Ken Bell caught up with Saria Hellyer just as she was about to swap her scuffs for work boots to load out some Angus steers from the annual Southern Man Beef Cattle Sale at Lorneville, near Invercargill. Saria was due to drive the stock to Venlaw Station near Wyndham.

Saria has worked for Titiroa Transport based at Wyndham for just over a year, driving a Freightliner Argosy on stock work. Previously, she drove a small flea at Hokonui Rural Transport on lighter stock duties.

Saria lives near Gore at Maitland and comes from a farming background, brought up at Ermedale in Western Southland. Outside of work, she enjoys horses, rugby and home time.

When asked what her go-to for a quick bite was, she didn’t hesitate: a chicken and bacon pie fills the void nicely.