The Pinnaroo operation was acquired as a concern by Mitolo in 2007. The operation, that included farming land and plant and equipment, was purchased from a person by the name of Mason. Mitolo acquired a number of properties in the Pinnaroo area including a property over the border in Victoria. Mitolo operated a cool room in the Pinnaroo township. There was also a workshop situated on one of the properties. On another property named Midway there was a shed in which plant was housed. Included in the plant acquired from Mason’s were two prime movers, one of which was the prime mover that was involved in the fatal accident. It was registered SA BBK-859. Also acquired were two tautliner trailers. One of the tautliners was that involved in the fatal accident, namely trailer registered number SA YCS-180. The other tautliner would be converted into a flatbed trailer, registered number SA When Mitolo acquired the Pinnaroo operation from Mason’s they also acquired the services of a number of Mason’s employees. These persons included Mr Venning, a Mr Peter Redden, a Mr Graham Phelps and the Manager to whom I have already referred, Mr Simon Samon. Those four persons became employees of Mitolo in various capacities. I have already mentioned the fact that Mr Venning was a general farm hand. His duties included the driving of the semi-trailer or trailers that were situated in the Pinnaroo area. Most of his driving responsibilities were carried out locally. Mr Peter Redden was also a truck driver who had driven semi-trailers for Mitolo but who more recently had elected to curtail his driving responsibilities. Mr Phelps was the workshop manager who had responsibility for the maintenance of the Pinnaroo operation’s plant and equipment that included responsibility in relation to the maintenance of vehicles. For the most part mechanical work that was required in respect of the prime movers was outsourced to a qualified and professional mechanic such as Tatiara Truck and Trailers in Bordertown. Although from time to time Mr Phelps undertook some responsibility in relation to the adjustment of trailer brakes, he was not a qualified mechanic,. During the Pinnaroo harvesting period, which included the month of January, produce harvested from the Pinnaroo properties would generally be transported by Mitolo owned B-Doubles, driven either from Virginia or from the Riverland to the Pinnaroo area where they were loaded. Mitolo operated a number of B-Double combinations
The Pinnaroo operation was acquired as a concern by Mitolo in 2007. The operation, that included farming land and plant and equipment, was purchased from a person by the name of Mason. Mitolo acquired a number of properties in the Pinnaroo area including a property over the border in Victoria. Mitolo operated a cool room in the Pinnaroo township. There was also a workshop situated on one of the properties. On another property named Midway there was a shed in which plant was housed. Included in the plant acquired from Mason’s were two prime movers, one of which was the prime mover that was involved in the fatal accident. It was registered SA BBK-859. Also acquired were two tautliner trailers. One of the tautliners was that involved in the fatal accident, namely trailer registered number SA YCS-180. The other tautliner would be converted into a flatbed trailer, registered number SA When Mitolo acquired the Pinnaroo operation from Mason’s they also acquired the services of a number of Mason’s employees. These persons included Mr Venning, a Mr Peter Redden, a Mr Graham Phelps and the Manager to whom I have already referred, Mr Simon Samon. Those four persons became employees of Mitolo in various capacities. I have already mentioned the fact that Mr Venning was a general farm hand. His duties included the driving of the semi-trailer or trailers that were situated in the Pinnaroo area. Most of his driving responsibilities were carried out locally. Mr Peter Redden was also a truck driver who had driven semi-trailers for Mitolo but who more recently had elected to curtail his driving responsibilities. Mr Phelps was the workshop manager who had responsibility for the maintenance of the Pinnaroo operation’s plant and equipment that included responsibility in relation to the maintenance of vehicles. For the most part mechanical work that was required in respect of the prime movers was outsourced to a qualified and professional mechanic such as Tatiara Truck and Trailers in Bordertown. Although from time to time Mr Phelps undertook some responsibility in relation to the adjustment of trailer brakes, he was not a qualified mechanic,. During the Pinnaroo harvesting period, which included the month of January, produce harvested from the Pinnaroo properties would generally be transported by Mitolo owned B-Doubles, driven either from Virginia or from the Riverland to the Pinnaroo area where they were loaded. Mitolo operated a number of B-Double combinations
VENNING%20James%20William.docx