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One small step, one giant contribution

2 July 2008

One of Trevor Wilson's biggest accomplishments during his time at Monash was the installation of the Louis Matheson Pipe Organ in the Robert Blackwood Hall.

The year was 1969, the month July, and it was the week millions of people crowded around their TVs to watch Neil Armstrong walk on the moon. It was also the week Trevor Wilson started his Monash career.

While Armstrong was describing his moon walk as, "One small step for man - one giant leap for mankind", Trevor was taking his first tentative steps around the Clayton campus.

Thirty-nine years later he has retired from Monash as the manager of electrical services with a swag of happy memories and a long list of achievements.

One of Trevor's biggest accomplishments was the installation of the giant Louis Matheson Pipe Organ in the Robert Blackwood Concert Hall at the Clayton campus.

Writing for the 50th anniversary website Trevor said: "Jurgan Ahrend (the German builder of the organ) was so impressed that we had chosen to wire the organ in a fire-rated, copper-sheathed cable, that he invited me to go back with him to Germany and work with him. I was flattered but declined the invitation."

The organ's motor is stored in a cupboard over the steps which lead to the basement of the Robert Blackwood Concert Hall -- a difficult area to access.

"When I asked Jurgan how we were expected to service and maintain the motor in such a location, he replied: "Why do you need to service the motor? It is a German motor! "The same motor is still running and running well," Mr Wilson said.

Trevor finished at Monash last week and plans to travel, spend more time on the golf course and take cookery classes.

"I leave with very fond memories of many colleagues and look forward to retirement while I still have plenty of energy," Mr Wilson said.