Toa O’Reilly is originally from the Gold Coast and moved, along with his young family, to Ivanhoe for work as a Reach Stacker Operator.

With an Irish father and Maori mother, Toa was born in Napier, New Zealand. He ventured to Australia in 2017, and met his partner Taryn here.

They share a ten-year-old daughter and a eight-year-old son.

Working for the Tronox mineral sand mine, the family decided to move to the area for the significant benefit it would provide to their household. “I saw the notification on Seek, and decided to investigate further,” Toa said. “Once I saw what they were offering, and realised I was well capable of the job, I threw my hat in the ring.”

Toa enjoys his role as it is something different.

He works with a great crew for a great company.

Toa was fly-in-fly-out (FIFO), with two weeks on and two weeks off originally, and did this for the first four swings.

After this, the company decided to conclude the position, but instead offered Toa a good relocation package.

“I took this offer back to the family, so we could discuss and decide, and we eventually all agreed to make the move to Ivanhoe,” Toa said.

Taryn works in the mining kitchen. The family found the transition tough for the first month, but after that, they took to their new town like ducks to water.

The children love their new school, and the family is pleased with the facilities.

They plan on being in Ivanhoe for at least five years, with opportunities to retain employment there for up to 25 years. An ambitious and motivated couple, Toa and his partner have a goal in mind for the family’s future, and the relocation and new life will vastly contribute to achieving their goal.

Trucks go to the Tronox mine, is loaded with material, and then is brought back to the rail crew.

His crew tips it and then come in with loaders, and load into specialised containers.

Toa weighs, records and then outs the containers on the train wagons.

There are 132, 20 foot containers in each load. Toa says it can get hard at times with all of their family still far away in the Gold Coast, but everyone is adapting well.

Toa and Taryn’s schedules line up so they both work a week on, and then get a week off together.

During that week off they ensure it is filled with family time, such as weekends away to Melbourne, Mildura and surrounds.

“We are still learning the intricacies of rural living, and logistics,” he said.

“The town is beautiful and the people here are wonderful and welcoming.” People such as Toa and his wonderful little family are exactly the kind of thing Ivanhoe needs. Welcome to Ivanhoe guys.