At the third service of the Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial, in Alexandra. With some 50 plaques to be added. Two of them will be women well known in the transport industry. The Victorian Truck Drivers Memorial Service will be held on Saturday June 6th at 2pm.
Geraldine Hoare, who died in June 2007, considered a legend among the many women who are drivers.
Geraldine began her career as a ballroom dancer and a figure skater. At the age of 17 Gerri began to drive for Melbourne-Brighton bus lines. When her husband bought a truck, Gerri said, “why not” and began to “give it a go”.
Gerri and her husband began to be involved with furniture removals, when her husband hurt his back, Gerri kept the business going.
While driving for Downard Pickfords, she became the first woman to drive a road train in the Northern Territory.
Gerri purchased an 18 month old Kenworth K model Kenworth, that was to become her pride and joy. In fact the Kenworth turned over 4.3 million kilometres. She entered the Kenworth in truck shows all over Australia.
Gerri carted grain out of Kilsyth for some time and then began to cart Tupperware from Melbourne to Adelaide. She did this until an accident (A box of Tupperware fell on her and badly damaged her back). In great pain she drove the truck back to Melbourne.
Always known for her dogged determination, sense of humour and sociability, one of Gerri’s last trips was to carry solar cars for the movie “Race the Sun”, starring James Belushi and Halle Berry.
Gerri eventually retired to retired to Rye where she supported disadvantaged children.
The UHF radios are much the poorer for losing the call sign “Copy Grandma”.