VINCE Campisi is responsible for fabricating an iconic piece of irrigation history.
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Mr Campisi recently racked up 40 years of service in the water industry, after starting with the Department of Water Resources on August 29, 1978 in the Leeton depot’s welding shop.
At that time it was also known as the “dethridge shop” named after the iconic water wheel which was made there for irrigation systems and farms in the MIA, Murray, Coleambally and interstate.
Originally starting on a three-month government training scheme, Mr Campisi was kept on at its conclusion and hasn’t looked back, becoming a qualified welder among many other things during his time.
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“I got out of school in 1977, I had a few other jobs around the place and started there in 1978,” Mr Campisi said.
“When I started it was the Department of Water Resources, then Water Resources Commission, then became privatised and became Murrumbidgee Irrigation … there’s been a lot of changes.
“The best part for me, when I was welding, was building something that would last.”
Other work Mr Campisi has completed over the last 40 years has included maintenance and construction of all sizes of irrigation structures.
He has also been responsible for maintenance on heavy plant vehicles.
“I also performed maintenance on Berembed, Yanco and Gogeldrie weirs in 1994,” he said. “In May 2005 I was offered a position as storeman in the Leeton store, which I accepted as MI was downsizing in Leeton.
“The computer and admin work in the store presented a new challenge in the beginning, but I became used to it. In addition to the store operations, I also issue and maintain minor plant and help with building maintenance.”
Mr Campisi said he will continue working for many more years and hopes to continue to keep challenging himself and contributing to the irrigation industry in what is a changing and challenging landscape.
“Like any job, you have your good and bad days, but overall I’ve been pretty lucky with my work,” he said.
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