Aug 26, 2021
An Albury-based family business likes living and working in Albury-Wodonga so much that they take their love of home on a road trip – or, in fact, thousands of road trips-
Third generation family business, O’Brien’s Transport, has emblazoned the virtues of life in the twin cities on their truck trailers so they can be seen by tens of thousands of travellers on some of Australia’s busiest highways.
The artwork shows the Hume Weir, with the words, “We live and work in beautiful Albury-Wodonga” proudly displayed at the bottom of the image.
Eighty of their trailers spread the positive Albury-Wodonga message between Sydney and Melbourne, and as far afield as Adelaide and Brisbane.
The company’s corporate services manager, Christine O’Brien, said the idea came about from a desire to celebrate everything that’s special about living on the border, while also supporting jobs and investment growth across both cities.
“If you’re a customer and you’re driving up behind one our trucks you’re seeing an unexpected marketing image which is a subtle, understated nod to our beautiful part of the world,” she said.
“Part of the message is trying to talk about how living in a regional area gives you a work-life balance.”
Christine said the photo and words carried a secondary message as a recruitment tool for the company, which employs 100 people and has operated on the border since 1948.
By subtly pressing home the lifestyle advantages of living in Albury-Wodonga, the company hopes to attract more drivers to move to the region and join O’Brien’s – especially during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic when many metro-based drivers and their families were drawn towards a better lifestyle in the regions.
O’Brien’s have also developed a structured program designed to transition new recruits into the transport industry – whether they’re a school leaver looking for a new career, or someone looking for a change in direction.
Christine says it’s a professional program centred on helping people become not just drivers, but professional drivers. “Truck driving is a professional career, and as such our Pathways Program is run professionally and without risk. Those coming through the program need to first do local work, understand fatigue and understand risk before they can progress to the next stage. People can come into our business with minimal skills and learn from the ground up.
With the promotion of Albury-Wodonga rolling up and down our highways night and day, the O’Brien family hopes to not only recruit new employees but also to help other businesses by promoting tourism and investment in the border cities.
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Amelie is our Marketing Lead and currently studying for a B.A. in Business and Visual Arts. She brings her visual arts skills and eye for colour and detail to our graphics and design for the business.
Amelie uses her skills as a digital native in our Marketing team and works across our social media channels. Amelie provides administrative support and assists the recruitment team in finding great candidates.
Sarah joins the team at Total HRM following her time in a regional real estate company, most recently in HR. She brings a solid understanding of the unique dynamics and challenges within small and medium-sized businesses.
Prior to real estate, Sarah worked in the airline industry, providing her with excellent skills in customer service and how to remain calm in a crisis.
Known for her positive energy, Sarah approaches her role with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to support and uplift those she works with. With her experience in HR and recruitment, Sarah is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, professional growth, and employee well-being. Her ability to connect with people and create a positive work atmosphere contributes to the overall success of teams and the business as a whole.
Ashly is one of our most experienced HR Business Partners with over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and hospitality, both local and overseas, ranging from large multinational companies to small family-owned operations. Throughout his career, Ashly regularly led teams with over 30 employees while continually growing the business and aligning business strategies with employee capabilities.
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Linda has led comprehensive organisational restructures and implemented programs to improve the effectiveness of businesses with clear alignment between individuals’ contributions and organisational outcomes. She works with various local boards and executive teams in the region. She is a Certified Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.