23 July 2025
Hydro Tasmania’s legendary unofficial ‘Mayor of Strathgordon’ Brett Brady has marked 40 years with us.
Brett started his career with Hydro Tasmania in 1985 as a trade assistant at Strathgordon, helping to install one of the turbines at Gordon Power Station.
“That began my journey of gumboots and raincoats!” says Brett.
As a maintenance assistant, Brett is responsible for checking the Gordon Dam for any leaks, which involves taking the steep haulage way and climbing up and down ladders to inspect the dam wall. Brett estimates he’s climbed about 600km of steps and ladders.
“Gordon Dam is 140 metres tall and I climb down twice a week, every week.”Working in such a remote location, he has a decent number of qualifications and licences under his belt, including drone pilot, coxswain, volunteer ambulance officer, school bus driver, crane dogman, forklift licence, water treatment plant operator, and tree felling - just to name a few! “I think the reason I like the job so much is the variety."
Reflecting on the past 40 years, Brett said he is proud of the role he plays in keeping Hydro Tasmania’s hydropower network running.
“To be able to say I helped build one machine and maintained the power station to keep the lights on for Tassie is something I will always be proud of.”
Brett’s career even includes meeting David Attenborough when David was filming a documentary about Mount Anne!
“It is a special part of the world, and I have had the opportunity to see every native Tasmanian animal, except the Tasmanian tiger.”
“There’s nothing like when you’re driving down Gordon Road and an eagle is flying along in the lane beside you.’’
Thanks Brett! And here’s to 40 years.
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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.
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