Bob started in the crane industry by working with a crane and rigging company called Maros Constructions in 1958, at the age of 19. After working a few years for that company, he progressed to becoming an estimator and finally the manager of the Queensland operation for Maros Constructions.
Bob was instrumental in setting up the Queensland branch of CICA and became a delegate on the national body. This was known as a ‘working party’, which was formalised, developed and implemented at the 1979 conference and saw the start of CICA National.
Bob Parker was awarded the Con Popov memorial award in 1999 in recognition for all that he had done for the crane industry.
Read more of Bob Parker's story here.
Sadly, Bob passed away in 2020, a wonderful man who gave so much to his family, friends and the crane industry. Vale Bob Parker.
Rob has long been regarded as a pioneer of the Australian crane sector and is also recognised for identifying safety and operator training as major issues for the fledgling industry. Rob started in the crane industry in the 1950's and went on to launch Robway Safety Systems, a company which still leads the way in crane and safe load monitoring systems, today.
Robert Way was the first recipient of the Con Popov Memorial Award in 1998.
Read more of Robert Way's story here.
Rob Way passed away in 2020, sadly missed but not forgotten by his family, friends and the crane industry. Vale Rob Way.
Allan McPherson's entry into the crane industry came in early 1965 when he had the opportunity to operate an overhead gantry crane at Parkeston Railway Transhipment Yard near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. He then progressed to operating mobile Fowler Cranes transhipping cars and timber sleepers before rejoining the Australian Army.
Allan's first official employment in a crane hire company was for O’Connor Cranes, Kwinana in December 1969 when he stopped by during the Christmas holidays from Boulder and was offered a job operating cranes. Within a week he had relocated the family and had officially joined the crane hire industry. In late 1972, Allan become the new Kwinana branch manager for O'Connor Cranes.
In mid 1979, Allan was elected to an inaugural committee which evolved into the Crane Association of Western Australia (CAWA) as a stand-alone association, where he continued in an executive position.
Allan was awarded Con Popov Memorial Award in 2000 for his commitment to improving the crane industry.
Read more of Allan McPherson's story here.
John Gillespie is Managing Director of Gillespies Crane Services and Director of Gillespies Cranes Nominees P/L and other companies in the group.
John has over 40 year’s industry experience in a career which began with Gillespies Crane Services in 1969. He sat on the CICA board for over 25 successive years, joining in 1985 and held the position of CICA President for 16 years including 10 consecutive years from 2004 to 2014.
John continues to be a CICA Board Director and is still active at a state level, as a past president and committee member for CICA NSW Committee.
John was awarded Con Popov Memorial Award in 2002 for outstanding industry service.
Read more of John Gillespie's story here.
With heavy hearts the crane industry mourns John's passing. John's Vale (August 2021)
Jeff began his career as a draftsman but soon moved into sales in construction equipment. He joined Harnischfeger in 1982 as Sales Manager for the Kobelco range that was to be introduced into Australia and so began a long and illustrious career in the business of cranes.
He was the General Manager of Century II which was bought by PPM. In 1994 Terex Cranes bought PPM worldwide, and Jeff remained as Managing Director. After Terex bought Franna and moved its Australian headquarters to
Jeff was awarded the Con Popov Memorial Award in 2003 for his dedication to the crane industry.
Read more of Jeff Brundell's story here.
