Mark Castagna

Mark Castanga, known to most as Bulljump, was born on the 26th of December 1954. Mark started working for the Department of Transport and Works in 1972. Tasked with improving the pastoral roads in the Northern Territory, Mark initially drove a water cart and was soon enough a true all-rounder, operating graders and a variety of other machines.

Mark then went to work as a Station Hand on Argadargada Station, a cattle station about 500km north-east of Alice Springs. Here, he drove the Haines family’s International, carting cattle and general freight for the Station. Mark then moved into Alice Springs with Argadargada’s International Truck to subcontract for Tanami Transport. Behind the wheel of this International, Mark carted cattle using the International for Tanami for several years.

In 1983, Mark swapped the International for a Tanami Transport truck and his longstanding career and memories as a truck driver carting cattle begin. Mark remembers a major lift of cattle out of Henbury Station south of Alice Springs.  The Station destocked 3000 head of cattle over 60 decks, making for an incredibly long and tedious day of loading.

The long days in the elements and flies were simply an accepted part of the role.  That’s not to say it made the lows that come with carting cattle any easier, especially in the Northern Territory. From the country being at the mercy of Mother Nature in dry times and dealing with very poor cattle to cart, often the goal was just getting from Point A to Point B and keeping as many of the cattle alive that they could.

Looking for a new challenge, Mark left Tanami Transport and joined Bernie Earthmoving and Excavating, operating side tippers, loaders and graders. He was with the business for 2 years before Bronte Bruce called on Mark to help him out back at Tanami Transport. As Tanami were a driver short, Mark agreed to fill the gap temporarily. The reality was the smell of cattle and the love of the iconic brown trucks would win Mark over, returning to Tanami Transport as a full-time driver.

Mark swapped the wheel for the office in 2010, taking on a managerial role. Although he appreciated the opportunity to see the other side of the industry, Mark was drawn back to the real action in 2016.

Upon reading a newspaper with an ad Exact Contracting Services, Mark applied. He started with the business in August of 2017 on the Docker River Road, hauling dirt to support the earthworks on the project. Seven years on, Mark is still with Exact Contracting, driving a Kenworth with a side tipper. He is called upon to operate other machinery from time to time.

Mark is a familiar and well-respected face to many who have operated in the Northern Territory, serving the industry for over five decades.

Inducted in 2024