“If you want something said ask a man, if you want something done ask a woman.”

MARGARET Thatcher’s famous words are being strongly replicated at Australian Bluegum Plantations (ABP) where some of the most highly valued employees are women, including many young achievers who “just get on with the job”.

Among them is 26-year-old Jessica Donovan, bulldozer operator extraordinaire at ABP’s Portland Chip Terminal (PCT). In fact, she can operate all of the machinery – from bulldozers to the site bobcat and everything in between.

Ms Donovan revels in the job. “I love learning to drive the machinery and driving them well, operating all different areas of the chip terminal and being one of the female operators on the floor,” she said.

While Ms Donovan works among woodchips in an industrial setting, colleague Georgina Macklin’s work environment is another realm altogether: the serenity of a bluegum plantation.

Ms Macklin, 26, started at ABP as their first female bulldozer operator five years ago. Since then she has branched out to becoming a harvest supervisor, part of a team that manages harvesting across ABP’s 54,000 hectares of plantations in the ‘Green Triangle’ region of southwest Victoria and across to South Australia.

“My role within ABP not only allows me to work in a diverse workforce, whether it’s out on site or in the office, but it has enabled me to grow internal and external relationships with others in the industry,” she said.

Ms Macklin and colleague Hannah Aldridge are taking part in ABP’s new career pathways program. Ms Macklin is completing a certificate IV in forestry operations and Mrs Aldridge a certificate IV in business. Mrs Aldridge started at the company as a plant operator on the floor and has since moved into an administrative role at PCT.

“As part of the program we are required to research, propose and implement a project that will benefit the business,” Mrs Aldridge said.

“Georgina and I decided we wanted our project to be based around recognising and supporting women who work in our industry.”

The pair kickstarted their three-year project with an event held last Thursday (March 21) at the Cape Bridgewater Lifesaving Club, featuring guest speaker Kirsten Diprose, a rural podcaster from Caramut.

“Our first event recognised Women in Wood Fibre and proudly supported this year’s International Women’s Day theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusion’,” Mrs Aldridge said.

Among the 40 participants were MC Liz McKinnon from EHM Advisory, a consultancy business in the food and fibre sector, Glenelg Shire Council Mayor Karen Stephens and chair of the Great South Coast Food and Fibre Council, Oonagh Kilpatrick.

Ms McKinnon said an annual industry-wide event celebration was planned following the “standout success” of the inaugural celebration.

   ABP CEO Russ Hughes presented Mrs Aldridge with Melinda Gates’ book The Moment of Lift: Empowering Women Changes the World, which highlights the importance of investing in women. Mrs Aldridge is due to shortly take maternity leave to welcome her first child.