Michelle McMillan with her 1991 Western Star FX. Images: Michelle McMillan
Truck driver Michelle McMillan’s journey to the driver’s seat of her 1991 Western Star FX is a little different to most.
Michelle didn’t grow up in a transport family or spend her childhood in the passenger seat counting the kilometres between roadhouses.
Rather, she grew up travelling the country as a security officer, following the tours of famous musicians and sports stars, working the gates, and vetting the crowds.
There were a lot of world-famous celebrities who impressed her and she has some great stories to share about her time in the security game, including a stint manning the VIP tent on an international surfing tour.
“Anyway, a surfing great comes to the door, and he didn’t have his accreditation on him, and I said, ‘No, sorry, you can’t come in here’,” Michelle says.
“And next thing, one of the promoters comes from nowhere – ‘No, no, he can go wherever he likes’.”
Reversing into tight spots is part of the job.
Michelle says the promoter grabbed the accreditation she had on the lanyard around her own neck and pointed to the photo of the surfing legend next to the event name.
“Guess what? I didn’t do the VIP tent the next day. I got stuck out on the beach doing the beach running instead. You can’t know everything.”
She said the long hours, uncertain shifts and on-call nature of security work became the norm during a career that took her around Australia.
“I met a lot of celebrities doing my security job too, which was pretty cool.”
There were some standouts and Michelle said Gaga was one of them. “Seriously, she is the most down-to-earth, humble person you could ever meet.”
“I used to work at a 5-star hotel in the city (Brisbane) and she came back from her concert.
“Anyway, the boss rings up and says, ‘You know, we’ve got all those people outside in the street and the front foyer area’.
“They all knew that she was staying there in the penthouse, and these people obviously couldn’t afford tickets to the concert.”
Michelle says she expected the singer would arrive at the hotel via the less obvious VIP entrance to avoid the crowds, but she opted not to go that way, saying she wanted to meet her fans.
“She didn’t have to do this, but this is what gave me new respect for her.
“She turned up, still in her concert gear, brought her limo around, parked out the front, got out of her limo, and went around to every single person that was out there waiting for her.
She’s about five foot five (inches) – I felt like Gigantor next to her. She was so down to earth and lovely, and spent time, you know, a good five minutes with every single person.”
Michelle started working in security after a brief stint working as a vet nurse volunteer at the RSPCA after she finished school.
She says she found the nature of that environment depressing, particularly the way some humans treated their animals.
“After one tough day, I was telling a female friend about, she suggested I investigate doing security. Back then the security age was 21 but the legislation was changing and I went and did my security course and weapons license.”
Misguided, the 1991 Western Star FX Michelle drives.
At the tender age of 18, Michelle’s security career was launched, leading her to work “everywhere” – on the railways, plain clothes work in department stores, concerts, football matches, cricket events, and tours of various kinds.
After nearly 30 years in the game, she found herself leading the security team at a large shopping centre, not too far from her 40-acre home base at Tamborine.
It’s a job she said has become more dangerous, and after her team was faced with tackling youths armed with knives, she, and her soon-to-be husband Wal, decided it might be time for a career change.
“So, he asked me one day, did I want to drive a truck? Hell yes!! Which truck?”
“I was told no automatic license, you will be getting an open license, the one to drive a crash box, that way I could drive any truck, including his, from time to time.”
So, Michelle, then 48, took truck driving lessons and started out on the next stage of her career.
Her 1991 Western Star FX was bought from Wal’s second cousin, who also has a 1996 Western Star. It sat at home for a few months after Michelle got her license as she worked up the courage to take it out on the road.
Eventually Wal threw her the keys and told her to just take it for a drive, put some fuel in it, and come back home.
“So, I did. I drove all the way out through Beaudesert, through the back way, around the hills, around the corners. And then I parked, went to Woolworths, got some groceries, came back. That’s what girls does, don’t they? When they have trucks, they go and do the grocery shopping.
“Then I came back home, and he goes ‘good, so you’re used to it, right? You’re working tomorrow’. OMG”.
The next day was an onsite for a construction site job.
Michelle said leaving home that first morning was daunting, the fog was like pea soup, and it was 5am in winter.
“That was a baptism of fire. I could hardly see the traffic lights, let alone the car headlights in front. Let’s just say it was a slow start.”
Her’s is the sort of work that requires the truck to reverse down tight access areas, to prop up on the side of a hill and tip the soil over the edge to fill a hole, or to climb up various mountain ranges hauling road base or asphalt.
“Considering I had never driven machinery or reversed trailers/ horse floats, or caravans. I think I am not doing too bad.”
With her HR license Michelle says she sometimes drives the tipper with a dog trailer in tow, however an MC license and bigger trailers are on her list of things to do.
Asked for her thoughts on training and truck driving for women Michelle says her experience has been positive, with plenty of support from other truckies and a great training experience, helped along by the fact she was able to pay off the cost of the training over a few months.
“One of the many things I love, and I am very fortunate, is that I work with a great crew of other drivers who have all given me tips and tricks. I do have to give a shout out to Wal, Shaun, Scotty, Clayton, and Neil who have shown me the ropes their advice has been priceless.
“The other great thing I love is that my truck is my office and you’re never in the same place, you’re always in different places every time, meeting new people. Whether it’s at customers, on their properties, or you know, working for civil mobs.”
The tipper is handy for all manner of loads.
Michelle says it’s a “little bit sad” that there are not more women driving trucks, noting that truck driving doesn’t have to be about driving the biggest truck possible, as there is plenty of demand in the industry for drivers of all sizes of vehicles.
“There are women out there quite capable of being able to do it, just give it a go and do it. Seriously, you’ll absolutely love it. Plus, the people you work with, the guys in the industry now are so forthcoming and welcoming.”
Does she miss the thrill of the security gig?
“I have been asked to come back several times, but I am over the industry,” she said.
“I’m glad I’m out of it. I’ve got friends of mine that are still in it, I’ve heard some bad stories, unfortunately. Yeah, one of them being a person I used to work with who was stabbed. I have a new career and I’m loving it.”
As for the name on the front Michelle’s truck, Misguided Girl, she says there’s a double meaning, and it was better than her first suggestion of “Dirty Old Bird”.
“When Wal and I first got together and he couldn’t believe me that I was in love with him – he’d say – ‘poor misguided girl’. And when I first started driving, I got lost a few of times, never trust GPS!”
As for what’s next, Michelle says she and Wal are kept busy with their property, which includes horses, two dogs, one cat, and chooks to look after. Not to mention the home brewing set up. There’s also a big birthday to plan for in October, and their wedding in 2027.
On the truck driving front Michelle says she’ll keep driving her Western Star while the work’s around, then eventually she’d like to spend the time to do it up and roll out to a truck show or two, but that’ll be something for retirement, which “a little while off”.