20 March 2025
Phillip’s journey at Hydro Tasmania started by chance when he filled in for a colleague on sick leave. Now, he is an integral part of Poatina’s operations, taking on everything from dam safety checks to heavy machinery work, and even completing his drone pilot license! He says he couldn’t imagine working anywhere else.
“There’s a real sense of pride in keeping things running, knowing the work we do matters and will last for years to come."
Phillip and Michael grew up at Penstock Lagoon, just above the former Hydro village Waddamana. The next stop was the township of Poatina, where their father got a job at the power station. The brothers still enjoy visiting Poatina today. Michael followed in his brother’s footsteps and while he never planned on a lifelong career with Hydro Tasmania, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
"You don’t expect to have a piece of machinery named after you, but it’s a bit of a laugh and a bit of pride too. It’s been a big part of our working lives, so it’s nice to leave a mark in some way," said Michael.
"I just hope it doesn’t break down too often, or we’ll cop the blame.”
Read our commenting guidelines
This is an amazing story of survival in the complex universe that exists in the fresh waterways we manage. It’s not to be confused with the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which is a completely different story in a much larger universe. The two are similar only in that they contain important lessons about life, the universe and everything, so make yourself a solid cup of tea and don’t forget your towel.
If life begins at 40, as the saying goes, it began this year for one of our most iconic landmarks. But clocking up four decades of dedicated power generation for Tasmania had taken a toll so this year Gordon Power Station has undergone one of its biggest maintenance operations yet.
It’s not every day that a power station evokes tears of sentimental joy but that is precisely the effect the John Butters Power Station had on one special visitor recently.