Age is just a number for Tumbarumba’s Brian Graham, the newest qualified electrician working on Australia’s largest renewable energy project – at the age of 60.
Brian’s whirlwind career journey has taken him from a childhood in Scotland’s central lowlands to car manufacturing in Adelaide for a decade, boat building in Queensland and now Snowy 2.0 for principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture.
“You’re never too old to learn something new,” he said.
“At 60, I didn’t see any obstacles, only the possibility that other people’s bias might hold me back.
“Anything you want, you’ve got to work for it.”
Brian, who moved to Australia in 1988, revealed he first heard about the initial Snowy Scheme one day through a chance conversation.
“When I was in Edinburgh, I met an elderly gentleman in his 80s and when he found out I had been living in Australia, he started telling me he had worked on the original Snowy Scheme as an electrical engineer and he was so proud of it,” he said.
“It was something that he was so proud of and he really held onto.
“Working on this project, I now know how he feels because I’ve got that same pride.
“It’s an iconic project and it’s a legacy that we’ll leave for generations to come.”
Brian described working for FGJV on Snowy 2.0, as part of a huge workforce helping to usher in Australia’s clean energy future, as a “life-changing experience”.
“Having the opportunity to do an apprenticeship at 60 was absolutely amazing … becoming an electrician is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said.
“Especially at my age, it makes you feel really proud to be able to pull something like that off.
“Working with the young people keeps you alive and young – there’s a bit of competition to try to keep up with them and it keeps you on your toes.
“There’s lots of people employed on this project – that’s lots of people that are able to pay their mortgages, put food on the table and put their kids through school.”
Outside of work, Brian and his wife Judy keep busy on their two acre property with renovations, chooks, a vegetable garden and beekeeping – not to mention five grandchildren.
To work alongside Brian, or to learn more about jobs and upcoming opportunities for apprentices, visit the Snowy 2.0 careers webpage.