Maximum effort in challenging times

At the recent Cat® Global Operator Challenge Final in Western Australia, Max Harris was crowned WA's best operator. If he gets through the regional final in Japan, he'll be off to the USA to challenge for the crown of the world’s best.

- 

Is there something magical in the red dirt at Kalgoorlie?

Two years ago, Jake Myers from WA's renowned mining city in the Goldfields was crowned the state's best equipment operator following an outstanding show of skill at the inaugural WesTrac-hosted Caterpillar® Global Operator Challenge (GOC).

At this year's GOC, the trophy went to Northern Star open pit supervisor Max Harris from Boulder, located in the Kalgoorlie vicinity.

Max outperformed 10 other finalists to in a series of three challenges, designed to test the skill, accuracy, and agility of competitors.

Taking out the title of State Champion, the 32-year-old won an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan, where he will put his skills to the test against international operators at the Asia-Pacific Regional Final in October.

From there, only three operators will be selected to travel to Las Vegas in March next year to compete against the world's best operators in the Caterpillar Global Operator Final held at CONEXPO 2026. Max will be hoping to do better than Jake, who finished fourth in Japan.

While he had 15 years of operating experience, Max said he was overwhelmed by the win.

"I wasn't expecting this, I came here looking to have a bit of fun and was shocked when my name got called,” he said.

"That was a very tough competition and some of the finalists are on the next level when it comes to diggers and that sort of thing.

"I look forward to representing WA over in Japan and can't wait to give it a red hot crack for us.”

And a more exciting opportunity awaits if Max makes it to Vegas. "I'll get married to my fiancée in an Elvis wedding ceremony,” he said.

Max's winning time was 19 minutes and 29 seconds, followed closely by Steve Farley of Connect Resources on 22 minutes and 48 seconds, who pipped third-placed Luke Davis, an operator with the Avalon Group, by four seconds.