Head of Dalton Logistics, Jim Dalton, has received substantial recognition from many areas for his company’s services having been described by international motoring journalists as Australia’s best outback caterer.

His experience in remote areas of northern Australian meant that he was an ideal choice for the surveying teams – not only does he have runs on the board in providing accommodation and catering, but he knows the areas they were traversing.

The role saw Dalton Logistics move along with the surveyors, setting up and dismantling camps as required, providing all catering requirements and providing local knowledge about the areas and conditions along the route as well as providing contacts for local service providers. Three teams were along the route at any given time working in shifts of around 5 weeks.

There was no guarantee that the teams would necessarily be close to towns at specific times, so Jim and his crew needed to ensure that they had adequate supplies at all times. Jim was well prepared for this and he said that packaging, refrigeration and storage from a hygiene point of view are paramount.

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“We are also limited by weight and space considerations in terms of the type of equipment and the amount of stores we can take on location when operating off road. We live by the motto, I’d rather be looking at it than looking for it,” Jim said.

However that didn’t mean that the surveying crews had to suffer a narrow range of meals, in fact Daltons pride themselves on the variety that can be provided in the bush.

“Most people are amazed at what can be presented in the bush. With correct planning and forethought, you can do anything,” he said.

Dalton Logistics is able to cater for large and small groups alike. While the surveying groups were small teams, in the past Jim has organised massive events in remote locations, such as the Amway conference which saw over 1,000 people in 250 tents utilising 150 four-wheel drives over a fortnight. Some 20,000 meals were prepared as part of the event.

Jim’s knowledge comes from the successful combination of his time in northern Australia and his professional catering qualifications. He originally came to the Northern Territory from Melbourne in 1983 for his brothers wedding and decided to stay. Prior to coming to the Northern Territory he had trained at Melbourne’s William Angliss College. In 1990 he received a call to cater and support the ABC series “The Bush Tucker Man”, exposing him to many remote and harsh regions of Australia’s outback.

Jim realised the potential for a catering and logistical support business in the ‘Top End’ so Remote Location Caterers was formed which later changed its name to Dalton Logistics.

He said that he was thrilled working with the Trans Territory Pipeline surveying teams and that he had found their tasks offered a unique perspective on the bush.

“While I we usually think in terms of how to get over it, through it or around it, we also had to pay attention to a myriad of other issues such as how best to minimise the impact of the pipeline to the environment and be mindful of cultural heritage issues.”

Dalton Logistics was contracted to offer logistics support and advice as well as the catering and camp management. This extended to EH&S & Logistics planning, provision of inductions to contractors, equipment and services sourcing & supply and reconnaissance services.

“Dalton Logistics offers almost anything. We have to have a can do attitude in this environment.”