Go-getting young driver who’s in it for the long haul

BY ALF WILSON

FATE has played a major role in young road transport enthusiastic Cameron Hillard gaining a job as a truck driver.

When he was attending William Ross High School in Townsville, Hillard did a two-year course at Tec-NQ with the aim of becoming a diesel fitter.

“The coal mine where I could have worked was a big part of the Townsville economy and when that closed it drove the economy down and it made it very hard for young people like myself to get an apprenticeship,” he said.

But another opportunity came along which enabled Hillard to start work at a major road transport company and work his way up to being a driver.

Now aged 25, Hillard is among the younger drivers

Hillard used to go to Dimbulah on the Atherton Tablelands during school holidays to help out at his uncle Alvise Barzzale’s mango farm.

“Blenners used to pick up the mangoes and deliver them to Sydney and Melbourne markets and I got to know the drivers and asked one of them about getting some work with the company,” he said.

Hillard was given the contact for Blenners boss Les Blennerhassett who referred him to the manager of the Townsville depot.

“The manager of the Townsville depot at the time was Les’ son Ben Blennerhassett and a big thank you to Les and Ben for giving me a go. I got a job there two days a week at first doing various jobs such as cleaning and helping to load and unload and when I got my HR and MC licence, I started driving their trucks. I can’t thank the company enough as they kicked it off for me,” he said.

Hillard gained his MC licence about two years ago

I saw Hillard early one morning, ready to drive a Kenworth K200 B-double to Tully and Cairns with a load of produce.

“I have to pick up bananas as a backload and deliver them to Townsville here and then go onto Brisbane markets with other drivers,” he said.

Hillard gets as far away north to Mareeba on the Atherton tablelands, south

I CAN’T THANK BLENNERS ENOUGH FOR GIVING ME A GO AND WOULD RECOMMEND THE JOB TO YOUNG PEOPLE WANTING A CAREER.”

CAMERON HILLARD the print edition in the driver’s rooms,” he said.

Hobbies outside the job include fishing and restoring old cars. He is working on a 2006 Commodore at present.

“I don’t own a boat to go around here to fish the creeks and rivers or get out to the Great Barrier Reef. But I like going fishing with family at Chillagoe where I have caught fresh water black bream and sleepy cod,” he said.

Hillard doesn’t follow a football team however as a boy in Cairns he did have a run at Australian Rules foot- ball as a rover.

I told Hillard that statistics reveal the average age of Aussie truck drivers is over 50 and that young guns like him are the future of the road transport industry.

Many companies are still reluctant to hire younger drivers because of the addi-

Easter Group Pty Ltd Easter Group Pty Ltd

73 Formation St, Wacol

Easter Group, located in Wacol, provides time sensitive road transporting solutions to many companies throughout Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

We are a family owned business, operating since 1976. We currently have the following positions available:

Operations Allocators

(Brisbane based only)

You will be required to work on a rotating roster including Days-Nights-Weekends

Previous Operations experience preferred.

MC LOCAL, LINEHAUL & 2-UP DRIVERS WANTED

(Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide Based)

Come and work for us as we are committed to:

• Training and further education

• Your safety

• Maintaining an impressive Fleet

On offer are permanent full time and roster positions including paid leave entitlements and public holidays. Drivers will need to be available to be scheduled for work falling across the 7 days of the week.

The successful Applicant will:

• Hold a current MC licence (minimum two years)

• Have knowledge of the HVNL and Load Restraint

• Be professional

• Be reliable

To apply for the Operations/Driver positions please contact Operations Manager or by emailing your resume to

WORKSHOP MECHANICS & TYRE FITTERS WANTED (Brisbane

based only)

To apply for Mechanic positions please forward your resume to Workshop Manager via email to employment@kseaster.com.au tional insurance costs.

“I can’t thank Blenners enough for giving me a go and would recommend the job to young people wanting a career,” he said.

Naturally this contented young man reckons he will be in the industry for the long haul.