 1960s.
One of the few remaining female drivers from that era, Suzette is a national treasure and worthy recipient of this prestigious prize.
The TOOTS National Female Driver of the Year, sponsored by Sutton Road Training Centre, recognises an outstanding professional driver who takes a lead role in female driver mentoring and advocacy, who has a demonstrated commitment to workplace and road safety and who works to enhance the image of women in trucking. NT MC driver Kellee Hill, who currently drives quads in WA, is a worthy recipient of this top award.
WA MC owner/driver and LogBook Checker-sponsored National Young Female Driver of the Year award recipient Tiarn Andrews is widely viewed as an emerging industry leader.
Through her work educating female students and as an Instruckta-truck volunteer, this 25-year-old powerhouse leads by example with a quiet determination, professionalism and grit that has seen her recognised for this prestigious award.
Much-loved Victorian-based veteran MC driver Amanda ‘Macka’ McKenzie has unlocked the door to the Billirrawarra Truck and Training 1,000,000km Club Award across an impressive 40-year driving career. Transporting everything from tomatoes, to hot mix and cattle, Macka’s dedication to safety and professionalism is unparalleled.
TOOTS NHVR-sponsored National Safety Award recipient, NT-based Recharge Petroleum was also recognised for the company’s demonstrated and outstanding commitment to workplace safety, road safety and focus on protecting drivers, staff, customers and road users alike.
Guests also celebrated the accomplishments of six national TOOTS Awards finalists – Tasmanian MC driver Taylah Lee-Keys – Female Driver of the Year, SA MC driver Nat Smith – DEI, SA MC driver Cassie Millar – Young Driver of the Year, QLD MC driver Suzette Byrnes Statham O’Reilly – 1,000,000 Club and Victorian based Runnymede Transport Company – Safety.
In showcasing WiTA’s signature female heavy vehicle driver Foot in the Door initiative, NT HR graduates Terrille and Hayley, who completed their training with Kullaru Training and Assessing, were also presented with graduation certificates. Administered by the NHVR, the hugely successful Foot in the Door program takes driver training to women in their own communities.
WiTA’s unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and advocacy – particularly for those from marginalised and underrepresented groups – was evident when Keynote Speakers Candice Lureman, the nation’s first profoundly deaf female MC driver and veteran driver Suzette Byrnes Statham O’Reilly moved the audience with both humour and emotion.
Both women called for courage, collaboration, action and resilience in the face of the significant barriers women continue to face as they work to establish trucking careers.
“As we begin the task of planning National Female Truckie’s Day celebrations for 2026, we will also continue the task of taking our message to the streets – engaging with stakeholders with a view to realising the organisation’s vision to achieve gender parity by 2050” said WiTA Chair and MC driver Nat Kascak.
“Through annual events such as National Female Truckie’s Day, the highly anticipated TOOTS Awards and WiTA’s Foot in the Door program, we listen and learn from the stories of remarkable grit and talent underpinned by a female-driven, nationally shared passion to advance opportunities for Australian women in trucking,” Nat said.