Following is a brief summary of his many endeavours and it should be noted that this ambitious man is ably supported by his partner of 20 years, Nikki, and their three children Bill, Libby and Macie.

Clayton won the Longreach saleyard contract after contract fencing and mustering for most of his working life. After a period when he was working for the previous contractor, Ian Roski, he tendered and won the contract for the yards in 2006.

The Longreach saleyards process 90,000-100,000 cattle each year, requiring Clayton to have up to 14 men on his payroll to handle the workload. From now on this will include his son, Bill, who wants nothing more than to work with Dad.

"He's got cattle sense, loves the work and is quite handy around the yards," Clayton said.

But this man is driven to succeed and acquired a cattle truck two years ago which he says he "inherited" and carts cattle into and out of the saleyards.

"I've done 60 decks in the past nine days and will probably do around twenty for the next sale," Clayton told North Queensland Register after the recent Longreach Bull Sale.

On top of this, Clayton has a herd on agistment and buys and sells cattle through the yards. This enterprise is due for expansion.

"Got my eye on a 40,000 acre block and will be making an offer in the near future - not big enough to run the cattle I own but it's a start," he said.

If Clayton's drive to succeed is any indication, it's probably just the beginning of another grazing dynasty.

Not a man to have all his "irons in the one fire" four years ago, Clayton bought a houseboat that can carry 51 people. He has decked the boat out to be able to take groups of mates on weekend fishing trips on the Thompson.

Recently he has had approaches from representatives of the Longreach tourist promotion organisation to use it as a tourism venture in the district but doesn't think, at this point, he has the time to offer.

With the enthusiasm for "having a go" this man has demonstrated to date, it's a fair bet we'll see "Captain Clayton Dolgner" at the helm of a new tourist venture on the Thompson River in the future.