Local Removalist Marks 40 Years with New Chapter Ahead

One of Far North Queensland’s longest-standing removal companies is celebrating 40 years in business, marking the milestone with a new chapter of local leadership.

In their Aeroglen family home in 1986, Les and Kirsten Forrester saw an opportunity to improve the removals industry with exemplary customer service. Starting with one truck and a commitment to handling every move with care, Greater Northern Removals and Storage was born.

Over the years, the local family-owned business expanded, surviving pivotal economic shocks such as the 1989-1990 pilot strikes, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

It wasn’t long before their philosophy of “caring creates success” led to a growing team of professional removalists and trucks, providing locals with reliable moves across Cairns, down the East Coast, and throughout Australia.

“I really care about what we do and have always worked hard to ensure the best possible outcome for our customers, whether that’s moving local families or relocating commercial and Government clients,” says founder and director Les Forrester.

“Like any business, we’ve faced our share of challenges over the years, but maintaining a positive work culture, regular training and strong communication has always been important to us.”

Fast forward to 2026 and that same commitment to caring for their customers and their team hasn’t changed. As the company celebrates its fourth decade, it continues to evolve, bolstering its leadership and securing investment, helping to position the FNQ business for continued success.

Incoming Chief Executive Officer, John O’Sullivan, joins the team after returning to Cairns from Canada, where he successfully led the expansion of Young Guns Container Crew into the North American market.

“One of the impressive aspects of Greater Northern Removals is how resilient the business has been over four decades, adapting to changing customer expectations while overcoming the logistical challenges of servicing remote communities across Far North Queensland,” says John.

“By continuing the great work already built by the team, our ambition is to deliver the exceptional service Greater Northern Removals has become known for.”

At the beginning of 2026, former Queensland rugby league player and businessman Scott Young invested in the business, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the long-standing FNQ company. Scott co-founded Young Guns in 2004, which currently employs over 2,000 team members, including many aspiring rugby league players.

Young says the decision to invest in Greater Northern Removals was driven by the company’s strong reputation, community trust, and the culture already built within the business.

“What attracted us to the business was the reputation it had already built over 40 years and the trust it had earned within the community. Our role now is to support the team and continue those standards into the future. In both sport and business, people rely on each other. A successful move takes communication, preparation, and trust, just like a successful team does,” adds Scott.

While the removals industry and world around us have changed over the past four decades, the team at Greater Northern Removals says the core of the business remains the same: caring for people during some of life’s biggest transitions.