The 2026 calendar models stripped down to raise money for the Let’s Talk Foundation.
Image: Lindy Annett
Truckies have again stripped down for a good cause, with the launch of the 2026 Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar, in support of mental health.
Big Rigs recently spoke to the calendar’s creators about how the initiative came about.
Truckie and Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar co-founder Peter Shiells.When third generation truck driver and transport operator Peter Shiells jokingly posted an image on Facebook back in 2019, he didn’t realise it would spark the beginning of a new journey.
“It was just a silly post of a bloke washing his truck in a pair of jocks and cowboy boots and I said, you won’t see me doing that,” he laughed.
“Then a friend named Lindy Annett came back with a comment saying we should do a calendar. I made some phone calls to a few mates about what we were thinking of doing and got a group of truck drivers together at the Dunkeld Racecourse for our first shoot. And Barry Maney Group loaned us a T909 to use.”
When Peter and Lindy launched the calendar, they decided to do it to raise money for mental health, with all proceeds going to the Let’s Talk Foundation, which seeks to break the stigma around mental health.
Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar co-founder and photographer Lindy Annett.For the truck drivers who carry our nation, the job can be lonely and isolated, often involving countless nights away from family and friends. Unfortunately, the industry also has a high rate of people struggling with mental health.
Completely run by volunteers, the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar not only shines a light on mental health but has also raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Let’s Talk Foundation.
Both co-founders have close ties with the transport industry, so rallying the trucking troops for the inaugural calendar wasn’t too difficult – especially given the truckie models were getting involved in a great cause.
Based near Warrnambool, 54-year-old Peter says he was born and bred around trucks. “I was going with dad in the truck when I was a baby – and my grandfather had trucks too. I started steering trucks around the paddocks at around eight or nine years old.
“I’ve been in it full time since I was 20 and went out on my own at 28, when I bought my first truck. When Dad passed away, I took over his truck. I went back down to one truck for a while until I bought a second one again in February, which my future son-in-law drives.
“We mainly travel throughout Victoria, south-east South Australia and southern New South Wales. Most of our clients are farmers.”
Truckies got together for the photo shoot and had some laughs along the way. Image: Lindy AnnettWhile Lindy runs a transport business with her partner, with a fleet of five trucks. As well as her knowledge of the transport industry – she possesses another great skill which came in very handy for the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar – she’s also a professional photographer.
However Peter admitted, “When we put together that first 2020 calendar, we had no idea what we were doing!”
The first calendar had about 14-15 truck driver models take part, with some fresh faces joining the mix for the 2021 calendar. Unfortunately when Covid hit, it made it difficult to get everyone together, so the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar had a brief hiatus until its return for 2025, and now the newly released 2026 calendar.
“For the 2026 calendar, it’s all fresh faces – and it’s the first time we’ve had some women involved as well.”
A model for the 2026 calendar, MJ Hayward shared her reason for getting involved. “I’m a domestic violence survivor. Silence is not part of my world and it’s very important to me to speak up,” she said. “I worked hard to get my truck licence to do what I have always wanted to do with my life. The day of the photo shoot for the calendar was an amazing part of my healing. It reminded me that it’s okay to be myself and have fun.”
As Peter explained, “When we first started the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar, it was more focused around men’s health. We’ve grown that to include women’s mental health, as there are more and more women getting involved in transport.”
Other 2026 calendar models also shared why they put their hands up to strip down and take part.
Josh Uwland said, “I wanted to be in the calendar to prove to others that it’s okay to be vulnerable and take the mickey out of yourself from time to time. Laughter is the best medicine after all. I also mainly wanted to support the change in men’s mental health to break the stigma that we have to be strong and silent.
Will Mcarthur agreed, “When I saw it [the ad] come up, I thought I’d put my hand up and do my bit to support the Let’s Talk Foundation and mental health. It was a great day, we had a crew of great people with plenty of laughs along the way.”
Will Snell added, “It was for a good cause that needs more attention than it gets.”
The 2026 calendar features all new faces, including both men and women. Image: Lindy AnnettThe 2025 calendar raised over $6000 for the Let’s Talk Foundation and Peter hopes to surpass that with the 2026 edition – aided by the launch of new caps, that are now for sale alongside the calendars.
The caps feature the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar logo on the front and the words “Breaking the stigma” on the back.
The calendars are available for $20 each and caps are $35 each, plus postage and handling.
They are available for purchase through the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar Facebook page, along with being sold at these regional Victorian outlets:
Mortlake Roadhouse
Top Shop, Casterton
Hip Pocket, Warrnambool and Hamilton
South West Farmers Rural, Heywood
“Last year we were at the Koroit Truck Show as well and we’ll be going there again if it goes ahead. We’re also hoping to do a couple of other truck shows too.”
To find out more or order your copy, visit the Aussie Truck Drivers Calendar Facebook page.
The post Truck driver calendar helping to get the conversation started around mental health appeared first on Big Rigs.