Band of brothers: Family’s proud Port Adelaide tradition as multiple generations work at ASC and BAE

For this Adelaide family, working at the port has stirred a sense of pride for generations – from using horses to load ships, to building advanced warships at Osborne.

Family members Shane, Ben, Sandy, Owen, Terry, Darren, Rosemary and Jamie have all loved their careers in naval shipbuilding at Osborne. Picture: Tim Joy

For as long as this family can remember, it has had a very special connection with Port Adelaide – and working wharfside.

In fact, members of it even quip they suffer from “altitude sickness” any time they leave the Lefevre Peninsula.

Two generations have worked at the Osborne shipyards – for either ASC or BAE Systems – following on a proud tradition set by wharfie forefathers.

Today, eight family members, including a trio of brothers and two cousins, are either current, or immediate past, employees of the South Australian-based submarine builder or security company.

For father-of-two Terry, a fabrication lead on the “Collins Class” subs, it is a legacy to be cherished.

“We grew up close to each other and have always lived on the Lefevre Peninsula, it is part of our family’s identity,” the 44-year-old, whose last name cannot be shared due to ASC security protocol, said.

“We joke about getting a blood nose from altitude sickness going over any of the bridges leaving ... and there is almost a sense of pride coming back, the sky looks different down here.”

Horses were being used to load and unload ships when his maternal grandfather, Donald, first started at the wharf.

“While Grandpa was retired, as little kids we were still interested in the work he had done ... it kind of shaped our mindsets as he, his brother and their father all worked on the waterfront.”

Family members Ben, Sandy, Owen, Terry, Shane, Jamie, Rosemary and Darren have all worked at ASC or BAE. Picture: Tim Joy

Terry’s mum Sandra, 67, and aunty Rosemary, 69, worked a combined 65 years as cleaning contractors at the ASC site at Osborne, including completing the final clean of HMAS Collins before the submarine was handed to the Royal Australian Navy.

His dad, Owen, 66, later worked across the ASC and BAE systems yards as a blast and paint contractor, working on both the Collins Class subs and Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD).

His two brothers, Shane, 46, and Ben, 42, now work there as do his cousins – Rosemary’s sons – Darren, 48, and Jamie, 45.

Terry, a former Holden worker, started as a trades assistant on a contract and says he was so inspired by the “exceptional tradespeople” involved in the build he decided to upskill.

After spending four years doing fabrication at night school he secured an adult apprenticeship at ASC and hasn’t looked back, eventually moving into training and leadership roles.

“When I first started, my older brother worked in a neighbouring fabrication crew ... and my younger brother was in the glass and paint crew, so we were working relatively closely and saw each other every day,” he says.

“I don’t know how to explain how special that is ... we are brothers but we are also best mates; you can communicate with a look to one of your brothers and they know what’s going on.

“It’s been pretty special getting to build a career alongside them ... the opportunities are almost limitless if you work hard for it.”

His hope now is his son, keen on becoming an electrician, one day follows the family tradition and joins the ASC workforce.

“if I was lucky enough to have that experience with my son. that would be priceless – I would love that,” he says.

“And, who knows, with what is on the horizon here ... my grandkids, my kids’ grandkids could potentially still be working here?

“It gives you goosebumps ... Grandpa would be glowing in his box.”

And if you are curious to know, it is Collingwood, not the Power most family members support despite the proud Port Adelaide tradition.

”It’s a very long story ... most of us are black and white through and through,” Terry laughs.

Originally published as Band of brothers: Family’s proud Port Adelaide tradition as multiple generations work at ASC and BAE