10 Questions with Macquarie Island’s current boilermaker/welder, Cam.
1. Name & nickname
Cam, and Cam.
2. Where are you from?
I’m from a lot of places. The central west of NSW is my current, non-Macquarie Island home. Sydney’s inner-west, specifically Newtown, is where I spent most of my 20s & 30s. When I was a kid I did a lot of sweating in the tropical north.
3. Previous seasons with AAD?
None. My doctor told me to watch my sodium levels.
4. Describe your role in 50 words
Cut. Weld. Grind. Polish. Linish. Pressure. Plasma cut. Prep. Transversal distortion. Wash. Deburr. Heat. Sharpen. Amps. Quench. Tack. Mig. Ignition temperature. Die grind. File. Stick weld. Deformation. Reinforcement. Pickle. Pre-stress. Oxy-acetylene. Regulator. Turn. Solidus. Drill. Worm holes. Volts. Clamp. Square-up. Grain structure. Alloy. Measure. Interpret. Flow rate. Draw. De-scale. Paint. Tig. Pre-heat. Electrode. Carbon-equivalency. Liquidus.
5. What did you do before you joined the AAD?
Fabricator/welder for an agricultural engineering company in the NSW central west that manufactures soil-conditioning and harvesting machinery.
6. What’s the favourite part of your job at Macquarie Island?
Being part of two-week lay surgical programme was one of the most profound working fortnights of my life.
7. What are your top three funniest moments of the Macca season thus far?
Non-specific antics in the mess.
8. What are top three highlights of your Macca thus far?
Jamming with my new music buddy. Participating in the seal census. Solo weekends away in the huts.
9. Favourite piece of AAD kit for use at Macquarie Island?
How the waterproof overalls for bushwalking squeeze out like horse-riding jodhpurs - it cracks me up every time I put them on.
10. What are the top three things you are looking forward to when you return home?
My house. My own timetable. Jamming with my other musical buddy.
