ESTA is sad to report the death of our good friend and industry colleague John Gillespie – former President of the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) and former managing director of Australian crane rental company Gillespies Crane Services – after a long battle with leukaemia.
John was a highly knowledgeable, respected and popular figure in the global crane industry and a strong supporter of the work of industry associations in raising standards. He was president of CICA for 16 years and served the organisation for 35 years in total.
His believed in the importance of international cooperation and was a speaker at the first World Crane and Transport Summit in Amsterdam in 2009, which in turn led to the creation of the International Crane Stakeholders Assembly.
He started at the family business, Gillespies Crane Services, in 1969 doing whatever was required to help the company thrive. He remained there until its sale to Two Way Cranes in 2019.
Under his energetic leadership CICA grew into a strong and influential organisation. In 2002 he was awarded CICA’s Con Popov Memorial Award for outstanding industry service, and in 2010 received CICA Life Membership.
ESTA Director Ton Klijn said: “John’s expertise and great good humour meant he was a marvellous industry colleague. His contribution to the crane industry, not just in Australia but internationally, was immense and will not be forgotten.”