He loves construction work, he loves meeting new people, and he loves the outdoors and a good fish in the afternoon. So convincing Dean Brind he hasn’t got the perfect job may be a tough ask.
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In August 2011 Dean took over as manager at Burrinjuck Waters State Park.
Since his instalment he has taken big steps in improving the experience visitors get when they come to the resort.
“Since starting I have been able to put up a lot of extensions to cabins as well as upgrade the inside of them,” he told the Tribune recently.
“I have been able to get nine new cabins installed with air conditioning. Some people don’t like the extremely warm weather so I think it’s important that we offer that.”
Dean and his colleagues have also installed new kitchens, patios, floor coverings, as well as completed paintings and fixed electrical issues.
He was born in Muswellbrook but grew up in Narromine and said he “caught the fishing bug” when he nabbed a Murray cod at the age of eight, fishing with his father.
He said he did it the “old way” which is now illegal. He used nets and set lines to catch his fish.
“Set lines were tied to something like a tree; they had a 100 pound line and had a bit of rubber attached to allow for some pull from the fish.”
Dean did some fishing at Wyangala Dam growing up but it wasn’t until the mid-1990s, working in Wagga Wagga that he truly got into it.
“I worked for a construction company and a lot of people I worked with were younger and really into fishing. That’s when I bought my first boat. I’m now onto my third, ‘Got the Bug’.”
Dean’s next job was in Canberra but he remained living in Wagga. Suddenly the work dried up and Dean was regrettably let go in 2011, which is when he moved to Yass.
Not long after that Dean and his wife Wendy saw the Burrinjuck job advertised and they decided to take it.
“It was more of a security and lifestyle thing. It was a bit of a pay cut but we took it on and I have no regrets.”
Along with Dean, Wendy works in the office in a full-time capacity, there are three full-time garden staff, a pair of part-time cleaners and two casuals at Burrinjuck.
Since taking up the job, Tribune readers may have also read his weekly fishing reports. He said hearing the stories and getting photos is a great way to advertise the resort but more importantly to get people out and on the water.
“I also like it because you get to meet people and talk about how they have done. I love meeting fishermen and hearing their story.”
Next financial year the park’s governing body, Burrinjuck Waters State Park Trust, will dissolve and big changes are set to come into effect. But Dean said generally the changes will be higher up and he, or anyone visiting the park, won’t really be affected.
“Basically it means we will be overseen by different people, and things like money decisions will be dealt with by the new ‘inland trust’”.
The inland trust, which replaces the Burrinjuck Trust, oversees Burrinjuck, Wyangala, Grabine, Burrendong, Glenbourne, Keepit and Copeton dams.
According to Dean, he and Wendy, who met in high school and were engaged at 18, are both content at the dam and he doesn’t see himself leaving any time soon.
“We love it here, and honestly, where else can you knock off and head straight out on a boat for a fish.”
