Team

 

The students were accompanied by Curtin University staff from the Spatial Sciences Department and several members of the Industry from various organisations.

 

Project Manager & RTK Survey of Eyre Highway

Jay Sidhu

My name is Jay Sidhu and I am a 4th year student studying Bachelor of Surveying and Bachelor of Commerce Entrepreneurship with School of Spatial Sciences and Curtin Business School, Curtin University. I am employed by Vision Surveys as a Survey Technician. I am leading this year’s surveying expedition through the Nullarbor to the South Australian - Western Australian Border. A lot of work and effort has gone into making this expedition possible. Everyone plays an essential part in this. I thank everyone for their co-operation and also a huge thank you to all our sponsors. 

 

WA/SA Border Survey

Ashley Plaiche

My name is Ashley Plaiche I am a 4th year student studying Bachelor of Surveying and Bachelor of Commerce Entrepreneurship with School of Spatial Sciences and Curtin Business School, Curtin University. I'm employed by Denada Surveys as an assistant surveyor doing mostly cadastral and engineering work. This expedition will truly be an interesting experience to me and the whole team. 

 

Height Modernisation

Ryan Brady
My name is Ryan Luke Brady and I’m a 4th year student at Curtin University studying a Double Bachelor of Surveying and Business majoring in Property. I’m currently working at Savage Surveying as a Junior Engineering Surveyor. My contribution to the expedition will be in the area of Height Modernisation. I’ll be responsible for calculating and locating Old Survey marks along the Trans Continental Railway Line and once located provide handheld GPS coordinates for these marks. In addition I’ll be updating surrounding SSM station summaries and provide GPS connection for Landgate.  I’m excited to be part of this expedition and look forward to the work that lies ahead.

     

Norseman Baseline Re-establishment

Daniel Win

My name is Daniel Win, I am studying Bachelor of Surveying at Curtin University and I work part time at The Land Division as a junior surveyor. My project in the expedition is to re-establish the Lake Cowen Base-line in Norseman and re-observe parts of the original triangulation network. I have taken part in this expedition to gain experience and understanding in the various type of surveying work, which will be very beneficial further along my career.

 

Madura Old Road House and Cave Survey

Thomas Jarosz

My name is Thomas Jarosz and I am a 4th year student studying a Bachelor of Surveying at Curtin University. I am currently working as a surveyor assistant at Perth Surveying Services doing mostly large engineering projects. Prior to this I have done a lot of vacation work placement in various mines through out Kalgoorlie. I look forward to this expedition because the tasks that we will be provided with will contribute to teamwork skills and also, gain a lot of experience with a wide variety of survey equipment that is being used today.

 

Old Eucla Telegraph Station 

Will Bovill

My name is Will Bovill and I am currently employed at McMullen Nolan as a Survey Assistant. I have had this position for around 6 months.

Previous to this, I was working at Midland Surveys for 2 years as Survey Assistant/ Surveyor.  I am taking part in this expedition as it will be a memorable experience and i think i will gain a lot more from it than most of the other project ideas. This will also give me a good chance to build on my teamwork skills and use a wider variety of survey equipment, particularly scanning equipment.

 

Balladonia Telegraph Station 

Brock Hyde

I am a 3rd year surveying student and am currently employed by Cottage & Engineering Surveys where I am a surveyor's assistant. I have been previously worked in survey industry in WA and NSW. I am looking forward to this trip to be able to improve my survey and teamwork skills and I think it will be interesting to see the conditions the old school surveyors used to work in. 

My favourite food is pizza and go the mighty blues in the State of Origin on the 4th!

 

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Curtin University Staff

 

Project Coordinator

Tony Snow (Senior Lecturer of WASM)

Mr Snow holds a BSc degree in Surveying from the West Australian Institute of

Technology (WAIT) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Surveying and Mapping from Curtin University. He is also a registered Licensed Surveyor in the state of Western Australia and holds a current Practising Certificate. Tony is currently a member of the Land Surveyors' Licensing Board and the Western Australian Institution of Surveyors (WAIS).

He was also the Director of the Spatial Science Institute and President for 2006/2007. 

He has extensive experience working in the surveying industry in the areas of cadastral, engineering and mine surveying both in Australia and overseas. His current research interests are in the areas of deformation surveying and the use of GPS in the mining industry.

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David Belton

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John Walker (Cook)

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Landgate Members

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Ken Leighton (Chief Geodetic Surveyor, Landgate)

Ken Leighton is the Chief Geodetic Surveyor in Landgate with wide experience in geodetic, cadastral and natural resource surveying across WA. He currently leads a team of ten survey staff with the main focus of building up a CORS network within WA. For the past five years he has been involved with the ANU project team on Aboriginal Cultural surveys along the Canning Stock Route and has sponsored two previous Curtin expeditions along the CSR. Ken graduated as a surveyor from WAIT (now Curtin) 40 years ago and is looking forward to joining the students in this modern expedition that will retrace the steps of the earliest surveyors of the Nullarbor.

 

Linda Morgan (Geodesy Projects, Landgate)

Linda Morgan manages the Geodetic Network within Landgate. She has 33 years experience in the land information environment, with a primary focus on geodetic data analysis, systems, management and technology.  Her formal qualification is Cartography however her informal qualification and passion is geodesy.  She is the WA representative on the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping – Geodesy Technical Sub Committee and currently holds the position of Principal Consultant – Spatial Positioning at Landgate.  “I am excited to be joining the 2012 Curtin University Surveying expedition to the Nullarbor.  It is a great opportunity to not only impart knowledge and experience but to also engage with the next generation of surveyors in a challenging environment, that I  am sure will test us all”.

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Kent Wheeler & Rod (Landgate)

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Industry Members

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Geoff Robb (Director, RM Surveys)

Geoff Robb is a Director and was the founder of RM Surveys. Geoff completed the Bachelor of Applied Science (Survey and Mapping) at Curtin University before going to work at the Department of Lands and Surveys (now Landgate) in the Western Australian Government.  From Survey Hand, he rose through Level 1 Surveyor and became a Level II, Licensed Surveyor, 1984.  Geoff has worked as a Geodetic and Cadastral Surveyor throughout much of Western Australia.  

Geoff started RM Surveys in 1995, working for both private industry and government departments carrying out geodetic and cadastral surveys.

 

Eugene Browne (Executive Officer, Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute)

Eugene retired from 42 years in the Public Service in 2003 as Surveyor General and Chairman of the Land Surveyors Licensing Board a position he held from 2001.  Prior to that he was a manager and administrator  in Landgate responsible for Spatial cadastral database, geodetic branch and in the “good old days” geodetic and cadastral field parties throughout the State managing up to 100 staff.

In 2005 Eugene did some part time lecturing in Surveying at Tafe due to the skill shortage and took up the a part time role he holds today as Regional Executive Officer WA for SSI and then the Surveying and Spatial Science Institute when it reformed.

Eugene enjoys passing on some of the practical experience and knowledge gained over the years to younger generations. Operating in remote environments on very old surveys requires special skills that often cannot be taught at universities.  Eugene has participated in 3 previous Curtin expeditions and found them to be mutually enjoyable and beneficial to all involved.
 

Gerry Nolan (Director,McMullen Nolan Group)
Gerry’s extensive career started when he was initially employed as an articled cadet and achieved his License in 1974. He was involved in all types of cadastral, engineering and control surveys throughout Western Australia.

His progression to Project Manager and Senior Surveyor in the construction industry led him to various countries such as Libya, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where he was involved in numerous significant projects. In recent years, Gerry has taken on the role and responsibilities of the group's Sales and Marketing initiatives for the surveying, mapping and 3D laser scanning divisions.

 

Wayne Garwood (Contract Surveyor)
Wayne Garwood has 38 years practical experience in the Surveying profession – including Geodetic, Cadastral, Hydrographic, Aerial, Mine and Engineering Surveys – encompassing the private and public sectors.

Wayne commenced his career as a Cadet Surveyor to the Lands and Surveys Department and has advanced his career from there. His career has been varied and interesting.

The work has involved survey projects throughout Western Australia and some has been overseas in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Timor and more recently in Guinea/Liberia (West Africa).

Wayne worked for BHP Engineering for 10 years then setup his own company and worked contract to principally BHP Iron Ore since 1990. He has recently moved onto other challenging roles in the survey industry. In more recent years the work has also involved the mentoring and training of young surveyors and other personnel involved in exploration and mining. Wayne is an active member of the Lions Club of Kalamunda since 1992 and currently holds the position of Vice President. He is also on the Kalamunda Show Committee and has been Principle Coordinator for Kalamunda Annual Show since 1993. He is also Coordinator for Biennial Survey Expeditions to further the survey experience of final year Curtin survey students in retracing historical survey expeditions. He has been on all the past expeditions – Kimberlies, Rabbit proof fence and the two Canning Stock Route Expeditions