Colour-change Cat pushes life-saving cause

It’s a Cat skid steer but not as you would know it – painted pink, and now consigned to Hastings Deering’s rental fleet as part of a campaign to raise awareness and funds to support women’s health issues. Hastings Deering’s old-World War II hanger, usually used for assembling Cat machinery, was transformed by pink for a joint fund-raising initiative with the Mater Hospitals ‘Chicks in Pink’ last week. The Brisbane event saw 140 guests including Sime Darby managing director – industrial Dean Mehmet hear from breast cancer experts and survivors. Sime Darby industrial division general manager people, culture and external affairs Vincent Cosgrove kicked off proceedings sharing that his mother had died from breast cancer 14 years ago. UQ Professor of Surgery Dr Chris Pyke, who is based at the Mater, shared the stage with specialist breast cancer nurse Ash Mondolo and Hastings Deering business solutions manager Ross Meyer and his wife Nikki who together shared their experience with breast cancer. The idea to paint the skid steer pink was the brainchild of Julie Rowe in the sales department, with the machine set for long term rental with Gemlife Construction. It coincides with the 20th annual fundraising breakfast– the last two cancelled because of COVID. To date the company has raised more than $200,000 for cancer research. The Meyers credit Nikki’s success at beating cancer to early diagnosis. “I just can’t overstate it enough that we need to stop fearing this disease to the point where we put off mammograms and tests because of that fear,” Mrs Meyer said. “While I was always vigilant about regular mammograms, I discovered a small lump and immediately went to my GP. It was then I realised I actually had other symptoms that we sometime dismiss as part of the stress of everyday life.” Contracting COVID during chemotherapy was an added stress. Mr Meyers told guests how he took advantage of the company’s support network including psychologists to stay positive to support his wife and his two children through the difficult time. “Knowing I could leave work immediately to be with Nikki at some of the trickiest times, took so much pressure away from the already highly stressed time,” he said. “It’s a shared battle and you really have to be in the right head space to be supportive, calm and motivated: especially when it came to reassuring the kids.” Image at top: Hastings Deering business solutions manager Ross Meyer and his wife Nikki with the pink Cat.

Colour-change Cat pushes life-saving cause

Industry Queensland

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