Australian Blade Ed 3 Dec 2017

Every weekend I would go to Doug’s and work on my design. He showed me a lot when it came to
hand skills. I had to cut the profile out with a hacksaw and file the profile. I learnt how to use different
machinery in the workshop including a knife grinder he had built himself. I learnt to hollow grind,
polish, drill holes with precision, properly use a hacksaw, angle grinder, different types of files and
manual polishing with different grits of wet and dry including using the buffer. I learnt skills from
Doug that were priceless. If he could see a scratch in my knife I had to go back and polish it until it was
perfect. I built a great friendship with Doug as I did with Eddie. Two very influential mentors I had the
pleasure of learning from in my life.
Becoming a Fitter/Turner was my calling card. So I thought that's what I want to do and Eddie Danko
put me on that bit of path at the same time as well. I wanted precision you know, accuracy. I wanted to
machine stuff, I wanted, you know - quality in my work. So started ringing the workshops around Cairns
looking for an apprenticeship. So I ended up getting my start with Cairns Water. I did a year and a half
there. Then I did a bit at Tescorp Hydraulics, didn't go too well there. Anyway, I went and saw Brad at
Cairns Spring Works and ... actually I showed him some of my knives to soften him up a bit. So, Brad
took me on as an apprentice, and I finished my trade with him. I came out a full-blown fitter and turner.
In my whole working life, I haven’t met another boss like Brad. If anyone wants to work for a bloke that
has great knowledge in engineering and is an absolute pleasure to work for I would tell you to see him. I
have no regrets finishing my time with him.
I learned a lot of the basics at Cairns Water and I did learn a lot from the trades there. Yeah mate, yep.
Learned a hell of a lot more being an apprentice for Brad though. There was the variety of everything.
You know, Brad didn't say “No” to nothing mate. Whatever walked in that door we did. I remember
doing that big drive gear, final drives on the dozers. Doing the duo cone seal lip. Machining them out
then re-welding it all back in and then machining the actual duo cone seat back in. I remember doing
that. I'd make gears and all sorts of stuff there, springs, I'd make springs. Got better with hydraulics and
pneumatics as well from Brad. I actually come out of there with more knowledge on hydraulics and
pneumatics than I did at Tescorp. I think it was because I was an adult apprentice that made it hard for
me there. Didn’t get much tutoring as an apprentice, thrown straight in the deep end with not much
knowledge and skills for the work they wanted me to do.