Alex made the move from Australia to the UK to pursue his passion working at Wimbledon in London. Here, he shares his experience starting a new life overseas, getting messages from friends who have seen him on TV, and meeting The Princess of Wales.
What inspired you to pursue a career in turf?
Like most people in the industry I suppose, the chance to work in elite sport whilst outdoors is an opportunity most don’t get. But for me now, being able to work in a team to present a sports turf that is broadcast to the world, requiring the attention to detail that it does, is something that inspires me every day.
How did you find your current job at Wimbledon?
I saw it advertised on the International Greenkeepers for Hire Facebook group and decided to throw my hat in the ring. The decision came during Covid and moving away from Australia seemed quite risky at that time – particularly as I had never left the East Coast of Australia before then. I haven’t looked back since.
What inspired you to work overseas?
Moving to the other side of the world feels somewhat like a rite of passage for young Australian or New Zealand groundstaff. I believe it’s a good personal challenge to demonstrate that your skills and knowledge from home stand up to the demands of the northern hemisphere – especially in the English climate. On a personal level, and growing up a tennis fan, walking into work every day at Wimbledon is something that I will never take for granted.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself since starting your international journey?
As it was my first time leaving Australia, coming from a small town, I was pleasantly surprised by how I was able to leave and start a new life overseas. I know some people don’t find this process easy, but I felt very welcomed by London, and Wimbledon. It has inspired me to see more of the world and potentially live in other parts of the globe.
What’s the most challenging weather condition you’ve faced while working on sports turf, and how did you handle it?
Hard to go past the English summer and its haphazard showers, which often keep us on our toes in Centre Court.
Although closer to home, the 2019 summer in Sydney, Australia was perhaps the most difficult to date as it’s mostly remembered by the infamous black summer bushfires. The installation of a Fertigation system meant we were able to apply wetting agents injected into our regular Irrigation cycles. It significantly reduced the amount of time hand watering and therefore kept the team out of the many 40+ degree Celsius days.
Are there any specific greenkeeping practices or techniques you’ve learned in the UK that you’d like to introduce back home?
I believe the use of refined cultural and hygienic practices as a way of preventing or discouraging disease is something that I have gotten better at since working in the UK. Mostly due to the lack of chemical controls that are still available to use here, but having an integrated pest management plan using fewer chemical controls can only be a better approach. it has been eye-opening to witness this approach whilst still delivering elite sports turf surfaces to a global audience.
How do you unwind and relax after a challenging day of work?
I’m a big fan of live music and gigs, which in London, we are very blessed to have so much of on offer. I find it’s a good way to get the mind off turf or the real dampener, the weather.
Share a funny or unexpected moment that happened during your career.
What has been unexpected for others and myself is how often the Wimbledon groundstaff featured in the broadcast of The Championships across the Fortnight. Over the last few Championships, it has been funny when I receive a text or call from someone back home who didn’t realise I had moved to London and was wondering if it was me they saw sitting by Centre Court with fellow groundstaff.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of your current job role?
Besides the most obvious aspect of delivering The Championships annually, since joining The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) I have been lucky enough to meet and work alongside so many groundstaff, both full-time and seasonal. Each brings with them vast experience and knowledge from all parts of the world. I think everyone who works at the AELTC leaves with new skills or experiences, and I have really enjoyed seeing that exchange of sharing learnings with one another. Hopefully it will continue for a long time.
What’s one piece of greenkeeping equipment you couldn’t live without, and how does it make your job easier or more enjoyable?
Rain sheets/ covers. It’s not the most exciting piece of equipment in our workshop, but one we absolutely could not live without. At Wimbledon, we’re very lucky to have a state-of-the-art, bespoke covering system that allows us to inflate and work within the covers. This allows us to complete our morning tournament preparation no matter what the English climate decides to throw at us. We can also use the inflated covers as a tool in moisture and firmness management.
Can you share any memorable moments or projects that stand out from your time at Wimbledon so far?
One that particularly comes to mind is being a part of the net line-up on Centre Court for the ladies’ singles final of The Championships in 2022 and 2023. In doing so, I had the privilege of meeting HRH The Princess of Wales.
Finally, what message or insight would you like to share with others about the role of organisations like International Greenkeepers for Hire in connecting professionals with opportunities abroad?
I believe many of the great moments I’ve experienced in the past few years, and hopefully many more to come, would not be possible without organisations like IGFH. It can be hard to take that leap and relocate from familiar surroundings, both work and home.
I would encourage anyone who’s on the fence about making a move, locally or internationally, to reach out to me or others and see where it leads. I am always happy to offer advice and share my experiences with others.