How long have you been working in the pipeline industry?

Over 40 years, I worked on my first pipeline in 1964. I went from Ireland to England during the school holidays to work on a gas pipeline for a company called Whittaker-Ellis to provide gas to a site in Birmingham that made electrical goods.

Funnily enough, after I came to Australia I worked on the construction of the existing Young to Wagga Pipeline. I am now back in the same paddock in New South Wales duplicating the original pipeline I helped build over 30 years ago.

What has been your favourite project to work on and why?

Article continues below…

The Moomba to Sydney gas pipeline in 1974. Being young and silly I thought we were pioneers with the excitement of being in the outback and seeing the country.

Can you outline a typical day in the field?

No two days are ever the same!

Here with WDS on the Wagga Wagga pipeline, the day always starts with a safety toolbox meeting. Today, there is a huge emphasis on safety compared to when we first started in the industry – people are more conscious of the risks associated with working around high-pressure gas pipelines. The attitude in the industry has changed over the years, which is good. The quality of work has improved and methods have changed.

Who do you look up to in the industry and why? Or, who have you found to be a role model and why?

The old blokes who I worked for at Newhams, which was the first company I worked for in Australia. They taught me a lot about the industry and instilled good values. They expected an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. A very good friend of mine named Harold Cooney – who was another long-term employee of Newhams back in the early days – had the one liner “go hard or go home”, and I’m still a great believer in that line.

Do you have any advice for other workers?

I will simply say: “Never ask a man to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself.”