End Of Line After 46 Yrs

Illawarra Mercury

Monday April 21, 2008

By GREG ELLIS

MUCH has changed since John Roberts started working for Illawarra County Council as an apprentice 46 years ago.

And on Friday he had a chance to reflect on those 46 years as he spent his last day on the job as Integral Energy's longest-serving current employee.

Mr Roberts finished his career as an overhead line inspection and ground line inspection manager based at Springhill.

But he has held many roles since joining Illawarra County Council as an apprentice electrical fitter mechanic in 1962.

His most recent position has included supervising the inspection of poles, including by helicopter. Two helicopters spend two months inspecting the bushfire zones in the entire Integral Energy service area.

"We have just started out pre-summer inspection for next summer," he said.

One of the biggest changes during his career was the introduction of the supervisory system or remote controlled switching of the sub-stations. But the busiest times were in peak bushfire periods.

"We were involved in the fires and ongoing inspection of fire zones," he said.

"Last time I went down to Nowra and spent some time there.

"We were on standby with the bushfire service as monitors. We would work around the clock with the control room at the bushfire headquarters and maintain contact with our control room so we could isolate feeders in fire affected areas. We switch off power before the fire arrives because fire is a conductive medium and can create a dangerous situation."

But a more regular issue to contend with as a line inspection manager was the number of people saying the termites in their neighbourhood come from power poles.

He said it just wasn't true.

"When you look around they take up very little space," he said.

When he finished at Springhill on Friday he prepared to say one last goodbye to his workmates before spending more time with his wife Robyn, his grandchild and on the golf course.

A morning tea was held on Friday and a farewell function at Wests Illawarra on Saturday.

Mr Roberts said the best thing about working at Integral Energy for so long was all the good mates he had made along the way.

Many had become lifelong friends. He also intends to be a regular at the Christmas reunions.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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