Kari, Dick, Bob at the Wet Canteen, Dampier, W.A., 1967. Dusty afternoon

Summary

Bob writes: I will try to give you some idea of my journey and stay at Dampier in 1967. I did a 5 year Boilermaking apprenticeship with Crompton Parkinson in Sydney. This company manufactured large transformers and electric motors. Tradition was that your employment was terminated at the end of 5 years so that you then worked for different companies. The idea was that you gained further experience and became a better tradesman. Most companies would then reemploy you after 2 years. I found this to be true. I never returned as I was quite adventurous. My next job was doing ship repair at Darling Harbour in the early months of 1967. My friend, Kari, who appears in a couple of photos that I sent you, said that his company was looking for a Boilermaker to go to Western Australia as part of a team of four. So Dampier here I come. Mum and Dad weren’t too happy about me going away with my 21st birthday approaching. Sorry I’m off. They eventually understood. Joined Nelson Stud Welding (same surname but not related in any way) in April 1967 for some training before departure. As the time arrived the question arose: What do we wear on a plane? None of the team had flown before. So we all left Sydney dressed in suits. That was the last time I wore a suit till I got married. We arrived Perth in June 1967 and had a couple of day’s sightseeing till our equipment caught up. What an adventure. Off to Dampier via Barrow Island. Not sure if we landed anywhere else. After checking in at the Hamersley Office we were allocated our accommodation. Our Cabin (see Cabin accommodation, Dampier, 1967) was very basic. Metal outside and panel board inside. A small division down the middle. The cabin held 8 men in 4 double bunks. No privacy. One air conditioner on each side. We called them old rattlers, very noisy and temperature control almost non existent, freeze or bake. Meals were taken in a large mess. I found the meals to be great. Then at that age anything tasted good. Mobile phones not invented. One phone box outside Post Office, forget it. We had to write letters to communicate with family back home. We worked 6 days a week, 6 am to 4.30 pm 10 hours a day. Sunday off was considered necessary for safety. Even though we were isolated it was great to have a break from the heat and dust. Did a bit of sightseeing and were lucky to have met a guy that lent us his Land Rover to get about. That allowed us to go to Roebourne and Point Samson (Victoria Hotel, Roebourne, and Point Samson, 1967). Not a great idea. Lots of blue asbestos in the area. Safety was talked about but fairly casual. Where in Australia could you walk around a construction site today wearing thongs for safety boots and no hard hat. We survived (See: Early stages of construction). We were transported from our cabin to the construction site on the backs of semi-trailers. Sitting on a long bench, and you guessed it, no seat belts or anything else to protect you. Knock off time was great, straight to the showers and on to the wet canteen before dinner (see: Kari, Dick & Bob). Our contract was for fourteen weeks with a bonus for each week ahead of time. We completed our work in 12 weeks. The job consisted of welding special anchors to the inside of various pipes and ducts. This then provided a base for attaching high temperature refractory also to the inside of the pipes and ducts (see Welded Studs). Luckily I took some photos of Dampier. Brings back good memories of hard work and conditions. I think I grew up at that point. Working with some hard and fair people. Please excuse the grammar etc. Not one of my good points. I hope this story adds some insight to the pictures that I sent you earlier. Regards Bob Nelson