Business runs in the family for Lenore Brooks.
Her father, Doug, started Brooks Hire Service in 1979 when he bought two u/s compressors on bankcard.
In 1982, the first piece of mobile plant was purchased by tender, an 8 tonne JEC crane which Doug drove to Eneabba. At the time, he was operating the business from a shed at Eneabba, working 18-hour days and living five days a week in a humpy at the back of the shed whilst also working locally as a fitter.
It’s fair to say that Brooks Hire has come a long way since then, and it would come as no surprise to learn that Lenore, who joined the company as Business Development Manager, cites her father as her most memorable boss.
“Dad has been my mentor both inside and outside of the company,” she says.
“I continue to learn from his words of wisdom and insights into the industry. He constantly has his finger on the pulse regarding all things business, economics and current affairs.
“I’ve been surrounded by the industry since I was very little; machinery, diesel and dirt are all in my blood.
“In 1979 my Dad founded Brooks Hire and we are the largest privately owned earthmoving equipment hire company in Australia, specialising in the supply of plant hire to the civil and mining industries.
“During my high school and university years I worked part time in the family business, on the completion of my university degree I then commenced full time. I have been in various roles since with the company including, accounts, plant co-ordinator , business development manager and operations manager.”
Lenore, who has been in the mining industry for 10 years and a member of the WA Mining Club for one year, recently relocated from the company’s Victorian branch to the head office in Canning Vale, where she is in charge of the Hire department and business development on a national level.
She says every Mining Club event she has attended has been abuzz with networking, knowledge transfer and socialising, “making ever involvement with the club such an enriching experience”.
In the 10 years Lenore has been part of the mining industry she has seen the rapid development of technology, including autonomous machinery and drones and is glad to be part of the gradual shift in the industry’s female representation in management and on the ground.
And the last time she wore her work boots?
“It was at the Komatsu Boots On event last year held in Cessnock, NSW. I had the privilege of operating various new release machines that were launched at the event including the HM400-5 articulated dump truck, the GD655-6 grader and the HD605-8 rigid frame dump truck.”