Fond Memories for Maurie

Written by: Kim Spalding
Featuring: Maurie Hughes

Maurie Hughes worked at Comalco for 30 years. Originally from Victoria, spending most of his time in Melbourne, Maurie, as he is known, holidayed in Tasmania, eventually marrying a Launceston girl. In 1952, Maurie moved to Tasmania and started working on the Gate at a very young aluminium factory called Comalco.

In his role on the Gate, the Tasmanian police swore him in. He stayed on the Gate for three years until the Federal police took over security. Maurie’s role experiences included being a Storeman, Assistant Superintendent, Alumina Operator and a Leading Hand until the Americans bought the complex out. He then went back to the process side of things, organising wages from 1962 until 1966 From there he went to work in the potrooms. He stayed in this role from 1966 until 1982.

Maurie’s longest role, in the  pot rooms, involved selecting and training people to work in that environment. The Personnel Employment Officer brought people to Maurie so he could show them the  pot rooms and the working environment. He then interviewed them and made sure they were comfortable working in such surroundings. If suitable, Maurie sent the person back to the employment office where they had a medical, induction and started the training session, both theory and practical.

Maurie’s more vivid memories include those of meeting so many different people. Boot Repairers, Hotel Managers and Farmers plus many others with interesting backgrounds had to deal with Maurie at one stage or another during his career at Comalco.

Maurie also recalled many funny occurrences while at Comalco. One such occasion was when a Polish man walked too near the Alsatian dog that guarded the gate with the federal police. The dog was tied to the gate but still looked rather fierce. The man at the gate said to the Pole, ‘Keep away from the dog, it’ll bite you!’ The Polish man then walked calmly up to the dog, lifted it up by its ears and shouted, ‘Boo!’ The dog nearly choked, Maurie recalled with amusement.

Maurie also recalled that many security aspects have changed around the plant since he first started in 1952. ‘You used to be able to park inside,’ Maurie remembered. In addition, the once 8-hour shift is now a 12-hour shift. Pay has also increased and absenteeism has lowered, thus reducing the need for overtime. It was mostly manual work in the early years, but now it is all computerised meaning less chance of burns or accidents. As Maurie put it, ‘It is (Comalco) a near perfect safety environment.’

Maurie laughed and smiled while recalling his Comalco days, but he still looked forward to ‘knocking off’ on Friday afternoons! Doesn’t everyone?