Worsley celebrates 30+ years
Andrew Hickey can remember joining Worsley with the first intake of workers nearly 34 years ago.
He is now the longest-serving worker at BHP Billiton’s Worsley Alumina operation, as the company celebrates the 30th year of the operation next week.
Mr Hickey said during his time at Worsley he had worked his way through the ranks from a mechanical fitter to eventually becoming the powerhouse superintendent. He said this all happened as he completed his post-graduate business studies part-time.
“I was working as an apprentice motor mechanic in Bunbury back in 1980 and responded to a newspaper advertisement seeking applicants for a Special Trades Training Program, ” he said.
“I joined the first group intake at Worsley as an apprentice mechanical fitter on June 13, 1980.
“As the refinery wasn’t built at that time, we gained experience being seconded to local engineering firms and then moved to site to work with the construction workforce.”
During his time, the ownership of Worsley changed hands from Reynolds Metal to BHP Billiton.
“Each expansion along the journey has been very challenging but the team has always risen to the challenge and made sure they were all successful, ” he said.
“As the capacity of the business has grown, so have the number of employees. It has been fabulous to work alongside so many people with a commitment to success and to continuously improving the business.”
Worsley was officially opened by former Premier Brian Burke on May 10, 1984.
