When returning to her hometown of Goulburn, in regional NSW, Gabrielle Witenden found her calling as a solar installer, writes EcoGeneration editor Gavin Dennett.
Gabrielle Witenden might have taken the long route to find her calling as a solar installer, but she is loving the opportunity to work with her hands while revelling in the job satisfaction of being on the frontline of the clean energy revolution.
Having worked in a variety of industries, both in Australia and abroad, the happenstance of returning to her hometown of Goulburn, in the NSW Southern Tablelands, while en route to Melbourne, where she had intended to take up residence, plotted her on a career path of installing PV panels on rooftops.
Now a fully qualified installer with Goulburn Solar, Gabrielle embraces tradie life and is forging a path for other women in the solar industry to follow.
Before getting into solar, what were your previous vocations?
I grew up in Goulburn and finished school here, then did some travelling in Europe before attending university in Newcastle, NSW, where I studied occupational therapy. I lasted one year there before realising it wasn’t for me. Then I moved to Canada for six years. During the first three years, my partner at the time and I lived in Vancouver and worked in hospitality. He was into golf so we ended up running our own golf course and restaurant for three years when I was just 23. That was very sink or swim. When we went our separate ways, I came back to Australia and lived in Brisbane, working a government job for the Department of Human Services. I also did my personal training course just to get learning again.
What brought you back to Goulburn?
I was on my way to Melbourne, where my siblings are, and stopped off in Goulburn to visit my parents. While I was here, the owners of Goulburn Solar [Phil and Stu Joyce] were looking for a hand. I just helped in the office, and they convinced me to stay. I didn’t want to work in admin so they offered me an apprenticeship so I could use my hands. It wasn’t what I thought would be my future, but I loved the idea of being paid to learn.
Has renewable energy always appealed to you?
That is ultimately what sold it to me. I don’t think I would have lasted as a regular electrician as the job needs depth and meaning for me. It is cliche to say save the planet, but I will happily educate. I love doing site visits and discussing solar. It’s an industry where everyone wins. As the customer you save money, as a company you sell a product, and the environment is benefitting. We just need to improve the PV recycling side of things.
Are you a qualified battery installer?
I am fully qualified and Clean Energy Council-accredited as a solar installer, and am in the midst of completing my battery course this year. Batteries are the way everything is heading so it will be invaluable. Off-grid is another booming sector, and those installations are so satisfying. We do a lot of off-grid at Goulburn Solar but currently only have one qualified installer. I am very keen to learn that.
Is there a lot of demand for off-grid in Goulburn and its surrounding region?
Definitely. We may be known as Goulburn Solar but at least 50 per cent of our business is rural areas within a one-hour radius of Goulburn. We do some Canberra installs as well and have a couple of ACT-accredited installers who work with us, but we mainly stick to NSW as the compliance side of things is different.
You must have some cold mornings on Goulburn rooftops in winter.
(Laughs) I remember in the first year of my apprenticeship, there were two weeks when I walked in the door every day saying, “I can’t do this.” It sounds silly, but because I have small hands none of the gloves would fit properly so I couldn’t leave them on to do the work. All the guys would be wearing gloves but I would have bare hands. The first time I went to buy gloves at Bunnings, they didn’t have any for females in the tools section. I asked for some help and they said to check the gardening section or buy motorbike gloves. I couldn’t believe it.
Surely that has changed now.
Things are much better now and it’s easier to find smaller gloves. Tools have improved during the years, too, but I started off with small pliers before moving up to my big-boy pliers (laughs). My hands weren’t ready in the beginning, but I have adjusted physically. Being a woman in a male-dominated environment, I’m lucky I work with such a great team. Generally speaking, there is an element of needing to prove yourself, but I am more than capable. You learn to hold your own, which you have to do as an apprentice anyway – you are always made to work for it.
What is your advice to other women considering a career in solar installation?
Just give it a go. I was unsure in the beginning, not knowing if I would be strong enough, especially because solar is so taxing on the body with lifting panels and bending down on roofs. However, I am plenty strong enough so trust that you are capable. Enjoy the brain and hands working together, and embrace the problem-solving components, which are very attractive and satisfying parts of the job.
Article provided courtesy of Ecogeneration - www.ecogeneration.com.au
