Life is Full of Ups & Downs - Part 16.

OFF THE TOOLS and INTO THE DRAWING OFFICE
Although I continued in the field until 1966 I don't have memories of any notable events which I experienced before joining the Drawing Office in 1966/67.

I recall John Howell losing several fingers in an accident at Grace Blg when his hand was dragged into a sheave - and his fingers were miraculously reattached by microsurgery at, I think, Sydney Hospital in Macquarie Street.

But I am unsure of whether that occurred before I finished field work or after. Not that it matters - I'm just trying to pin down the chronology.

I can thank Clive for "inviting" me to join the Engineering mob - I do remember that several times he gave me some basic instructions in adjusting hydraulic lifts and maybe he saw some potential there, sufficient anyway that I became an Electrical Detail draughtsman, joining an existing bunch of misfits of the likes of Martin Seturins, John Gray, John Goulder, Robert Deahm, Bert Fisher, Michael Yarrington, Morrie Herring, Tom Yip and Jan O'Flanagan - all overseen by Warren and Clive.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the DO, right up to the day that Arnold's closed its doors.

There wasn't a day went past that we didn't have a good belly laugh about something or other and yet we were, at one point, working six days a week - Saturday overtime had become a standard. Maybe it was when we were doing a lot of work for Otis.

Lunchtimes were interesting: there'd usually be a game of poker or pontoon taking place at least a couple of times a week. They became serious enough for someone to buy a copy of Hoyles Rules!

L to R: Martin, John, Bob, Tom Yip, Warren, Clive (back to camera)

John and Bob referring to Hoyles

Out in the lunchroom someone set up the old boardroom table-top as an ad hoc ping-pong table and serious competitions were often held. There was a severe crack running along the table and everyone always tried to get the ball to hit that because it would bounce in any direction at complete random, making it very challenging to return over the "net" (a piece of board).

Remember a mechanic (welder?) down in the welding shop by the name of Jack Carey?

He was a bit of a grump most times.

Either Geoff Neville or Mr. Gregory was showing a potential customer (may already have been a client) through the works one day and took him through the DO and down the back stairs, encountering Jack at his workbench. Geoff (or Mr. Gregory) asked Jack what he was making or doing or whatever and the reply was "Fixing up another drawing office ***k up!".

The Engineering department wasn't one of Jack's favourites!

In summer it was bloody hot in that office under the corrugated-iron roof, with no insulation and no proper ceiling. Quite the reverse in winter, when we'd freeze our bums off. A full ceiling was installed at some point and Mr. Gregory okayed the installation of some fan heaters, which were fixed to a couple of the timber columns. They didn't do very much but provided some air circulation in summer and a modicum of warmth - for those close by - in winter.

One of those fan heaters is sticking out on the left

The windows on the western side of the 'office had metal louvres fitted on the external wall, which also helped in keeping the temperature down a bit. I remember the day (in 1975) when Michael Heath came in for an interview, fresh from England. I was in shorts, long socks and a polo-shirt, sweat pouring off me and in walks Mike in a bloody suit and tie. He looked like a boiled lobster!

The temperature in the office was pushing 90 degrees F - possibly higher.

When at the drawing board you had to wipe the sweat off your forehead before it dripped onto the tracing paper (we didn't always use the new plastic microfilm) otherwise every drop would create a bubble which couldn't be flattened out.

Michael got the job and within a week of his commencement he became an Aussie - shorts from that day on!

More to follow.