(Photo: Stanwell)
February 14, 2025
One of Stanwell Corporation’s longest serving employees, Russell Vorpagel, has officially hung up his hard hat at Tarong Power Station after 46 years working in the energy industry.
A special send-off for Russell, who started an apprenticeship at Swanbank Power Station in 1979, was held at Tarong last week.
He was Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year in 1982, studied a Bachelor of Engineering at QUT and was awarded the QUT Medal for Engineering for the highest GPA in his graduating class.
Russell rose through the ranks at Stanwell to become Mechanical Engineering Superintendent at Tarong.
He said he had seen many changes in the industry over the years, including the establishment of the National Electricity Market and the rollout of renewable energy.
“As things keep moving, you have to be prepared to move with them,” he said.
“The key thing that hasn’t changed though is making sure the power plants are able to generate energy safely and reliably and at a reasonable cost.”
A Stanwell spokesperson said Russell had been an inspiring mentor to those following in his footsteps, so Stanwell had decided to name a scholarship after him.
“Stanwell decided to have a scholarship for electrical and mechanical engineering students and I was very honoured to hear that the scholarship would be named in my name,” Russell said.
“I’ve had a long history of mentoring students and some of those students who I have mentored are now superintendents at power stations as well which is great to see them progress.”
Stanwell General Manager Southern Generation Mick Joy said Russell was highly respected across the energy industry.
“On behalf of everyone at Stanwell, we wish Russell all the very best in his well-earned retirement and for the next chapter,” he said.
