What do you do for crust

I was a Fitter in the Navy, then a Rigger/ Dogman, Scaffolder for many years, then an interstate Truck driver for a few, then I worked for Vicroads in the Enforcement side for about 6 years and am currently a Trainer/ Assessor for Worksafe in High Risk work,IE Rigging/ Dogman, EWP, Scaffolding etc untill l go in the Police Force ( Maybe) next month, Cheers.

What do I do for a crust? Keep my undies on for a week!

No, I work for QLD Police as a Vehicle Inspector doing mechanicals on cars/trucks/bikes/wheelchairs/scooters/dozers that are involved in serious or fatal crashes/incidents.

Basically if someone dies or charges are going to be laid we do an assessment for Court evidence.

Was a mechanic originally then a signwriter for a few years, then worked in the pits for QLD Transport doing Machinerys before changing to this.

Work on the side as a contributor for Street Machine and I too love those photos!

Simo

thanks for all the great comments on the photos. might inspire me to actually take some of my own car. Everyone has had or are in some really cool jobs, doesnt seem to be much of a criteria for loving pannies.... ....but then again who wouldn't.

Has anyone one said: those are Fantastic Photos!

Wish mine looked like that.

Regards

Rusty!

OK RatBag, stick your beak into this....

In 1971, I Graduated from Swinburne University (in Melbourne) as a Mechanical Engineer.
Two years previously, I had been awarded a Cadetship with the (then) Commonwealth Department of Supply.
Under this Cadetship, the Government paid me a full salary whilst I completed the last 2 years of my Mechanical Engineering course.
In return for this financial paradise, I was bonded to work for the Government for 5 years when I had finished my course.
In addition, during the Christmas school holidays I was required to work, as a student engineer, at a nominated Government Facility.
Wouldn't you know it - I got allocated to the Commonwealth Ordnance Factory at Bendigo.

I kicked and squealed about being allocated to this "back-of-beyond" town (my opinion at the time).
Naturally, it all fell on deaf ears, and anyhow, in about six months (1973), I met my future wife-to-be (who also worked at the Factory), and I forgot about getting back to Melbourne!!

By way of explanation, "ordnance" refers to anything that goes "BANG" in a military sense eg. Cannons, Howitzers, Naval Guns, Bombs, etc
In 1942, the government was planning to build a military airfield in Bendigo, when it changed it's mind decided that an Ordnance Factory would be a better bet.

This Factory would be set up to manufacture and/or refurbish Naval guns (up to 8 inch bore) and propulsion systems, Army field guns and armoured vehicles, Bomb Casings up to 500 pounds, plus other heavy military materiel.

This location had the advantage of being out of the range (at that time) of carrier-based aircraft (up until this time most government defence manufacturing was carried out in the coastal cities on the east coast of Australia and the government was afraid of Japanese attacks on these coastal facilities).

Bendigo had been built on gold-mining, which was still being carried out at the time, and had a good population base from which to draw staff and trades people. In addition, it had the infrastructure to support additional population drawn from elsewhere around the country.

Anyhow, I rocked up to the front gate of the "Factory" in January, 1972 - fresh out of school, ready to change the world. Needless to say, reality was a bit different (and the world would have to wait)

Nevertheless, I don't regret a day out of the 34 years I spent at the Factory.
Over that 34 years I:-

- carried out design work
- managed manufacturing projects
- Managed the IT section for the Factory
- Prepared multi-million dollar quotes for defence equipment
(Ship Propellor shafts, Gun Mounts, Propulsion Gearboxes (really BIG gearboxes!)
- Managed a Spare Parts Organisation when we got into specialist military vehicles.
- Managed the Systems Engineering of military vehicles
(Yes - I didn't know what "Systems Engineering" was either - but I learnt quickly. Suffice to say that one of systems engineers jobs is to ensure that the manufacturing organisation is actually producing something that meets the customers requirements (specification).

Of all the positions I had, the most interesting and rewarding was that of Parts Manager for the military vehicles group.
We were competing for a contract with the Australian Army to "mechanize the infantry" The competition was down to our "Bushmaster" (see pic below) and a South African entrant. Each of us had supplied 3 vehicles for the Army to test.




1st vehicle to blow up - to determine protection against anti-vehicle mines.
2nd vehicle to take apart and put together again - to determine ease of maintenance
3rd vehicle to be driven into the ground - to determine reliability.

The reliability vehicle was driven in all Australian conditions from deep snow in the Snowy Mountains to the sand hills of the Simpson Desert. We decided well before the competition that we would support the hell out of the vehicle, stocking a complete engine and transmission "powerpack" palletized and ready to fly/truck any where in Australia.
We also had front and rear axle assemblies palletized, ready to fly. I'm convinced that this support activity went a long way towards winning the contract - as well as having the best vehicle!

The most unusual support request was a phone call at 8pm on a Sunday night requesting a complete disc brake assembly to be delivered to Birdsville by Tuesday lunchtime. We got it there - hell TNT were good!

Here are more images of bits and pieces made at the factory during the past 60-odd years:



A 500 tonne capacity crane frame for BHP Port Kembla


3in anti-aircraft guns. Yes we had a lot of women in the Factory during the war years - note heels!


And the women did just about everything - the story goes that particular lady was the first to get equal pay for equal work.


An ore-crushing mill shell on the 9m Schiess Vertical Borer, until about 1980 the largest borer in the southern hemisphere.


..and the mill shells need a Ring gear to drive them...


....and how do you cut the teeth?...one at a time!


Did I mention BIG gearboxes?..this one's rated at something like 20,000HP. and was destined for one of the Navy's Daring class destroyers of the '60s.


These propellor shafts are about 600mm dia with a 1200mm flange where the propellor mounts. This shaft is rated at 40,000HP and is fitted to the Navy's FFG class frigates (The propellor is variable pitch and 4.5m dia)


...and for all you revheads out there - a Fabricated V18 diesel engine block destined for the Navy's Collins Class submarines.


Finally, a Tunnel Borer built for Melbourne Water to bore the for the Western Trunk sewer (I think) The whole unit is dismantled and lowered down a vertical access shaft and re-assembled at the bottom. This dismantling and re-assembly is so costly, that sometimes they are not brought out, but run off into a dead-end tunnel and walled up!


Here is an aerial view of the Factory taken in the 60's - the Heavy Machine Shop (long, tall building at the back) has 2 50Tonne cranes with about 70 ft clearance under the hook. The General Machine Shop (the widest building, in the centre of the facility) has 6 acres under the roof, and the facility has a total of 94 acres within the fence.


Won't keep you any longer - could go on for days about this fascinating place.

Cheers

Bruce

definately facinating wow that is a huge borer!!

were heels part of the womens uniform for back then? or was that their choice of shoe? looks like both women have the same heels on.

really great photos, sounds like u have lots of fond memories of the factory

Bruce, that's brilliant mate. Thanks for sharing the photos and the story. Fascinating stuff.

Cheers

For more info on Bushmaster, try these links:

http://www.thalesprotectedmobility.com.au/tpm/brochures/ProMob_8p_Folder_lowres_web.pdf
http://www.armyrecognition.com/australia_australian_army_wheeled_armoured_vehicle/bushmaster_thales_armoured_vehicle_technical_data_sheet_description_specifications_information_uk.html

(I'll put these links in the "Links" topic as well)

Cheers

Bruce

You've certainly had a fascinating life Bruce, done stuff a lot of people can only dream of.
Cheers Rob

owner, operater, have been driving trucks for 9 years, singles bdoubles, have had my own now for 4 years, a 97 western star, was doing interstate with it, for nearly 4 years, now i do local with it, its a change, one i thing i will have to get use to after doing nearly the whole nine years interstate, now doing local, ita a real eye opener, it can be a very boring job

but you get to wait for hours to unload at my work and you do an awesome job at delivering side pipes

Thats a beautiful rig mate. Very nice.

I'm a accessory fitter for the local Toyota/Mitsubishi/Mazda dealer here in Hervey Bay.
I am also a detailer and have worked for Mercedes Benz and Honda.

i also attend steering wheels.Vanning Trucker.after doing interstate here, and went to the states to do to drive trucks for 2 years. when i came home my boss offered me my old job back. after the open road seeing something different all the time. some trips starting at Miami in winter at 25 degrees C. delivery in North Dakota and its -20 degrees C and 2-3 feet of snow. now im doing local work and somedays i feel like im locked in a box.

im a window titer

Mostly cars but also do flat glass work (houses etc)

i do some freaky custom work - oh and im the best there is - seriously! (since 1989)