Truck Driving Woman by Auriel Andrew

'Truck Driving Woman' is the first song from Auriel Andrew’s debut EP, released on the Adelaide-based label, Nationwide Records. Andrews moved to Adelaide in 1968 to pursue her music career. By 1970, her early career was in full swing with regular television appearances and requests for performances.

A feature of this song is its obvious role reversal. Given that truck drivers are typically viewed as burly men, Andrew’s message (with her young, sweet voice, white boots, tassles and country twang) is both cheeky and empowering. Her lyrics tell the tale of her father always wanting a truck-driving son and how Andrew, without batting an eyelash, steps into the role instead.    

The switch in roles will become a repeated theme in Andrew’s songs. Its message of gender equality is one she continually delivered throughout her career. The fact that its presence can be seen in her very first song from her debut EP illustrates that Andrew’s long musical career was about both the music and its message to women; a message that is even more poignant when considering the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.