Page 15 - September 2021 Track N Times

LORAM PTY

What is your favourite task at work?

As I said I enjoy the complexity and challenges of the maintenance planning role; working in an ever-changing environment be
it by location or machine and working with the teams to bring together the resources required to address the long-term
needs of maintenance as well as being flexible to react to changes that can happen any time.

Do you have any hobbies or hidden talents?
If I’m not at work I’m fishing, and this is how I like to spend my spare time. And if I’m not out fishing, I’m preparing to go out
fishing! Living in Mackay, this means I can either be out on the Great Barrier Reef or if the water is a bit rough, I have the estu-
aries and creeks around the Mackay area to fish. I have a 25-foot boat, and catch mostly reef fish, coral trout, sweet lip, and
red throat emperor. Going out on the boat is usually for overnight, weather permitting, but sometimes longer. My most
memorable catches include a 20kg Spanish Mackerel and 10kg Coral Trout. Other than fishing, fishing, and more fishing I have
no hidden talents!

Where did you grow up and where do you live now? What’s your favourite thing about your hometown?
I was born and raised in Mackay and have stayed here because I enjoy the lifestyle. Being outside the ‘big city’ and being close
to the water is the place I want to be. I live here with my wife and two grown daughters. I don’t have any pets, and my foot-
ball (rugby league) team is the Melbourne Storm.
What’s the best advice you were ever given and who was it from? Why do you think it stuck with you?

The best advice I have received was from my father, who instilled in me an excellent work ethic with his advice to ‘keep your
head down, do your best and do what you are told’. This has guided me through my life and career and I’m happy with how
that’s worked out for me, I put 100% into my work.

What advice would you give a new employee?
I’ve always learned a lot from people that I’ve worked with who have a lot more experience and am a big believer in mentor-
ing at work. There is always something to learn.
What’s one thing that surprises you about working at Loram?

I am surprised by the number of different machines – other than rail grinding – that Loram manufactures, and it would be
great to see these machines enter our Australian market.
What do you feel is the greatest change you’ve seen in the rail industry across your career?
The greatest change I’ve seen is the progression from a more ‘people-powered’
based rail gang and profession to the increasing role of machinery in rail grinding.
This has greatly increased the speed of repairs for the rail, over previously what
would be more labour intensive. This has also changed the relationship between
people and the track, where previously smaller and more detailed tasks may be
picked up by employees this is now done through machines.
If you had to pick a Loram value, what would it be and how do you live
that at work?
I would choose Integrity as this is a key value in being a maintenance planner role,
where it’s essential that we are trusted by the business and deliver on commit-
ments. This means ensuring work is performed within the timeframe promised so
that production can meet the customer expectations.

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