After a career spanning over three decades at Monadelphous, Wayne Atkinson, nicknamed "G" or "General", recently decided to call time.
Wayne's dedication over the years has earned him the respect and admiration of peers and leaders alike.
Reflecting on his career, he said there are two stand-out moments for him.
The first was a challenging and high-risk project involving the reline of a ball mill at Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL).
"We managed the potential risks successfully, completing the task with no major incidents and going on to do two or three more mills,” Wayne said.
The second notable project involved replacing three strakes and a floor on a caustic fill tank.
Wayne said his good friend, Tim George, introduced a hydraulic tank lifting setup from an international company.
"I was very sceptical at first, but it proved to be a godsend and helped us no end to achieve a good result on this project," he said.
Wayne said adapting to change has been an important part of his career.
"I guess with personal achievements, I was pretty much old school through my working life, so when Rio Tinto took over QAL and brought changes, I needed to adapt quickly,” Wayne said.
As he steps into retirement, Wayne and his wife are selling their home in Gladstone and relocating to a town about 40 minutes south of Bundaberg. With friends and family nearby, Wayne looks forward to indulging in fishing, crabbing and possibly more overseas travel.
Wayne expressed his gratitude in a message to his colleagues:
"Thanks Monadelphous, for the last 32 years, but special thanks to Duane Oxford, Cameron Hausler, Kellie Davidson, and anyone else I may have missed for their help and support over the last two years."
Some of Wayne’s colleagues also shared their best wishes:
"Thanks for your support over the years and all the best for retirement, mate. Hope to bump into you around Woodgate someday."
Duane Oxford
"Happy Retirement, G. All the best and enjoy the next phase of life. It has been memorable and awesome working with you."
Kellie Davidson
"A vast wealth of knowledge and a great bloke to work with."
Jason Warby
"Hey Gee,
About bloody time, I have some awesome memories working under you, even though some may have near given me nightmares, there’s a few that still make me laugh today. You had an impact on my career I’ll never forget. Much respect. Congratulations on your retirement, a chapter well deserved."
Ashley Hawke
All the best on your next adventure, Wayne!