I recall my humble beginnings at Wallis Drilling back in 2003. I was doing work experience and had my very own desk in the back corner of what was once the carport of the accounts house. Fast forward to 2005, and Brendan took me back on a part-time basis – now promoted to a desk in what was once the accounts house kitchen. One of the perks that came with a seat in accounts was Friday morning-tea with the ladies.

In some ways it’s hard to believe 20 years has passed. But then I start to recall countless projects, builds, problems solved (and unsolved), and somehow, I can nearly account for all twenty.

Working at Wallis has been a roller-coaster. I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of great people, make a lot of good friends, and work with close friends from Uni. Project-wise, there’s been many highlights, but the cream for me are these two:

• The Red Bit – it hadn’t been successful previously, but back in 2014 Kim Wallis posed the question again, so we had another go. Several eye-wateringly expensive prototypes later, Wallis had re-written the rules of air-core drilling.
• All-in with control systems – new territory for me, also forcing a different approach to mechanical design. In 2015 we employed our first Mechatronic Engineer, a Grad, and this marked a turning point in how we did things – new Wallis gear had PLCs, GUIs, CANbus, pre-manufactured wiring looms. We cut our teeth on the mighty Backhoe but really found our stride with the W300RC.

The challenges have continued, but there’s even more unfinished business ahead. The future, that’s remote operation and electrification.

Thanks Brendan, Dave, Roland and Greg for your wisdom, guidance and patience over the years, and a special shout-out to Digby for always having my back.

To Graeme, Mark and Grant, thanks for all the opportunities you’ve given me, and the unshakable belief in what we do.