Plant operator at Dunmore Quarry NSW
When did you start with Boral and what attracted you to join us?
I started working for Boral on the 1st August 2016 on a casual basis on dayshift, with full time employment being offered 6 months later, I am currently working on afternoon shift. My title is plant operator at Dunmore Quarry NSW.
Prior to my employment I had no experience in the mining industry, but had a background of customer service, personal assistant, marketing and administration.
What does a typical day look like?
Since my start at Dunmore Quarry, I have become proficient in weighbridge operations, control room operations, haul truck, water cart, plant cleaning and IT (interchangeable machine with bucket, forks and jib) operations. I am also on the safety committee and the site consultive committee.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Afternoon shift is a small crew so a lot of the Boral values stand with me on this shift. Showing respect for each other and our work areas is high on our list of values, we work well as a team and the other more experienced crew members always willing to help and give tips on ways to do things easier with no one ever making you feel less than them. The training I have received from the other team members (dayshift weighbridge operator) is A+ always willing to help and offer support if I ever get stuck on anything and nothing is ever a problem.
What do you like the most about working at Boral?
What I like most about working for Boral is being part of a great team who have your safety and the ambition to do the best we can every day in our current roles. The commitment to producing the best quality products, friendly service and fast problem-solving skills, when the potential for any issue arises.
Do you have any advice for people wanting to work in your profession?
As a middle-aged female coming into a male dominated industry, it was a bit daunting, but growing some thick skin and giving my role 100 percent has definitely paid off for me.
Who is your female role model?
My shift supervisor is Sue Timbs, she is definitely my role model. Sue has worked in this industry for 30 years, starting like myself as a plant operator and now working as afternoon shift supervisor. She had to have toilets put in place back in the day as there were no female toilets on site. Given I know my own hurdles being a female in this industry, she has stuck with it and shines bright today, giving me the most opportunity for training that I had been offered since the commencement of my employment in 2016. We also have a brilliant female weighbridge operator at Dunmore, Angela Crawford who can recollect registrations and information like I have never seen before, with her wealth of knowledge and brilliant training helping me to wrap my head around the weighbridge operations.
What one piece of advice would you give your 16-year-old self?
Advice for my 16-year-old self hmmmm, there is a lot, always stand in your truth, always find a positive and always live in the now.