BHP has played a big part in Chris Cowan’s family.

As the owner of Dysart News and Post based in north Queensland, Chris and his wife Melysse took over the business five years ago when Chris made the move from Mine Controller at BMA’s Saraji Mine to Dysart’s town centre.

Today, Chris is now an important local supplier to our BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) sites.

“BMA is at the heart of our town and is a great role model for supporting local business,” Chris Cowan said.

“When people see BMA using local suppliers, it sets a trend for everyone to spend local. It’s so important to our close-knit community.”

Chris said being part of BHP’s Local Buy Program was invaluable when COVID-19 hit the community back in 2020.

“Local Buy really helped to keep our business going during COVID, and created connections to help each other out and to source things that were hard to get at the time. It was a great help.”

Father to four children, Chris has called Dysart home since the age of one. His parents moved from Mackay in 1989 when his Dad, Geoffrey Cowan, became a Diesel Fitter at Saraji Mine.

“And 33 years on, Dad still works at Saraji!”

“I do miss working at Saraji but it’s great that I can still work with people at site like Sandy Rogers who is amazing to our business.”

BMA spent over $1 billon will local businesses across Queensland last financial year and through the Local Buying Program supported almost 900 local businesses, with many of these based in the regional Queensland.