Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Oops & cringes #7 - Truck licence



When I'd been at Wagga a few years, my job contract was ending and I needed to look for a new one. Most of the funding was for 3 year terms, and you had to apply and be successful to continue your employment, there was no staff pool, or rollover into a new job.

They guys I worked with were awesome and were always teaching me something new...and I was keen to learn, always, because I felt I was so far behind. So when they decided that I should get my truck licence, it seemed like a great idea.

I failed my Ls first go...I'd only been driving for 6 years or something and failed the stupid test! What a fool. I got the No Stopping and No Standing signs confused and it was a compulsory question. Not the best start. But next time was sweet - thank goodness!

Driving the truck was easy after the rules test. Well, once I got a pillow to prop me up on the seat so I could see, and reach the pedals!

The guys used to take me around the research station, driving in between trial plots, reversing in and out of sheds and gates, up and down the car parks - and all the while on the two-way, the farm manager would be saying, 'Get off the road, Cath's in the truck,' and the receptionist would be saying, 'You leave that girl alone, she's having a good go'.

When I went to get my licence, I drove into town and did my test, and passed. Driving back to the Ag station, I heard over the two-way, 'Congratulations to Cath, who got her truck licence, even if it doesn't count because the examiner was a girl.'

And I think that nearly broke those guys, a girl was driving a truck, and another girl had tested her - women were taking over the world.

No comments: