Jacqui Host discusses her unusual path into the quarrying sector, which has led to a career that helps her local community.
Jacqui’s journey to working in the quarry sector is anything but ordinary.
Growing up, she was immersed in the performing arts – dancing, acrobatics, and music from the age of five.
By her teens, she was passionate about guitar, singing, and playing in bands, and even spent nearly two years studying music after finally being accepted into a performing arts course in year 11.
But life took a dramatic turn when her dad moved to Western Australia to work at an underground gold mine.
“One day, he called and asked, ‘mate, how are you going at being broke?’” Host said.
At the time, she was ready for a change and some financial security. As soon as she turned 18, she joined her dad at the mine.
Her career path has since taken her through mining and earthmoving, and now into quarries.
What drew her to quarries was the chance to do meaningful work close to home.
“It’s essentially mining, but in the city, you can go home at the end of each day. The hours are still long, but the work is diverse,” she said.
“You’re not stuck on one machine or in one role; you do whatever needs to be done, which keeps things interesting.”
What’s kept Host in quarrying is the people. “You work closely with your team every day, and you build strong relationships,” she said.
“Quarry crews are small and tight-knit. There’s a real sense of camaraderie, and every day brings something new.
“The chaos and diversity of the work make it exciting and satisfying.”
Host’s experience spans contract crushing, operating crushers, diggers, loaders, water carts, and dump trucks.
Now, she works in work health and safety, but still jumps in wherever she’s needed, whether that’s covering for a quarry manager or operating machinery.
“The flexibility and hands-on involvement of the sector are what I love most,” she said. “You’re expected to step in wherever there’s a need, and everyone has the experience to do so.”
She believes everyone should consider careers in quarries.
“It’s a fun and satisfying job, and there are so many different roles beyond just operating machinery. We have engineers, environmental specialists, accountants, and boilermakers. You can come in as one thing and leave as another, with plenty of on-the-job training and opportunities to gain new qualifications,” she said.
“For school leavers, especially those unsure of what they want to do, quarries are a great place to start.”
Equally, Host is passionate about the value that quarries bring to the community.
“Everything we need in a community, roads, bricks, concrete, and more, comes from a quarry. The raw materials produced here are the foundation of our daily lives, supporting infrastructure, creating jobs, and driving the economy,” she said.
Outside of work, Host loves spending time with her daughter, fishing and going to the gym.
“After a long shift, the gym helps release physical stress, but my main passion is fishing. The isolation, quiet, and focus it requires are the perfect counterbalance to the chaos of quarry life,” she said.
Her advice to anyone considering a career in quarries is simple.
“Just go for it. Quarrying is fun, offers financial security, and teaches you valuable life skills. You’ll always be handy, and you’ll never be without a job. You can move anywhere and always find work. It can also provide flexibility,” she said.
When Host had her daughter, she gradually returned to work, starting with just one or two days a week and building up to full-time as her child grew older.
Host’s story is proof that a career in quarries can be as dynamic and rewarding as any stage or spotlight – offering variety, community, and a solid foundation for the future. •
For more information, visit quarry.com/thats_solid
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