06/08/2026
One of the best parts about what we do is the places it takes us.
Sure, we get to work in some neat places around the globe, but sometimes the jobs right here in Australia are just as memorable.
Late last month I found myself on the edge of the Simpson Desert with the Diamantina Shire Council, helping train a handful of new scraper operators.
On day one, not one of these blokes had ever operated a scraper.
Five days later they were safely operating a Cat 627K Twin Engine Scraper, consistently:
✅ Pulling full, consistent loads
✅ Laying down smooth, consistent cuts using the straddle loading technique
✅ Managing the fill area with controlled chain dumping
The thing that impressed me most wasn’t how quickly they picked it up. It was the attitude they brought every single day. They were genuinely keen to learn, asked great questions, listened, had a crack and kept improving every time they climbed into the seat.
By the end of the week, the final exercise was to build and trim a batter. Watching a crew who’d never touched a scraper on Monday produce a result like that by Friday was pretty bloody satisfying🔥
For me, this is what operator training is all about. It’s not just teaching people how to pull levers - it’s helping build confidence, competence and pride in what they do.
A massive thanks to the Diamantina Shire Council for trusting us with your people. It was an absolute pleasure, and I can’t wait to see where these fellas are in another 12 months.
Liam Brooker
Connor Weirman
Anthony Thomas
