Dawsons' Stories

Geoff Reid - Interview

Geoff Reid is an integral member of the Communities Development Employment Program (CDEP) at Century Zinifex Mine. He is primarily in charge of providing employment opportunities to members of the local indigenous communities while helping to bridge the gap and heighten awareness of all of the cultural sensitivities often encountered on site. Geoff is also involved in training and mentoring the new recruits and his ultimate goal is see all of them secure full time employment with the skills and abilities they acquire on site.

How did you first hear of Dawsons?

I worked with Sharon Dawson for a long time in the Tourism Industry. She always kept an eye on where I was and what I was up to. Once she joined the Dawsons team, I guess my projects just peaked her interest that little bit more.

What are your impressions of the Dawsons Zinifex Alliance at Century Zinifex Mine?

I’m quite impressed with it all to be honest. It seems to work very well, there’s a lot of communication and support on site and I know I can always call the Dawsons offices in Cairns or Townsville if I need some support or information. Sharon certainly gave me the push I needed to get me into this job and provided me with the opportunity to get a start on site. The transition was easy from there because there’s a lot of people out here that got their start with Dawsons so it’s all been done so many times before.
It was a very steep learning curve for me though. I came out here with no ‘formal’ education, next to no computer literacy and as an ‘older’ guy so I certainly had my doubts. I really have to give credit to Sharon for seeing traits in me that I didn’t necessarily see and giving me the kick up the bum I needed to go for the job. I find that on site, I’m provided with a lot of training opportunities and plenty of people around who are all too happy to show me the ropes. There’s no real ‘them’ and ‘us’ vibe. We’re in such a remote location, everyone just works together to get the job done to the best of our abilities.

Did you find the recruitment process with Dawsons differed to other employment processes you’ve encountered?

I guess what’s always remained strong with Dawsons is the Family feeling. There are still guys working for Dawsons that started with Val and Keith out their back door so its pretty amazing that people want to stay around. They also provide an easy stream to the mines, a great support network and proven experience. Watching a shutdown run out here at Century is always impressive and each success truly is a feather in Dawsons Cap. Credit obviously has to go to the supervisors and workers too. The camaraderie is always very impressive.

What was your career before you came to Dawsons?

I was in the army for a long time, then I ran a tour safari up the cape and worked in Pest control on and off to make ends meet.
In the army, I worked my way up from infantry soldier to Sargent of a training cell. We spent a lot of time travelling to remote countries and communities providing military training for the locals. I’m in the army reserves now which helps me keep my hand in and my feet on the ground.
So, you achieved all of this with no formal qualifications?