‘Good job Tom.’
A short note sent recently from his boss to NSS Mackay and Gladstone relief manager Tom Roper tops up his job satisfaction cup.
These are the ports which support the world-leading coal mining industry in Central Queensland among other important functions.
In Gladstone’s case, NSS will also discharge and load assets for the US Army and Airforce undertaking exercises at Shoalwater Bay. In Mackay, equipment is also discharged, only it’s much larger, according to Tom.
There were times when his decades of stevedoring experience could be brought to bear to help the outcome, he said.
“We just unloaded some big excavators (in Mackay),” he said. “One of them was the biggest excavator in the world, 9800 Liebherr and the other two were the second biggest, the (Liebherr) 9600s.
“We faced some challenges there where the ship wanted to do it this way and we had to accommodate them. It’s their vessel and we have to do as we’re told.
“I worked with what they call a ‘Port Captain’. I’ve become really good friends with him and I was able to negotiate with him and we were able to do things a little bit differently and he agreed to it.
“So now you’ll get things like that that get in your road, but if you’re able to negotiate with the super cargo, it can work out really well.”
Other regular consignments into Mackay Port include magnetite used in washing coal. The next 23,000 tonne shipment was due to be unloaded, he said.
Tom started working on the wharves in 1981 and is the third-generation stevedore to call NSS his employer.
He grew up with stories of manual handling when there were 600 staff on the wharves. These were the times when sugar was bagged. As he turns 65 he said the generational connection to stevedoring was a comfort.
“There’re so many great stories from all the old blokes. I used to love sitting down and listening to them and some of the stories that were told and remember some great old friends off the waterfront.
“Some of them are still alive and they’re in their 90s. There’re not many left though.”
I’ve got a great bunch of people around me that are really helpful. I’m surrounded by some wonderful people and my biggest rock is my wife, really she is.”