A Secret Harbour dad hopes to reconnect drive-in, drive-out families with the help of his self-published children’s book Dave the Dumper Truck.
Husband, dad and mining machinery operator Aaron White said he wrote the book after his two-year-old son, Tyler asked questions about where he goes every second week.
The drive-in, drive-out worker has been mining since 2003 and now works at the Boddington Gold Mine.
Mr White said he wanted to explain to Tyler what he did but struggled to find a book that suited the situation.
“I could only find books about construction work so I thought I might as well write one for my family and other mining families,” he said.
After a quick Google search Mr White said he knew how to write and self-publish his book.
The story follows Dave the dump truck around a typical mine in Australia and is illustrated with photos of excavators, dozers, electric shovels, wheel loaders and drill rigs.
Mr White’s wife Francesca said it was interesting to learn what an electric shovel was and the size of one.
“When Tyler is missing his dad I read the book with him and he stops crying,” she said.
“It helps me explain where his dad is and what he is doing.”
Tyler said the book was about “my dad’s big dumper truck” and he liked reading it.
Mr White now wants to offer a recording of him reading his book stood in front of a dumper truck so children can see the size of the machinery.
Go to davethedumptruck.com for more information.
