Starting out at the Nifty Copper Mine as a trainee truck driver, Troy spent his first year behind the wheel of 777s and 785s, learning the ropes and settling into life in ming. Before long, he was operating graders and dozers – machines he grew to love – and when the Nifty open pit contract came to an end, he relocated with the team to the Ellendale Diamond Mine E4 Project.
It was there he stepped up into a supervisory role, overseeing operations on Hitachi 2500 and 1200 excavators and gaining valuable leadership experience. Once that project wrapped up, he made the move to Boddington Gold Mine as a supervisor, running a fleet of truckers, dozers, graders and excavators. “This was a great contract because I could go home each night and be with my family,” he recalls.
After Boddington, he worked at BHP’s Area C and then moved on to FMG’s Christmas Creek project as a Leading Hand, where he got his first experience working electric dump trucks. “That was a real learning curve,” he says.
In 2014, after a dip in iron ore prices brought the project to an end, Troy transferred to Tropicana Gold Mine – where he’s spent the past decade. He started as an Operator driving dozers, graders and CAT 793 trucks, before moving on to operating Hitachi 2500 and 1200 excavators undertaking batter scaling.
Batter scaling is a vital part of open pit mining, involving the careful removal of loose rocks from pit walls and benches to ensure the area is safe for people and equipment. It’s a critical step in pit progression – once the diggers have their passes, the batter diggers follow to clean back the walls, making them stable and safe for ongoing operations.
A few years in, his superintendent called with an offer to step up as Leading Hand – a role he’s proudly held since.
Earlier this year, Troy decided to challenge himself by sitting the Statutory 26 Exam. “I honestly didn’t think I’d pass – but I did,” he says with a grin. “So there’s a good chance I’ll be taking back on the Leading Hand role again soon.”
The best part of the job is helping others. I really enjoy teaching new people about the mining process and sharing what I’ve learned across different types of machinery, it’s rewarding to see others grow.”
The hardest part, he admits, is being away from his family. “My boys are now 15 and 11 – it’s scary how fast time goes,” he says. “That’s why I make the most of every R&R at home.”
Reflecting on two decades with Macmahon, it’s been a great journey. You don’t stay somewhere for 20 years unless it’s a great place to work, I’ve stayed true to what I enjoy most – being hands-on, working with great people, and helping others learn. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and grateful for all the opportunities along the way.”
