It's a long journey up the Great Eastern Highway to the Goldfields, where truckloads of fresh fruit and vegetables are on their way to a mining village situated near the town of Laverton, about 740km northeast of Boorloo/Perth.
Every day, Djinda Produce, a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned business founded in 2014, supplies fresh produce to regional and remote mining locations in the Pilbara, Goldfields and Kimberley.
In the early hours of the morning, Cleave Narkle, Warehouse Team Leader at Djinda Produce, is already in action, ensuring the packing of fresh produce. His team handles everything from hundreds of kilograms of potatoes and carrots to large volumes of watermelon, all meticulously prepared for delivery to mining villages serviced by integrated food and facilities management company, Sodexo.
A proud Noongar man and one of Djinda's longest-serving employees, Mr Narkle started working as a picker and packer and now leads a diverse warehouse team of 12 people, including six Aboriginal staff.
"I'm a jack of all trades. I like helping out wherever I can. It's not just a job for me, it's my career," he said.
Mr Narkle also plays an active role in mentoring the young Indigenous team at Djinda.
"It's good for our young people to see an older Indigenous staff member in a leadership position. It can be very daunting for young Aboriginal people to start out in the workforce. Sometimes they are very shy and are reluctant to speak out and get involved."
He believes that businesses like Djinda and Sodexo can play a vital role in building the confidence of young people.
"Growing the confidence of young Aboriginal people is so important. It's about showing your work ethic and encouraging them to build the next chapter in the book of life," Mr Narkle said.
Cleave's leadership path to Djinda has taken him from surfwear retail and taxation office work, to teaching Corroboree dance at King's Park in Perth, all whilst raising six kids as a single father.
Djinda Produce Managing Director, Phil Matera, said that Mr Narkle led by example and was an inspiration, not just to their Indigenous staff, but to the wider Djinda team.
Cleave's journey at Djinda embodies this year's NAIDOC theme, recognising how the next generation is inspiring strength, vision, and legacy. Through his leadership and wisdom, he is empowering and building confidence in future generations, creating a lasting impact.
Keith Weston, Managing Director at Sodexo Australia, is proud of the decade-long partnership with Djinda Produce and its shared commitment to Indigenous employment.
"We are passionate about supporting local growers and small-to-medium enterprises, fostering regional and local community growth and resilience," Mr Weston said.
Over the past four years, Sodexo has invested over $100 million with more than 50 Indigenous-owned businesses across Australia.
Sodexo is now one of Djinda's largest partner, accounting for 25 per cent of their annual revenue and driving a 125 per cent growth in their collaboration since 2021.
Beyond business, Djinda is committed to giving back to communities, donating over 10.7 tonnes of produce addressing local food security, with goals to increase this annually.