Vin Pollock started work with the Metropolitan Gas Co. in February 1951 as a Technical Assistant. The position required him to complete a apprenticeship in boiler making and steel construction as well as a Diploma of Civil Engineering in his own time.

During his apprenticeship, Vin was seconded to the Drawing Office and acted as a Survey Assistant to survey the roads and drains for the construction of the Lurgi Gasification Plant at Morwell.

Vin remembers, “The survey vehicle was a 1950 Ford Prefect Ute which would jump out of gear if 40 miles per hour was exceeded.”

Later, Vin was engaged as Junior Engineer for the construction of the last two gasholders built in Victoria, each with a capacity of 3 MMcf of gas. One was located at Preston and the other at Highett.

Vin’s next project was the first LPG bottle filling plant in Kororoit Creek Road, Altona, and the subsequent reticulation of Altona with LPG vapour. On completion of this project, he transferred to the Supply Department, which was responsible for the construction and maintenance of the gas distribution system. “In 1969 I joined a group founded for the introduction of natural gas into the distribution system. It was my responsibility to co-ordinate the orderly installation of some 1,850 section isolating valves to control the turn in of the gas,” says Vin.

On completion of the natural gas introduction, Vin was appointed District Engineer at the Essendon Distribution Centre, a position he held until mid-1977. At this time a hydrostatic test was being conducted on the Albury – Wodonga Pipeline at Clonbinane and Graham Witty invited District Engineers/Assistant Engineers to witness a hydrotest. Vin says “He got me aside and dangled a few carrots and tried to convince me to become a Pipeline Engineer. I finally accepted, but not all the carrots grew.”

Vin’s first pipeline construction project was the 750 mm looping of the Longford – Dandenong Pipeline between line valve four at Tyers and line valve two at Rosedale. “The contractor was McConnell Dowell and Jeff Shepherd was the Project Manager,” he says. “I was very fortunate to have Len Parsonage as my Construction Superintendant and an experienced inspection team, many fresh from the Albury – Wodonga Pipeline. It was also Jeff Shepherd’s first project with MacDow.”

After pipelaying was complete the Gippsland weather came in and two thirds of the pipeline length was submerged in water. Vin says that hydrotesting had to be delayed until the following construction season when the looping back to Longford was also constructed, as well as the 500 mm cross tie from Tyers to Morwell, connecting to the original Lurgi pipeline to Dandenong.

“My Office Manager on these projects was no other than ‘himself’ – John Hamilton Barr – whom I worked with on numerous pipeline projects over the next 22 years.”

Vin says that many of the Pipeliners he worked with on these projects also worked on many subsequent pipelines with which he was associated. “This made for good working relationships and I feel greater trust and harmony was enjoyed by all.

“An inspector by the name of Barry Wood was working on the Gippsland projects and frequently he would hop into his trusty HR Holden after work to head home to print up the latest Pipeline News on his Roneo copier and head back in time to start the next day,” Vin remembers.

For about six years from 1980 on, Gas and Fuel Corporation entered a very busy period with about five significant pipelines being constructed simultaneously. During this time, Vin says that well known identities such as Mark Bumpstead, Peter Wheelwright, Bob Fraser, John Lott, Peter Rees and Richard Giddings joined the pipeline division to assist in the construction, administration and hydrotesting.

“After this hectic construction program, future pipeline work schedules were some years away and I did not want to be waiting around, re-inventing the wheel and waiting for something to happen,” Vin says. He resigned from the Corporation in 1988 after 37 years service, intending to go into early retirement.

In July 1988, Graham Witty asked whether Vin was interested in going to Queensland to work with CMPS evaluating tenders for the State Gas Pipeline. Evaluation of tenders was expected to take six weeks to complete. Construction was scheduled to take 12 months.

“I accepted and when this was completed I was asked to stay as part of the construction team, finally returning to Melbourne in January 1990. On this project I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Ron Black, Joe Ashton, Jim Reaman, Graeme McAinch and renewing acquaintances with many field personnel I previously worked with.”

Graham Witty re-engaged Vin under contract as Construction Manager for the Allansford to Portland Pipeline, which was laid in 1990-91. “I worked with Graham again on the interconnect pipeline between Wagga Wagga and Barnawatha where it connected to the Albury – Wodonga Pipeline to provide a back feed to the Melbourne system.” Vin’s son David also worked on this project as a welding and tie-in inspector and a special crossings inspector.

In 2000, Vin again teamed with John Barr at a site office in Timboon for the construction of a pipeline from the underground storage facility at Iona to the Paaratte Treatment Plant. Vin’s last job was as a yardman, storeman and ‘go for’ for CDP Networks between 2005-08.

“I can honestly say that I have enjoyed the friendship which has been extended to me over many pipeline projects and I pass on my best wishes to all those I have been associated with,” says Vin.