Geoffrey Stocker dared to do it differently. In 1998 Geoffrey (right) laid the foundations for Pilbara Logistics, which today is continuing to build on a hard-earned reputation as an efficient, diversified, well-equipped and price-competitive general services contracting enterprise serving the needs of the industrial, commercial and resource development sectors in the region.

But, Geoffrey had a point to prove: he believed that, with extensive training, support and mentoring, Indigenous men and women would prove to be willing, capable, and responsive in successfully meeting the challenges and demands of commerce and industry.

He was right. Today, Pilbara Logistics provides a range of crane hire, heavy machinery hire and waste management services for clients in localities from Port Hedland to Telfer and Karratha. Some threequarters of Pilbara Logistics’ workforce is Indigenous. Last year, Pilbara Logistics secured the General Services Contract at the Telfer site. Newcrest’s Site Administration Manager at Telfer, Craig Thompson (left), said that under the terms of the contract, Pilbara Logistics was required to train and employ as many Martu as was reasonably possible. “We have built very strong and positive relationships with the Martu and other communities in and around Port Hedland,”

Craig said, “and I believe that’s because they recognise we are sincerely committed to our responsibilities.” Pilbara Logistics sources many of its workers from those living in communities adjacent to its clients’ operations. When given the opportunity, those workers have responded positively to the challenges of working in the environment of a major gold mine. Pilbara Logistics currently employs 12 Aboriginals at Telfer. Pilbara Logistics’ men and women are on a mission: as members of a team proving, day-after-day, that they can get the job done well, and on time. Pilbara Logistics and its associated entities, Nyamal Crane Hire and Pilbara Waste, operate a broad and ever-expanding range of new and constantlymaintained vehicles, plant and equipment - from cranes to graders, surface-dampening tankers, front-end loaders, waste collection and dump trucks.