Prime7 were on-site today discussing the shortages of workers in Gunnedah.

A great opportunity to meet the Kingdom of Tonga’s Deputy High Commissioner for a visit to our Gunnedah office and workshop to discuss what roles and positions we could use with skilled labour in our industry and business. The visit was part of the Gunnedah Shire opening of sister city relations with the Kingdom to meet our region’s skill shortages.

The year was 1919. The Treaty of Versailles had been signed in France, bringing Australia's involvement in World War I to an end, CJ Dennis' "The Sentimental Bloke" film premiered in Melbourne, and Charles Cox started his drilling operations. Since that time, generation after generation have continued to join and grow the family business into the widely successful operation that Mannion Drilling is today, and with fourth generation driller Jason and his wife Jacinta at the helm, along with son Mitchell and daughters Grace and Zara, champing at the bit, Mannion Drilling is in good hands.

From the get-go, the business has continually grown and evolved to meet customer demand, and Jacinta said the secret to their success was simple. "We love what we do and invest in our staff and equipment to get the best job completed for our clients in a cost effective way," she said. "Being a family in this industry with the experience over the years it's not a job it's more a passion".

A passion for what they do is at the heart of every successful business owner, and Jacinta said they wouldn't have it any other way. "Both Jason and I have grown up in family businesses, so we know what it takes and the sacrifices that have to be made to in business to make it successful," she said. We want to instill in our children that if you work hard you are rewarded and want to be positive role models in their lives and into their futures".

Indeed that future looks bright for everyone after the company expanded operations into the Mudgee region, having recently acquired Gricks Drilling. Jacinta said that the solid history of Gricks coupled with the Mudgee profile made a perfect match. "We wanted to broaden our drilling area and Mudgee fitted the profile perfectly. We wanted to expand our client base and the opportunity to expand our fleet and support equipment with management systems in place and took the opportunity to acquire another strong family business in the industry".

"We plan on delivering the exact same high quality drilling services with business management and WHS support systems as we do for our existing clients in the Gunnedah basin, along with assisting with employment and community sponsorship across the Mudgee district".

With a fleet of 14 drilling rigs with different capabilities for most drilling programs, Mannion Drilling currently have 35 staff and will be looking at further recruitment in the second half of the year. Their current crew is benefiting from a 12 month leadership program and the company is also proud of their commitment to sustaining a 30 per cent benchmark of Indigenous employment, a benchmark they have met for the past three years.

For more information about Mannion Drilling and the wide range of services that they provide, call 02 6742 7021 or visit www.manniondrilling.com.au.

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Article by Mudgee Guardian.

Mannion Drilling expands operations into Mudgee with the acquisition of Gricks Drilling.

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Awesome News!! Mannion Drilling took out the Excellence in Business Award and NSW State Finalist at the Regional Business Awards! Congratulations Jason & Jacinta and the whole Mannion Drilling Team.