At the 1979 end of season meeting for Murray Valley water bailiffs, District Office Manager Charlie Sinn declared the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC) was working towards technology that would enable channels to be operated via satellite.
“We thought he had lost his marbles,” said Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) Senior Drainage Engagement Officer Lew Humphreys in the latest episode of the Talking Water with GMW podcast.
Lew was in his first year as a water bailiff at the time. His role included collecting irrigators’ order slips from small orange boxes, before manually calculating how much water would need to be delivered for his section the following day.
“But here we are now with automation and computerised central planning,” he said.
“It’s a long way from where we used to be.”
Much has changed since then, not only regarding technology but the water industry more broadly. GMW is turning 30 in 2024, however, Lew is one of a handful of staff who joined the corporation before it was even known as GMW, having instead started work with GMW’s predecessor, the SRWSC.
When he joined the SRWSC as a water bailiff in 1979, Lew was following in the footsteps of his grandfather, as well as his father-in-law, with the latter actually advising Lew to consider a different career.
“Back in those days they worked seven days a week for the season, and he said there was no family life,” Lew said.
“You were part of the community, and it was great lifestyle for my wife Helen, and my daughters, Carly and Andrea, to be able to grow up in a rural environment.”
It was still a demanding role when Lew became a water bailiff. While they no longer worked seven-day weeks, all the bailiffs were required to live on their section, and would be on call for 24 hours for six days before getting a two-day reprieve.”
“The training was pretty intense because you had to get your mind around water levels and calculating flows before you began,” he said.
“You would then be sent out on the job with a section bailiff, and they would pass down their knowledge. You couldn't write a manual because we all did it differently.”
Lew’s brother, Nick, also worked at GMW as a Maintenance Planner, and his nephew, Jay, now works for the corporation as a Water Planner.
In many ways, the Water Planners are the modern equivalent of the bailiffs, planning deliveries so customers get what they ordered, however, they now do so using sophisticated computer software and automated flume gates, rather than through grid paper and Dethridge wheels.
Despite the changes to the water sector in the region, Lew said there were still similarities between his current role and his work as a water bailiff 45 years ago.
“It’s still about the people,” he said.
“Our team has a strong focus on customer consultation, and it’s really rewarding when you can work with customers to get the best result for them.
“There’s also a lot of good people I have worked with over the years, and the friendships you make on the job are very special.
“I’ve enjoyed my time. I’m thankful I didn’t listen to my father-in-law.”
People can listen to the podcast on the GMW website www.gmwater.com.au/podcast