Meet Loxy Curtin-Jones, seasoned truck driver at South Flank and proud Western Australian mother and grandmother. She joined the mining industry 17 years ago, driving trucks ever since – and turns 71 in March!

What has been your career journey to date and best career highlight?

When I started in mining, I was building turkey’s nests for a large mining company in Queensland. My home was a 54 ft catamaran moored at Gladstone – so I lived on the ocean but worked on the land. After a couple of years, we sold the boat and moved back to Bunbury, but I have continued to work across the Pilbara since then. We bought a motor home and take off in it whenever I’m on RnR.

Looking back to when I first started my career in mining, it was a tough industry, male-dominated and not very supportive of women. BHP is really the first company I’ve worked for where there has been genuine respect shown to women, giving us the opportunity to shine. After all these years, I can see the industry is changing for the better, led from the top. I’m happy to be working somewhere that embraces the changes – a happy environment is far more productive.

My best career highlight would be having had the privilege to work alongside one of the very first women to be employed in mining in WA – we’re still in regular contact and the greatest of friends, and we share the same birthday.

What excites you most about your role?

I truly love my job, especially working with younger people, it keeps me young! But seeing how the mining industry has progressed, to support and embrace women into roles that were previously male dominated, is wonderful. I joined BHP because I heard about South Flank being near on gender balance from frontline to senior leaders, and I haven’t experienced this in all my working years – it’s fantastic!

Who has been your strongest influence in life?

My father, a former war veteran and prisoner of war in Burma, who demonstrated a high work ethic. His life motto was ‘never say quit’, but he gave me lots of good advice over the years.

Can you tell us an interesting fact about your role?

At South Flank I operate the big Komatsu 930E trucks and Caterpillar 785 watercarts. Recently we transitioned to a fully autonomous haulage system which is a whole new world compared to conventional haul. There are still plenty of opportunities for conventional truck drivers, but I’m waiting for a cataract operation, and so playing my future by ear.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stay true to yourself and focused, give everything you have to your role. Most importantly, don’t overlook career opportunities when they present.

How do you relax when you’re off the clock?

When I’m on RnR I like to spend time with my 8-year-old grandson, working in my garden or cooking – my signature dish is a carrot cake that sometimes I share with my crew, it makes me the most popular person that swing!

What are you reading, listening to, or watching right now?

My favourite book is Something of Value by Robert Ruark – it’s a gripping account of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya in the 1950’s. There’s something very special about Africa, I’ve been once, have a cousin in Tanzania, and hope to visit again soon.

Thanks for sharing your story Loxy!