A departing SA stalwart: Geoff Balmer

摘要

In 1968 Geoff completed a five-year apprenticeship as a boilermaker and welder in Port Pirie, South Australia. He then moved to Whyalla and worked in the shipyards for seven years. When the shipyards closed in 1977 his family decided to move to Adelaide and by chance he called into the then Pipeline Authority of South Australia (PASA) reception to inquire about what was involved in a Pipeline Operator Class B position. "I had no idea what the pipeline industry was about. It was explained to me that 1 would be engaged as Pipeline Operator Class B/Welder and my role would require me to do activities, including welding fabrication, right-of-way (ROW) civil works, pipeline surveillance, landowner liaison, excavation work, pipeline coating, sandblasting, filter changes, pigging and whatever else was required to support the pipeline.