--- title: Smelter runs deep for site stalwarts date: 2025-07-24T08:19:00+10:00 author: Walker Designs canonical_url: "https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/smelter-runs-deep-for-site-stalwarts" section: News --- 1. [ Home](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/) 2. [News & Publications](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news) 3. Smelter runs deep for site stalwarts 24 July 2025 # Smelter runs deep for site stalwarts [News](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/category/news) ![Smelter runs deep for site stalwarts](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/volumes/images/News/2025/_1335x600_crop_center-center_80_none/30785/Geoff-Baker.webp) For Geoff Baker, Bell Bay Aluminium isn’t just a workplace, it is part of his DNA. When he started working at the smelter 48 years ago, his family already had a strong association with the site. “I think my dad was Number 8 when he started,” Geoff said. “When it (the smelter) was getting built, his father was a wood merchant. They used to bring the wood in for the little humpies. He (my dad) was a superintendent down two and three line. His brother was a superintendent in the cast house and my other two uncles worked here too – one in the garage and one down the potlines. My brother also worked here.” Despite the strong family ties, Geoff initially took a different path and decided to pursue a career at Sims Metals. “I left school and worked for Sims Metal for two years. The year I turned 18 I started at Comalco. I was getting married and I was on $64 a week at Sims,” Geoff said. “My uncle, who was superintendent of the cast house, said to my old man ‘bring him out here’. So, I came out here and the first pay I got was $172. That is the reason I came here. “There wasn’t much safety when I first started, all you had were glasses. You might be down at the potlines when they were doing the crush breaker down line one and you wouldn’t be able to see. Wow, it was that dirty and dusty.” Over almost five decades, Geoff has seen it all and met some unforgettable characters. “One bloke, he got into a bit of trouble. He was jumping the fence on afternoon shift, knocking off early and they caught him, and he was sacked. So, he went on strike for two days and he got his job back… three days later he jumped the fence again.” He also remembers the strikes. “The longest one we had was six weeks. Those were interesting times.” “I’ll miss the place I have spent my life; this is all I know.” Geoff, who spent his career in Metal Products, has passed over the Number 1 Longest Serving baton to Potrooms process controller Klaus Geier and Asset Management’s Nick Gillman. Fittingly, Klaus and Nick share a unique bond. They both started as apprentices on the same day – 15 January 1979 - when site had an apprentice school. “There were 14 of us here. Klaus was there. We were apprenticing different trades – mine as a fitter machinist and Klaus as a carpenter. We were doing projects until we went to our respective areas with tradesmen,” Nick said. “They had a fully equipped workshop down that way,” Klaus added. Both agreed that one of the most positive improvements they have seen over the years is the improvement in workplace relations. “People relate better these days. In the beginning when I started here it was probably more horseplay and name calling. I think people want to work better with others and are more respectful,” Nick said. Klaus echoed the sentiment: “I think when we work well as a team, it’s a good environment to be in as we are working together and achieving the best we can on the day,” he said. Share: ##### Archives 2025 June - [Rio Tinto Bell Bay Aluminium leaders shine at state awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/rio-tinto-bell-bay-aluminium-leaders-shine-at-state-awards) April - [Future custodians get curious at annual Tree Planting Day](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/future-custodians-get-curious-at-annual-tree-planting-day) February - [Bell Bay Aluminium volunteers give heart to City Mission](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-volunteers-give-heart-to-city-mission) January - [Valuable contribution to Bridport Fire Brigade’s toolbox](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/valuable-contribution-to-bridport-fire-brigades-toolbox) 2024 December - [Passion becomes a reality for Elliouse](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/passion-becomes-a-reality-for-elliouse) - [George Town students lead the way in NARLE Project](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/george-town-students-lead-the-way-in-narle-project) November - [Wow… 50 years: where did that go?: Tez Clark](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/wow-50-years-where-did-that-go-tez-clark) - [Support Wheels in Motion for George Town RSL Veterans’ Health](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/support-wheels-in-motion-for-george-town-rsl-veterans-health) October - [Community spirit alive and well through community grants program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/community-spirit-alive-and-well-through-community-grants-program) September - [Bell Bay Aluminium recognised as a champion for inclusion and diversity](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/alicia-sargent-named-inclusion-and-diversity-champion) - [Lachie Geard a finalist at 2024 Apprentice of the Year awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/lachie-geard-apprentice-of-the-year) June - [Bell Bay Aluminium leaders recognised at Women in Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-leaders-recognised-at-women-in-resources-awards) May - [Budding gardeners pull up sleeves for annual tree planting day](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/budding-gardeners-pull-up-sleeves-for-annual-tree-planting-day) 2023 December - [George Town students first to trial innovative music-led learning program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/george-town-students-first-to-trial-innovative-music-led-learning-program) November - [2024 Women's Art Prize Tasmania open](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2024-womens-art-prize-tasmania-open) - [Service milestones celebrated](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/service-milestones-celebrated) - [2023 WorkSafe Tasmania Award winners](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2023-worksafe-tasmania-award-winners) October - [Bell Bay Aluminium announces community grants](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-announces-community-grants) September - [Jake Chilcott awarded 2023 Tasmanian Apprentice of the Year](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/jake-chilcott-awarded-2023-tasmanian-apprentice-of-the-year) - [2023 Women in Resources National Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2023-women-in-resources-national-awards) August - [Supporting students through the Governor’s Environment Scholarship](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/supporting-students-through-the-governors-environment-scholarship) July - [2022 Bell Bay Aluminium Sustainable Development Report](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2022-bell-bay-aluminium-sustainable-development-report) - [Supporting women artists](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/supporting-women-artists) June - [Women in resources winners](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/women-in-resources-winners) May - [Celebrating National Simultaneous Storytime](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/celebrating-national-simultaneous-storytime) - [Junior George Town green thumbs re-establishing ecosystems](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/junior-george-town-green-thumbs-re-establishing-ecosystems) - [Supporting respiratory safety at Men’s Shed](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/supporting-respiratory-safety-at-mens-shed) February - [New General Manager appointed](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/new-general-manager-appointed) 2022 December - [New mountain bike trails opened](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/new-mountain-bike-trails-opened) - [Ant Reeve becomes our first RioExpert](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/ant-reeve-becomes-our-first-rioexpert) October - [Bell Bay Aluminium community grants announced](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-community-grants-announced-2022) - [Hosting Tasmanian Minerals Emergency Response Competition](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/hosting-tasmanian-minerals-emergency-response-competition) - [Racing for the F1 in Schools™ STEM challenge title](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/racing-for-the-f1-in-schools-stem-challenge-title) - [Best paper awarded for Next Generation](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/best-paper-awarded-for-next-generation) September - [Supporting women in art](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/supporting-women-in-art) - [A Sense of Place for primary school kids](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/a-sense-of-place-for-primary-school-kids) - [An orchestral treat for George Town primary students](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/an-orchestral-treat-for-george-town-primary-students) June - [Tree planting and story time for local students](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/tree-planting-and-story-time-for-local-students) May - [Finalists at the Tasmanian Women in Resources & Manufacturing Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/finalists-at-the-tasmanian-women-in-resources-manufacturing-awards) - [Shining a light on local job opportunities](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/shining-a-light-on-local-job-opportunities) February - [Tasmania and Rio Tinto partner for a strong and sustainable future at Bell Bay](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/tasmania-and-rio-tinto-partner-for-a-strong-and-sustainable-future-at-bell-bay) 2021 June - [Bell Bay Aluminium shines in 2021 Women in Manufacturing & Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-shines-in-2021-women-in-manufacturing-resources-awards) 2020 September - [George Town Council & Bell Bay Aluminium Announce COVID-19 Grants Recipients](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/george-town-council-bell-bay-aluminium-announce-covid-19-grants-recipients) - [Bell Bay Aluminium Crew Leader announced as the 2020 Gender Diversity Champion, National Women in Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-crew-leader-announced-as-the-2020-gender-diversity-champion-national-women-in-resources-awards) August - [Local Health Speak podcast to build resilience during COVID-19](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/local-health-speak-podcast-to-build-resilience-during-covid-19) July - [George Town Council & Bell Bay Aluminium announce COVID-19 Business Resilience, Recovery and Stimulus Grants Program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/george-town-council-bell-bay-aluminium-announce-covid-19-business-resilience-recovery-and-stimulus-grants-program) - [Northern Tasmania’s tourism industry given a post-COVID-19 shot in the arm](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/northern-tasmanias-tourism-industry-given-a-post-covid-19-shot-in-the-arm) March - [Bell Bay Aluminium appoints new general manager](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-appoints-new-general-manager) 2019 July - [2018 Sustainable Development Report is available](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2018-sustainable-development-report-is-available) June - [Winners Announced at Women In Resources Tasmania Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/winners-announced-at-women-in-resources-tasmania-awards) March - [Bell Bay's giant power transformer arrives](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bays-giant-power-transformer-arrives) 2018 November - [Schools Set to Race for F1 Champion Title](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/schools-set-to-race-for-f1-champion-title) October - [BBA Driving Diversity in Engineering](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bba-driving-diversity-in-engineering) July - [Bell Bay releases 2017 Sustainability Report](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-releases-2017-sustainability-report) April - [Kevin Taylor Appointed New General Manager Bell Bay Aluminium](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/kevin-taylor-appointed-new-general-manager-bell-bay-aluminium) March - [Bell Bay Aluminium announces resignation of General Manager, Ray Mostogl](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-announces-resignation-of-general-manager-ray-mostogl) - [Tasmanian students aiming for two national wins in a row](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/tasmanian-students-aiming-for-2-national-wins-in-a-row) 2017 December - [Bell Bay Aluminium Community Grants Announced](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-community-grants-announced-2) September - [Schools Set to Race for Title of F1 Champions](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/schools-set-to-race-for-title-of-f1-champions) August - [Local Schools support Smelter’s Annual Tree Planting](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/local-schools-support-smelters-annual-tree-planting) - [Certainty provided by Contract Extension](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/certainty-provided-by-contract-extension) July - [Collaboration to drive growth for Bell Bay Industrial Precinct](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/collaboration-to-drive-growth-for-bell-bay-industrial-precinct) May - [2016 Sustainable Development Report](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2016-sustainable-development-report) - [BBA Takes Out Outstanding Tradeswoman, Operator or Technician Award for Second Year at Tasmanian Women in Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bba-takes-out-outstanding-tradeswoman-operator-or-technician-award-for-second-year-at-tasmanian-women-in-resources-awards) April - [Finalists Announced for 2017 Tasmanian Women in Resources Awards Media Release](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/finalists-announced-for-2017-tasmanian-women-in-resources-awards-media-release) March - [Queechy High School teams dominate F1 in Schools National Final](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/queechy-high-school-teams-dominate-f1-in-schools-national-final) 2016 December - [Local organisations benefit from Bell Bay Aluminium Grants Program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/local-organisations-benefit-from-bell-bay-aluminium-grants-program) November - [2017 Tasmanian Women in Resources Awards Launch](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/2017-tasmanian-women-in-resources-awards-launch) October - [Crisis Scenarios to Test Emergency Response Teams](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/crisis-scenarios-to-test-emergency-response-teams) September - [Teams on the Grid for F1 in Schools Championships](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/teams-on-the-grid-for-f1-in-schools-championships) - [BBA Takes Out National Gong At Women In Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bba-takes-out-national-gong-at-women-in-resources-awards) July - [Bell Bay Aluminium employees scoop the pool at Women in Resources Awards](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-employees-scoop-the-pool-at-women-in-resources-awards) May - [Bell Bay Aluminium to ramp back up to full production](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-to-ramp-back-up-to-full-production) April - [Bell Bay Aluminium has released its 2015 Sustainable Development report](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-has-released-its-2015-sustainable-development-report) March - [Bell Bay Aluminium to sponsor 2016 Active Launceston Active Blokes](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-to-sponsor-2016-active-launceston-active-blokes) February - [Supporting Cybersmart Outreach, Internet Safety Awareness](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/supporting-cybersmart-outreach-internet-safety-awareness) - [Bell Bay Aluminium to temporarily reduce power consumption](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-to-temporarily-reduce-power-consumption) 2015 November - [Local communities benefit from Bell Bay Aluminium grants program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/local-communities-benefit-from-bell-bay-aluminium-grants-program) October - [F1 in Schools Competition Revs Up!](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/f1-in-schools-competition-revs-up) - [Space Travel and more as Mini TSO Performs for George Town School Kids](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/space-travel-and-more-as-mini-tso-performs-for-george-town-school-kids) September - [Smelter to showcase its operation](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/smelter-to-showcase-its-operation) - [Bell Bay Aluminium welcomes Premier to site to celebrate 60th anniversary.](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-welcomes-premier-to-site-to-celebrate-60th-anniversary) August - [Green Thumbs Plant for the Future](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/green-thumbs-plant-for-the-future) May - [Bell Bay Aluminium releases 2014 sustainable development report](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-releases-2014-sustainable-development-report) - [Bell Bay Aluminium welcomes bipartisan deal on RET](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-welcomes-bipartisan-deal-on-ret) - [Bell Bay Aluminium and TasNetworks Business Excellence Awards Partnership](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-and-tasnetworks-business-excellence-awards-partnership) - [Bell Bay Aluminium Demonstrates Vote of Confidence for Northern Tasmania](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-demonstrates-vote-of-confidence-for-northern-tasmania) April - [Tasmanian community to benefit from Bell Bay Aluminium grants program](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/tasmanian-community-to-benefit-from-bell-bay-aluminium-grants-program) March - [Bell Bay Aluminium calls for support for deal on renewable energy target](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/bell-bay-aluminium-calls-for-support-for-deal-on-renewable-energy-target) 2014 November - [Ray Mostogl, Honoured as CEO Magazine’s Manufacturing Executive of the Year](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/ray-mostogl-honoured-as-ceo-magazines-manufacturing-executive-of-the-year) - [Ray Mostogl, Finalist in CEO Magazine’s Manufacturing Executive of the Year Award](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/ray-mostogl-finalist-in-ceo-magazines-manufacturing-executive-of-the-year-award) September - [Teams on Starting Grid for F1 in Schools Finals](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/teams-on-starting-grid-for-f1-in-schools-finals) - [Students Crash! Bang! Recycle! At Mini Tso In George Town](https://bellbayaluminium.com.au/news/students-crash-bang-recycle-at-mini-tso-in-george-town)