29/08/2026
20-year Flashback - The people behind the Culture!
Twenty years of Black Cat Civil has delivered plenty of milestones. New projects, bigger jobs, regional expansion, and lots of CAT earthmoving assets.
But if you ask Brendan and Jai what they're most proud of, neither starts with the machinery.
They start with the people. As Brendan puts it:
"Without them, Black Cat doesn't exist."
From day one, the goal was simple. Build a company where the goal is for people to feel more than just another number.
"I worked for other companies where you just felt like a number and always thought if I had the opportunity to employ people, I'd treat them the way I wanted to be treated."
That mindset helped shape the culture that still exists today. The culture in the early days was heavily influenced by people like Sammy D, Benny Soule, Darryl, Todd, Browny, Leftie and the legend John Watson. 2026 has marked the launch of the inaugural 'John Watson Legacy Award', acknowledging a team member that consistently demonstrates BCC culture and values everyday.
The culture built by crews who worked hard, looked after each other, and helped Black Cat grow from a small operation into the business it is today.
But every good Black Cat story comes back to people.
And in this case, two people in particular.
The Annas.
The wives who have stood beside Brendan and Jai through the long days, longer nights, endless phone calls, site visits, breakdowns, wins, losses, and everything in between.
When asked where they'd be without them, Jai's answer was short and to the point, "Up s**t creek without a paddle. They have stuck by us (also put up with us) through thick and thin and have been our rock. Full credit to the Annas."
Behind every successful business are people making sacrifices that often go unseen. The Annas have been part of the Black Cat journey from the beginning and have contributed more to our story than most would ever know.
When asked why culture matters so much, the answers were remarkably similar.
For Brendan, "If people know you will go the extra mile for them, you hope they will do the same for you."
For Jai, "General happiness, enjoying our work, accepting the challenges as a team and winning. Great culture equals great people."
After 20 years, that's probably the simplest way to explain Black Cat Civil.
The graders, dozers, projects, and offices matter. But culture, and more specifically, the people, is what got us here.
A culture built by leaders, shaped by crews, strengthened by families, and carried every day by people who take ownership, back their mates and do the right thing. That's the Black Cat way.