Meet Alex Quandt, our Tasmanian-based electrician. During this conversation, Alex sheds light on his role within the team and his admiration for the distinctive work environment at Casey Station. He emphasises the importance of the diverse personalities his colleagues bring to the station, which enhances the team’s dynamic. Alex also offers thoughtful advice on managing emotions and reflects on the deeper appreciation he's developed for his own company amid a bustling social setting.
Below is an excerpt from a chat over coffee during one of this week’s lunch breaks.
Name? Alex
Where do you consider home ? Consider home Tasmania, originally from Sydney south coast, but yeah for the last 12 months I’ve been living in the mother land, Tasmania.
Family? All my family is in Sydney, I sort of packed up shop after travelling around Australia for two years and decided that Sydney wasn’t for me and I fell in love with Tassie.
What is your role on station? I am one of four very capable sparkies.
What is your favourite thing about working down south? I think for me, it would be a mixture of the people and I guess the environment we're working in. You know you might be doing the same task but the fact that you’re doing it in −30°C can turn that into a completely different task. You’re thinking of things you wouldn’t normally think of, regarding trying to heat up a switch board just so you can work with your bare hands without your hands sticking to a freezing switchboard.
What has been your most memorable moment of the season so far ? Hmmm ... I think my most memorable moment of the season so far was when I was able to just have a solo night away from station down at the wharf hut. I made a little expedition down there and that was the first real night that we had some cracking auroras, where to the naked eye you could see the greens and you felt you were in amongst it. You know that was a really special moment for me because I able to just sort of look in and reflect at how beautiful this place is.
Complete the sentence: What I love most about my colleagues is … the variety that each person brings to the group.
How do you unplug during the hustle and bustle of the workplace? As you know, I love my yoga so I think rolling out the mat and focusing inwards and getting a bit of exercise and yeah just a bit of mindfulness is a great way to unwind in this place.
What is your hidden talent ? Ha-ha ... that’s a really hard one.. I actually don't know. I mean I can't do any cool things with my eyebrows or my tongue ? Oh I can skull a beer with no hands! I can even skull a schooner glass and I can go no hands skulling a schooner glass. Thats my party trick ha-ha I just haven't done it in a long time. The trick doens't always play out properly and sometimes you do break a schooner glass so I don't want to be trying with our one and only station schooner glass!
What is some of your best advice in general ? Best advice in general would be to always sit on emotion, rather than let that emotion explode in the moment because it’s always good to not sweat the small stuff. If you've sat on it and you think it's an issue, than let it explode but I think it’s always good to take a step back and have that ability to reflect.
How would your friends describe you? Loud! I think ha-ha. Talkative.
How would your colleagues describe you? Talkative, bit of a good time, easily distracted!
What has been one thing you have learnt since your stay down south: One thing I have learnt is that I really do appreciate my own company. You know, being around people 24/7 you're always in a social setting. I have come to really appreciate those moments when I am able to just shut down and focus on myself, essentially. I think that has been a big thing I've learnt being down here. I think I thought I was a lot more sociable than I really am, if that makes sense.
Alex Quandt – Casey winter electrician 23/24
