Westrac names NSW and WA’s best Cat operators

After a couple of months of putting the best heavy machinery operators through their paces, Caterpillar dealer, Westrac, has finally named the winner of both its NSW and WA state finals.

Third-generation heavy machinery operator, Jack Divall, from Goulburn, took out the NSW title on September 8 while Jake Myers from MLG Oz was named the winner at the WA state final the week before. Both operators will now join other state winners from across Australia as well as winners across the Asia Pacific region to compete in Japan in October for a chance to go head-to-head with regional winners across the world in the grand final at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show in Las Vegas next year.

To win the NSW state final, Divall had to beat 11 other contestants in a series of challenges, each involving a different Cat® machine. Competitors had to showcase skills ranging from precision digging and loading to playing mini golf in an excavator.

Launched in 2019, the Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge aims to recognise and celebrate the skills required to perform earthmoving tasks safely, efficiently, productively and precisely.

SEE ALSO: Caterpillar relaunches Global Operator Challenge

WesTrac Heavy Construction Business Manager, Jeff Dix, said 2022 was the first year that any Australian Cat dealer, including WesTrac, has hosted the event.

“We’ve seen that there are some highly skilled operators across the states and they’ve been able to put their talents on show,” he said.

“All operators have shown outstanding skills, which made it hard for the judges to select an outright winner, but Jack proved he has what it takes.

“We wish him every success as he heads to Japan next month and we hope we’ll see him on the world stage in Las Vegas next year.”

WesTrac WA Construction Product Manager, Mark Turkington, said the event allowed equipment operators a rare chance to jump into the spotlight.

“Operators are often required to work in isolation and may not get a lot of accolades in spite of having some serious skills,” he said.

“The Challenge provides an opportunity for business owners to nominate their operators – or themselves - to demonstrate and celebrate just how much skill is involved in the things they do every day.”

The grand final of Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge will take place at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG construction machinery trade show in Las Vegas next year, scheduled to run from March 14 to 18, 2023.