Tom Bourne is ANZI’s Top Cat

You can say that machines and engines run in his blood. For Tom Bourne, Hastings Deering’s Field Service Fitter and the 2019 winner of Caterpillar's Top Apprentice of the Year Award for ANZI, the interest in engines started when he was young. 

He credits his dad in influencing his career path. Mr. Bourne senior was in the fuel injection/pump business in Toowoomba and through him Tom cultivated an interest in engines and how they work. In grade 10, he underwent a one-week work experience with Hastings Deering and that sealed the deal. 

"I just love my job,” he said. "It is so diverse, from mining trucks and dozers, to machines for civil construction and even the marine industry.”

And that passion is evident in his achievements. Tom was named the 2018 Apprentice of the Year for Hastings Deering and last year he was recognised by the Queensland Government with a prestigious Queensland Training Award, Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year (Darling Downs South West Region).

"Machine complexity and technology will continue to develop. Often you will find yourself at a remote mine trying to fix a problem so your knowledge has to be extensive.”

- Tom Bourne, Hastings Deering

To take home the top prize in the Caterpillar Dealer Top Apprentice Programme, Tom beat candidates from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. 

Hosted by Caterpillar at the Melbourne Training Centre, the five-day program is designed to be both a reward and a challenge for elite apprentices technicians. To become a candidate in this program, each apprentice must first compete in a rigorous competition to be the best apprentice at their dealer.

As part of the award, Tom earned a 'CAT passport' which allows him to work anywhere in the world with CAT machines. He will also travel to Chicago to participate in a two-week training course at the CAT headquarters.

"I'm excited because some of the things they teach over there will be a little bit more advanced, so I'm keen to learn as much as I can,” Tom said. 

Looking to the future, Tom said that working in the autonomous mining industry was eventually his goal. 

"Machine complexity and technology will continue to develop. Often you will find yourself at a remote mine trying to fix a problem so your knowledge has to be extensive.”