Orange Watermin Drillers boss Max Jones dies in industrial accident

Max Jones, 84, was remembered in a one-minute silence at this week's Orange City Council meeting.

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said Mr Jones died while working on a rig at Walgett last Friday.

Mr Jones was the head of Watermin Drillers, an Orange company established in 1959.

Company spokeswoman Rhonda Fisher said Mr Jones had just completed a "highly successful major project" for Brewarrina Shire Council.

"Max was well known and respected throughout the drilling industry in Australia and the world and was sought after regularly for his knowledge and expertise. He will be greatly missed throughout the drilling industry," she said.

"Max will be dearly missed by his life partner Kathy, three children Sheryl, Melissa and Clayton and their partners, as well as six grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren."

Mr Jones constructed water town bores and major projects for 29 councils and other bodies as well as major mining companies.

He was also a keen collector of cars, trucks, agricultural and farm equipment.

Much of his incredible collection was auctioned at his property near Orange in 2018, the event attracting national interest.

Mr Jones told the Central Western Daily at the time he had followed in the footsteps of his father, Ernie.

"I spent 60 years, and my dad before me, collecting," he said.

Mr Jones said he began buying the items to avoid them being scrapped.

"I could see the stuff was not going to be cared for," he said.

"I built sheds, little sheds and then bigger sheds to store it.

"This stuff, they don't make it anymore, I guess I felt I should be buying and storing it."

The company statement said Mr Jones started the business of water bore drilling in 1959 aged 22, in South Australia.

"He moved and expanded to Victoria in 1962 and then to ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and NSW in 1964. Max established Watermin Drillers, based in Orange and continued drilling throughout NSW and in ACT ever since.

"Max Jones pioneered hard rock water bore drilling in Australia, and he continued locating underground water throughout his six decade career. Max was a founding member of the Australian Drilling Industry Association."

Funeral arrangements are being finalised.

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