On track to a better future

Bowen Rail Company is putting regional students on the fast-track to real rail careers and industry recognised qualifications through new internship programs and school-based traineeships. Three Bowen State High School students have just started school-based traineeship with Bowen Rail Company that will see them complete either a Certificate II in Engineering or Certificate III in Business at the company’s William Street offices and Kali Provisioning Yard north of town. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said building a stronger local workforce started with connecting local students to on?the?job training and long?term career opportunities. “Investing time and energy into nurturing and developing home-grown talent has always been fundamental to how we operate,” Mr Lane said. “Our programs are all about giving local students the best possible start to their career in Queensland’s world-class resources sector. “Roles in the rail and resources industry are often lifelong careers full of rewarding work, and we’re excited about the journey these programs will begin for young people in our community.” Third-year civil engineering student Henry Williamson from Mackay knows the value of the opportunity better than most after recently completing Bowen Rail Company’s internship program. “I didn’t know much about the rail industry at all before coming into BRC’s internship program,” Henry said. “I applied because Bowen is close to home, and I thought it would be interesting to try something different, but it turned out to be a great decision. “The people have been the highlight for me, everyone is incredibly friendly and always willing to answer questions, and their knowledge is second-to-none.” Henry said being able to connect the theory learnt at university with real, hands-on training had been hugely rewarding. “You learn theory at university, but you don’t always get the chance to see how it is applied,” he said. “Being a part of the internship program has helped me connect what I’ve studied to how things actually work on the track. “I’d really encourage other students to apply to any of the learning opportunities BRC provides. “It’s a great way to be introduced to the industry, even if you’ve never considered it before, and I can’t thank the team enough for opening my eyes to the rail industry and the opportunities within it.” For more information about a career with Bowen Rail Company, visit www.bowenrail.com.au. ENDS Bowen Rail Company is putting regional students on the fast-track to real rail careers and industry recognised qualifications through new internship programs and school-based traineeships. Three Bowen State High School students have just started school-based traineeship with Bowen Rail Company that will see them complete either a Certificate II in Engineering or Certificate III in Business at the company’s William Street offices and Kali Provisioning Yard north of town. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said building a stronger local workforce started with connecting local students to on?the?job training and long?term career opportunities. “Investing time and energy into nurturing and developing home-grown talent has always been fundamental to how we operate,” Mr Lane said. “Our programs are all about giving local students the best possible start to their career in Queensland’s world-class resources sector. “Roles in the rail and resources industry are often lifelong careers full of rewarding work, and we’re excited about the journey these programs will begin for young people in our community.” Third-year civil engineering student Henry Williamson from Mackay knows the value of the opportunity better than most after recently completing Bowen Rail Company’s internship program. “I didn’t know much about the rail industry at all before coming into BRC’s internship program,” Henry said. “I applied because Bowen is close to home, and I thought it would be interesting to try something different, but it turned out to be a great decision. “The people have been the highlight for me, everyone is incredibly friendly and always willing to answer questions, and their knowledge is second-to-none.” Henry said being able to connect the theory learnt at university with real, hands-on training had been hugely rewarding. “You learn theory at university, but you don’t always get the chance to see how it is applied,” he said. “Being a part of the internship program has helped me connect what I’ve studied to how things actually work on the track. “I’d really encourage other students to apply to any of the learning opportunities BRC provides. “It’s a great way to be introduced to the industry, even if you’ve never considered it before, and I can’t thank the team enough for opening my eyes to the rail industry and the opportunities within it.” For more information about a career with Bowen Rail Company, visit www.bowenrail.com.au. ENDS Download PDF

BRAVUS and the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are ready to kick goals in 2026 under a new Platinum Partnership that includes the company’s mining, rail, port and renewables businesses. BRAVUS Head of Reputation Kate Campbell said the new sponsorship deal would take the powerhouse tie-up between the mine, rail, port and renewables business and the North’s favourite sporting team to its 10-year anniversary in 2028. "We are excited that our BRAVUS brand will feature on the Cowboys’ NRL jersey sleeve from next year so the   2000-plus employees from our local port, mine, rail and renewables businesses can share in the fun of being part of the Cowboys family,” Ms Campbell said. "Our people work and live in Cowboys’ territory - the Isaac region, where our mine and solar farm are located, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, where we have offices, and Bowen, where our rail and port business are located. “Fans can expect to see big trains and ships alongside coal haul trucks and excavators in our 2026 advertising campaign, which will add a bit of extra fun to the season.” Previously, only BRAVUS’ mining business Bravus Mining and Resources, held the Platinum Partnership, whereas now it rests with the parent company BRAVUS. North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Chief Commercial Officer Dean Payne and players Jake Clifford and Jaxon Purdue joined Ms Campbell to celebrate the partnership renewal. Clifford and Purdue modelled the Bravus brand on the sleeves of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRL side’s 2026 home and away jerseys. "The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are proud to continue our partnership with Bravus. United by a shared commitment to advancing regional Queensland and showcasing our region with pride, this partnership has always been a natural fit,” Mr Payne said. "We're excited for the next chapter of our partnership which will expand beyond Bravus Mining and Resources to embrace the Heart of Cowboys territory, spanning Abbot Point Operations, Bowen Rail Company and the North Queensland Export Terminal." Clifford said he was excited to wear the BRAVUS brand again, albeit in a different way, in 2026. "Pretty much since I made my NRL debut, Bravus have been supporting what we do on field and making it possible for us to live out our dreams of playing in the NRL," he said. "Heaps of the players and fans have family who work at the mine or the port, so it's a part of what makes us proud to pull on the jersey each week and take the field to represent our region." Download PDF

Bowen Rail Company has appointed Rockhampton’s THEE Group as the new track and civil maintenance contractor for the billion-dollar Carmichael Rail Network in central Queensland. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said THEE Group was chosen following an exhaustive, months-long process, as the scope of works to be delivered is so fundamental to the safety and performance of the railway and the coal trains that run on it. “THEE Group’s a local Indigenous-owned track and civil maintenance contractor with great capability across both plant and people and a growing reputation in Queensland and New South Wales as a partner to industry and a provider of very high-quality services,” Mr Lane said. “Finding regional suppliers with complementary skillsets can feel like a challenge at times but THEE Group goes to show the kind of expertise that is on offer. “This is a major contract worth more than $10 million over its five-year term and will see THEE workers based in Rockhampton and Bowen perform both preventative and corrective maintenance along the 200 kilometres of railway that connects Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine near Clermont to Aurizon’s Newlands Rail System south of Collinsville. “The Carmichael Rail Network is a world-class asset and with the support of the THEE Group team we have the skills and knowledge to keep it in world-class condition for the next five years.” THEE Group Queensland Delivery Manager, Rail Sector, Doug James said the business was excited to bring its expertise to the Carmichael Rail Network and continue to grow its regional footprint.  “We’re a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned business providing multidisciplined rail services from our Gracemere office near Rockhampton as well as our other offices in southeast Queensland and the Hunter region in New South Wales,” Mr James said. “This contract will see us establish a core team based in Bowen that will be backed by our Rockhampton workforce for when we need to flex up to 30 or 40 staff working on the network for strategic packages of work.” Mr Lane said supporting local businesses and suppliers had been part of Bowen Rail Company’s DNA since the business was established in Bowen in 2020. “As we’ve grown from a handful of people to more than 200 direct employees, we’ve seen how local spend and local employment can make a positive impact right across the community,” he said. “Those economic and social benefits might be most obvious as we all gather at the Grand View in our hi vis after a long week, but they reach beyond hospitality to everything from the local tyre shop and the hardware store who support contractors like THEE Group deliver these core services for us. “It’s something we’re really proud of and we look forward to continuing to provide opportunities that help make Bowen and the Whitsundays an even better and more prosperous place to live.” ENDS Download PDF

Bowen Tennis Association has scored big with a Bowen Rail Company (BRC) grant to support the development of the region’s next generation of tennis stars. The 95-year-old club was one of four recent grant recipients of Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program, which supports local not-for-profit organisations and community groups with the purchase of small assets that can make a big difference. Bowen Tennis Association President Walter Morris said Bowen Rail Company’s support was significant to seeing the club deliver on its commitment to develop local talent and grow the sport. “We’ve used the grant to create a dedicated equipment storage area for our coaches, which allows us to better support our members and programs,” Mr Morris said. “With more than 100 members, half of whom are juniors, having proper coaching facilities is important, especially as we expand to include junior pickleball coaching and other opportunities for young players. “We’re also fortunate to have a talented and hardworking committee of volunteers who make every dollar count and, thanks to their efforts, we were able to use the $1,500 from Bowen Rail Company to create both an equipment storage and a servery/counter area.” Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said the Community Partnership Program was one of the ways the company added to the vibrancy and prosperity of Bowen, on top of the economic value of the local jobs and business opportunities its rail operations created. “As our business has grown from a handful of people in 2020 to more than 200 direct employees today, so too has our connection to the community,” Mr Lane said. “Many of our team members now have kids in local schools or are members of local clubs and organisations like Bowen Tennis, and being able to use the Community Partnership Program to give back to and support the things that make Bowen such a special place is something we’re really proud to do.” Other 2024 recipients of the Bowen Rail Company Community Partnership Program include: Bowen Delta Rural Fire Brigade, whose grant funded a cell tower repeater to improve mobile service reliability Bowen Rugby Union, awarded funding to upgrade fridges in their canteen, and Girudala Community Co-operative Society, which used its grant to replace a defibrillator. Bowen Rail Company’s Community Partnership Program is awarded bi-annually in May and November. To learn more about the Community Partnership Program or to apply, visit www.bowenrail.com.au/sustainability/community. ENDS Download PDF