4 CASTLEGAR NEWS, July 4, 1982:

JACK GIBBON

When Jack Gibbon goes to work in the morning, he
packs up his small bag, hops in his car, drives out to the
airport where the takes a seat on a Pacific Western jet.
, Two stopovers and 47 hours later he arrives at his job.
Jack works in Saudi Arabia as a driller on a.large oil rig.
For 28 days he works steady 12-hour shifts, then he’s on
the plane and home again for a 28-day long weekend.

For a little over two years Jack has been making
these monthly trips overseas to work. He is employed by
Santa Fe International Services Inc., a huge company
with “th ds and th ds" of “They've
got rigs in every known oi! field, the North Sea, Africa,
Indonesia, Australia, Saudi.”

Although most of the workers, like Jack, fly home very
month, some of the personnel do move their. families over
and stay in Saudi on a semi-permanent basis. “They live

children, and North. American level. of medical and
dental.” «
After Jack lands in: Saudi, he travels out to his rig on
the desert. "I cal! it'a desert-but the Saudis don't. It's not
a true Sahara-type desert. There’s shrubbery, grasses.”
Santa Fe operates many rigs on the Saudi desert and
on each rig. there are a total ‘of 82 meni, Twelve of that
number are “expats” (expatriates) as Jack’ calls them,
those workers from Canada, the U.S., Australia or Great
Britain. I was surprised to learn that very few Saudis are
"employed on the rigs. Most of the laborers are either
Egyptian or. Palestinian,
Jack’s job is the “12-hour: operation of the rig,”
which includes the maintenance: of the equipment, and
the drilling by'the officers. He
also supervises the “oormen,” and if something. goes
wrong, Jack is ‘the one they call.

“When I asked him how the rig works, ‘he pulled out a
bright orange manual entitled, “The Rotary Rig and it's
Components, United One, Lesson One, Third Edition”
and explained to me via diagrams, just how the rig, by.
means of a bit and rotary, .cuts a hole into the hard earth
between 10,000 and 22,000 feet deep. Then a block and
tackle. is: lowered into the ground, and finally ‘the
“cuttings” are carried out of the hole. .:

¥ Prior to his years in Saudi, Jack worked on the oil rigs

in villages, compounds, with education to Grade 8 for the ©

Heat, sand and oil

RELAXING . . Jack Gibbon in ‘his Castlegar: home.

tt ikes him two sloppovers and_'47 hours to get to

wo

the rig and the field office.:“The level of technology
available is greater in Saudi than Alberta. The equipment
we use is more advanced with deeper hole capacities.”

. _When the oil comes up.from the ground, Jack, said
that it looks very much like “dirty motor. oil when it
comes out of your car.” Apparently Saudi ‘oil is highly
praised. “It's the oil that everybody wants. It's thinner,
easier to refine.”

When the oil is brought up from underground it
immediately goes into pipelines and then into big holding
inks, I always ought it cont into barrels, I said. Ick

in Alberta. “I had five years in Alberta,” he said. “It was

: like an apprenticeship, you start at the bottom and work

qyaur way up in such a way that you. pass, ‘over, all, the
of rig operation.” *

(2. ‘A rookie in the rig business, and what Jack began as, _

is what he termed Mr. General Roustabout.” He is the

fellow who cleans and does general maintenance work on

‘barrel -is merely, a unit of tisamurs, “Very, little of the

As this article comes to print, Jack is back in Saudi,
‘ working outside in temperatures of 185 to 140 degrees F.

‘world’s ofl ever sees the’ inside of a 45 ‘gallon barrel.”

minor equipment. The second step up the ladder is the
“floorman,” often called “rough-necks.” These men care
for the f most of the and work on
the ground floor of the rig at the bottom ehd of the drill
pipe. Next up is the “motorman.” “Those are the guys
who get their fingers cut...” Like their name implies the
motormen maintain all of the motors, engines and
generators on the rig. The “dérrickman” is next and he is
“the guy who is up in the air" at the top end of the drilling
pipe. Jack is a “driller” and he is immediately responsible
tois the “tool pusher" who is basically the liaison between

“But it’s a dry heat,” he assures me, and “doesn't affect
you as much as a humid heat. You dress for it." The way
Jack dresses for it is.in loose fitting light colored clothing
with long pants and long sleeves. “If you get sprayed
down with water,” he told, me “you can actually give
‘yourself chills.” (I found that hard to believe.) At night
the temperature goes down to 90 or 100. “The desert
gives up its heat really quickly, and it can get quite cold.”
In the winter the temperatures can run from 65-80
-degrees, and " “water can actually freeze.”

Now. in July Saudi is nearing the. end of its. rainy
season. But Jack remembers many a rainy seazon where

the rain was so intense and the wind so heavy that in 16).

minutes the desert was completely covered with two
inches of water. He told me about'a time when the rain
and wind were so powerful that the water hit the rig.
horizontally. “You couldn't see 16 feet. Two days after

that the desert turned green. It’s really amazing,” he.

continued, “it (the, desert) looks so dead, but. you put
water on it and it turns green.”

Jack and the other crew members live right on the
desert with the rig in air-conditioned trailors. They eat
North-American style food and what free time they have
is spent reading, watching movies. on their AV video
machine and shooting the odd game of pool:

The laws in Saudi are interesting, he told me. The
whole country is: governed by a strict Islamic ‘code,
therefore they have “no tolerance whatsoever for alcohol,
drugs, ij "Also no is allowed into
the country. “We get magazines ‘and the ads for alcohol
are torn out, and women in bathing suits are inked over."

Jack told me that he loves travelling. With a regular
layover in Amsterdam Jack has been able to see all of
Holland. He also likes the month at home with his family
and calls it “quality time." In other words he doesn’t
bring the worries of his job home to his family.

He. says, however, "There's always.a little doubt in
the back of your mind that.a war will break out.” He also

‘describes the tine away from his family‘as “rough.” “It’s

a trade-off.” He gets the long stretch at home, but then
he's away a month as well:

“The flying can get to you,” | he noted, until you “learn
little tricks, like how to pass out in a plane really quickly.”

+ «Just prior. to coming to Canada J; lack begins to put ‘himself
on Canada * ‘time, by sleeping’ at ithe* Fight cpenaalan!

times.

* Jack ois born in Windsor, Ontario and grew: ap in’

the northern part of that province. His father worked in
the Department of Transport and the family moved
around a lot. Jack lived in many small towns and even
smaller Indian reserves, He remembers one place just
south of James Bay where there were. only a total of five
white families in ‘the whole settlement. His dad, like him,
liked travelling and this is probably where I got it from,
my father always had an itch for travel.”

Jack started at Carlton University and then went on
to receive a diploma ‘in Child Care from. Algonquin
College ‘in: Ottawa. He worked in: various residential
treatment: centres caring’ for: delinquent boys: in
particular. At the Royal Ottawa Hospital he met prends
who was doing the same thing.

Jack describes this kind of work as ‘an extremely
difficult- job, very demanding.” Jack moved out west
when he decided it was time for a change of employment,
and took a rig course in Edmonton for a month. .He
worked ‘on a rig in Alberta for five years until a
recruitment team from Sante Fe came to Alberta,: and
Jack hired on with them.

driving distance toan airport)? “Calgary was pechitngse .

violent and so expensive and so restricted as to what I
could do on my days off. This area has definite appeal and
it's a lot safer to leave my family here for 28 days.” Jack

and.his wife Brenda have a year-old son Matthew, and |

Jack has‘a son Marc, 11, from a previous marriage and
who lives in Halifax.

“One thing‘nice about the job is,” he continued, “you
get neat things to bring back,” and-he pointed to a
woodcarving of the “Last. Supper.” “That's of sandal-
wood,” he told me. The Gibbon home is filled with wooden
camels, souvenir ‘spoons, and other pieces of art work
from Jack’s various stops around the world.

“ SKYSCRAPER oe. Oll tig on which Sack Gibbon

works towers over Saudi Arabian desert in its sear-
ch for black gold.

Are yevq-ent eeeB epee debe 24D Nt apd sen bagret AaMesD venned dnd d weer

AWARDS DAY... adtnley Humphries saw Leanne Salen (from
left) win Best Actress, Chris Wanjoff, Best Supporting Actor, Darren
Pilla, Best Actor and Julie’ Partridge, Best Supporting Actress (left ~

PRESENTING .. ..the poster contest award to Kim Terekolf left photo:
‘of Stoney Humphries is Tony Schwiertz, representative ‘of -the
Knights of Pythias Twin Rivers Number 70. He ‘is assisted by Mrs.

photo) Not shown is Theresa Anderson‘ s;ho also won Best Actress.
Right photo shows senior scholarship winners Dave Picton and Kevin
Mason, Not shown is Donna Ozeroff.

Terekott' ‘3 poster on the affects of drugs and alchohol on youth goes
‘on to the International contest held at the Supreme Lodge, ‘where she
“could win a $1,000 scholarship. At right photo are Junior Scholarship :

Marks (far right), rep of the K v Temple! Number 37.

from left, Ken Romney, mony Jones and Peter Karcol. »
Farin)

~ Stanley Humphries awards day

Many students attending Behan, Bonnie ee Gol: ley: Janet Argatoff,’ Bonnie
Morgan, Stuart Hill, Dennis

Stanley Humphries 'Second-
ary School this year walked
home with awards following
the annual awards day pres-
entations June 29,

The following students re-
ceived awards: “

‘Industrial Educa-

.tion Awards (Senior) — pre-

die Morris, Brent McLean. .

di ing, Judy Mulloy, Janet.

tt

Kevin Mason, Donna Ozeroff.

Field Hockey presented by
Mrs. Chernoff: Junior — Best
— Connie helor,. Most

Me rit: A
in Technical ‘Theatre were: Mulloy,
Chris. Wanjoff) Eileen: Sandra Churches.
O'Neail; Shannon:’ Crosfield,”

Reader's Digest ‘Award to

Improved — Colleen Ehman;
Senior — Best — ‘Lorrie
Sher: i Most “Im-

Bob Kalmakotf, Gordie Was- Grad.
itenkoff, Andrea... Richards,
Sherry Hill, Maureen Allan; Bondaroff.’
Colin MacDonald, Tony Cros-

by Mr. Lach Farrell — Rick

Honor Awards Perfect At-

proved — ‘Connie Paulson.
Soccer — p d by Mr.

:nior Girl

— Julie Perehudoff, 16 and
under — Mike Corbett, Se-

Senior Boy —-Tom Demeo.
‘Tennis — presented by Mr.
Lach Farrell: Boy — Scott

‘Stevens, Girls + Julie Pere-

budoff. :

Bilesky:?: Junior “— ‘Steven
Ken. Cor-

= Presented by
Mr. Balahura — Mike Berger.
Cross Country

— Andrea Belezyk,

Golf — presented by Mr.
Uchida: Gordie Walker.
Cross Country Skiing —

presented by Mr. Carter: ff

Boy — Martin Andrews, Girl
— Cathy Beynon.

Rugby — presented by Mr.
Palmer: Senior Boy — Jim
Markin, Junior Boy — Bruce
Wolff.

Gutstanding Athletes pre-

tendance Awards presented

Voykin, Senior —

sented by Paul Oglow: Metal field, Bonnie’ Morgan, Greg by Mr. Dodds: Grade 9 —

Work — Kelly 'Poznikoff,
Electricity — “Darren Con-

Brady, Stewart Hill.

Paula Chaves, Mitch Pea-
Arts Council Award —) cock, Philip, Rodrigues.

natty, Drafting — Doug. Van: Presented, by Mrs.S.. Wil Grade 10 i buisa, Machado,

dergaag; Automotive —

Wayne Samsonoff, First Aid” Pryce:

— Sara Miller.

(Junior): Special Industrial Mr. Culley: ' Band 9° — Vic: Stuart Hill, Maria Goulart. -

Mamas ead won, ty Paule, Siew
5 : > fof. Grade 11
Band Awards presented by Steve: -Popoff, Joe Karcol,

Gywen Bulla

jenise West, -

Running
mier. presented by Mr.’ Closkey — ‘sented by Mr. Bilesky: Ju-
: Ed Sct f x

by

Mrs, Horgoff: Junior Boy;—

Robert Pair Janet Girl
Keraifi —?

jursey.
Basketball presented by
Mr. Closkey:' Junior Boy —

Track. and Field .— pre-
sented by. Mrs.., Horcot

Senior Boys — Kevin Swet.
“lishoff, Senior~Girls — An-

nior Boys’— Wayne 'Postni-

koff, Bruce Wolff. Junior Girl
Se

‘Pete Kaz
vere 9.7268

© Industrial
e Residential
° Commerciat

223 Ho.
Nelson, Bes”

' COHOE INSURANCE :
AGENCY LTD.

‘Acomplete insurance
service.

“The Asphalt Sp Specialists”

VINTAGE PAVING CO. ‘LT

418 Gore St., Nelson
* drivew,
: fays * parking lots:
* quality w
* tree edie

352.
Out of es 6 <

* Custom & pre-Fab Homes

Mn Morris: Celina Sooka-

fhose wonderfu

The KOOTENAY. tied up ata shore landing along the Arrow takes. Her light- -dratt. hull made her a handy
vessel for. shore landings.

By MICHAEL CONE
The following is the first in a series on by expert
Michael Cone on the sternwheelers that plied the waters of
the Arrow Lakes for nearly a century. This initial
features the passenger steamer “Kootenay.”

The annals of steam navigation on the Columbia
begin in 1865, when the small sternwheeler “Forty-nine”
reached the head of the Lower Arrow Lake; the last
chapter was written. on April. 24, 1954, with the
retirement of the venerable old “Minto.” Over the years
three generations of Arrow Lakes residents had come to.
enjoy a pattern of life that beat to the rhythm of a
sternwheeler’s paddle-wheel. For some small communi-
ties the_arrival of the steamer — with’ mail, the day's
fresh bread, and other perishables and supplies — was
the only link. with the outside world. The sternwheelers
“Kootenay,” “Rossland,” “Minto”. and “Bonnington”. were
perhaps the most fondly remembered of the once proud
white fleet of steamers; steamers which had come to be

‘as much a part of the mountain-locked Arrow Lakes as

the transparent water itself.

* "For the People of Nakusp the big events of 1897 were
the

the “Kootenay” and .

“Rossland.” Both F the new passenger steamers were
designed by Captain James W. Troup, himself an intrépid
whitewater steamboat Master on the Portland, Oregon,

‘water routes and were built under the suvervision of

renowned Portland shipbuilder Thomas J. Buiger.
The “Kootenay” was ready for launching Jate in

: “April, only’ five months after construction , had,

commenced. In appearance she was an enlarged version’
of the popular steamer “Nakusp,” built at Nakusp in 1895.
Her wooden hull measured 183.6 feet long. with a-width

‘of 32.6 feet. She was equipped with engines’ salvaged

from the Fraser River sternwheeler “William Irving.” In
one respect she was the marvel of the age, for she was
fitted with patent hydraulic steering gear; in open water

the ship could be steered by movement of a single large ”

| sternwheelers |

lever, while in more confined, tricky water the pilot had
to handle the huge wheel.

The “Kootenay” was fitted with accommodations
comparable to that in the “Nakusp.” The mens’ smoking
room, ladies’ parlor and dining saloon were comfortable,
airy and finished in whit 1 with gold tri In
the ladies’ parlor there were.writing tables, leather
chairs, tapestries “of the most delicate shade’ imag-
inable,” and Brussels carpets covered the. floor. ‘The

_ dining saloon was large and roomy, and featured a grand :

staircase at one end that led down from’ a balcony
flanking: both sides.

. The “Kootenay” entered daily service between
Arrowhead and Trail in late May, 1897, running opposite

the “Nakusp. . The two steamers soon established regular
service, although from time to time they met with
mishap. On one occasion, the “Kootenay” grounded
‘solidly on'a submerged teck just above Robson, stoving a
large hole in her hull. Damage to her well-founded hull
was serious, but she was beached safely with four feet of
water in her forwArd Nolf:'@n,Sept. 10, the Nakusp”
grounded broadside across ef je Kootenay Rapids, about
17 miles above Trail. The “Keotenay” and “Lytton” both
tried to free the Stranded steamer, but in the end the
difficult task \of refi ig her was by

patching the hull and then constructing partial launching
ways underneath to allow the ship to slip back into

, deeper water.

a First, Wayne’ and. Libby

Education Award. — Jim’ toria Armstrong, Band 10 — Grade 12 — Lauretta Bull-”

Markin, Drafting — Dan Zib- Jodie: Lippa, « Band, 10..— anoff.
in,’ Woodworking — Lorne ~ Linda King,- Sr. Concert — , SHSS Special | Service

Klimehuk, Power: Mechanics: Perry. Smitheram,; Stage Awards p by Ms. *

Dan Pereverzoff, Junior Girl .drea Belezyk. choff.

Ki sOuu Ki Ag. Ne CE o£

— Rob Tamelin, Metal Work Band — Cyril Nevakshonoff .Bonowicz:: Stuart Hill, San-
— Peter Tarasoff, First Aid and Peter Moroso, Most Im-' ‘dra Churches,: Val Frazier,
— Kim Reibin. proved. — . Rhian- Landis, Dennis Goetting, Susan Neg-
Drama: Awarda) —: Special — Troy Reid. ° reiff, Bonnie. -Tymofievich,

Presented by Mrs. S. Wil- _.. Art Awards presented by Kay Syria, Pat Popoff.
liams, Arts Council, SHSS Mrs. Couch: Art 10 — Lu- Citizenship Awards | pre-
Theatre Award — Kerri cianna ‘Alvarez, Jeff Mair, Sented by Lach Farrell: Ju-
Nickerson, Best Actor — George Koochin; Art 11 — niors:— Steve Merry, Ken
Derren Pilla, Best Actress — Curtis Nixon, Shirley Arga- Romney, Kathy Sherlock,
Leanne Smalley and Theresa’ toff; Art-12 — Lisa Martini, _ Se ih ODY, we oulart,

Anderson, Best Supporting Sue Negreiff. eer janie Wong.
Actor — Chris Wanjoff, Besi Art Photography: Senior canted: by Mr. Dodds: Ju
Supporting Actress — Julie: — Michale Daigle. “+ niors — Steven Voykin, Con-
Partridge: Computer Club Awards nie Elasoff, Kim Reibin, Se-
Merit d “by Mr. Uchidar niors:— Kim Allen, janet

: in Actig wrayer Eliza- . Doug Eaton, Darren’ Con-'Argatoff, Carrie Proud.

beth Howes, Eileen O'Neail, - “natty, Patti Popoff, Kay Syr- Junior Scholarships pre-
Elaine Campbell, ‘Darcey ja, Steve Voykin, Paul Trav- sented by Mr. Lauriente:
Dawson, Barb: Cheveldave,: ossos, Matthew Jones, Stuart Ken’. Romney,-~ Kilmeny
Tony Crosfield, Eva Varabi- Hill. Jones, Peter Karcol.. Senior
off, Monica Dascher,’ Eric .Counter. Attack ‘Awards Scholarships . presented -. by
Gundersen, Shannon Callig- * *piésented by, Cst. Dalé Hock- Mr. Lauriente: Dave Picton,
han, Becky D'Arcy, Selena‘ «

Leadership Awards pre-

Berquist, Wayne Fietz, Barb ER
eee HOMEGOODS

Hueller, Carrie Proud, Jo- i
“| FURNITURE |

Tues. - Sat., 9:30 - 5:30
China Creek

“Drive a Little to Save alot”

Bridge
club

results

Ten-and-one-half tables
played. in the Joy Keillor
Bridge Club play, with an
average of 121'/. The results
areas follows:

. North-South

TIER
‘INFLATION FIGHTER’

Automatic "$1 :

om ae 0

Weaver with 138, second, ; ‘Special
rt, femove pon. stat pea clean sump

Don Baines and Ted Vocker-
oth Jr. with 192. Tied for
third with 129% were Joy
Ramsden and Judy Shep-
pard, with Bev MacDonald
and Helen Bayes.

East-West

First, Connie Miller and
Clara:.Johnson with 164%.
Second, Jean Fischer and
Bev Swain with 143%. Third,
Helen Batchelor and Marty
Stewart with 134%. ‘Fourth,
Roberta Edwards and Mollie

See ee eee a etbaat “the 468-3231 2865 Highway Diive, Trall

FREETOWING = We hove Automatic On,
within 1o0.mile codius#ransminsion hit Kien mee fad a al
with majoe repoirs.

NCE YOU'VE HAD ATASTE of
the Kooténays, nothing else really
compares. It’s the same with our beer.
-Kokanee Glacier Pilsener. Once you've tried .
that crisp, refreshing taste, no other beer will
do. Crack a Kokanee. It’s brewed for you.

BEER:BIERE — 57

TOLUMBIA BREWING COMPANY LTD. CRESTOR 8C.UNION Mane :

Champs,” with Julie Smith FR ae li a |
and Jude: Goodwin: .

* in Preserved Wood Found
HARRY MANNLE

365-8120

Castlegar

Ss

170. DOAWER 3007. CASTUGAR, 1C_ wv ae

- CASTLEGAR

LINDA. KOSITSIN:

Bé 'B& CHOME APPLIANCE
REPAIR LTD. |

YELLOW PAGES
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

\PAINTIN Gé&
DECORATING

2649 FouarH 4
ve
‘CASTLEGAR gg. ae

VIN 281 365-3563

‘S PLASTERING

PHONE 36.
5-6393 4
S$
ALL work  RROFESSiona, K FOR JE

D GUARANTEES, extcurep