Cleaning windows on high-rise buildings might not be the first choice for those with a fear of heights, but for a group of window cleaners in Canberra, it offers an exhilarating blend of adventure and unexpected human connections. Employees of Rope Access Engineering, owned by James Howe, share experiences from their work high above the city, revealing both the excitement and challenges of their unusual profession.
Many window cleaners find themselves in amusing situations while performing their duties. Howe notes that there have been instances when young office workers have handed out their phone numbers while he and his team work on the higher floors. The nature of the job often leads to surprising encounters, such as witnessing people unaware of their presence in their homes. “There’s usually a bit of warning,” Howe stated, highlighting that office cleaners, unlike their residential counterparts, do not often encounter such unexpected moments.
Among the team, Luke Stringer, Dymock Dibb, Codie Kennedy, and Laurie Kefford embrace the thrill of their work. For them, scaling buildings has become more than just a job; it is a passion. “Fun” is a frequent descriptor, particularly for Kennedy, who transitioned from a childcare background. “My parents and my sister used to call me ‘monkey girl’,” she recalled, adding that her natural inclination to climb led her to this career. “When I found out about this job, I was like, ‘That’s so cool. That’s what I want to do’.”
Despite initial anxieties about heights, Kennedy expressed that being securely harnessed alleviates much of the fear. “You have to have so much trust in your gear that it almost deletes the fear of heights,” she explained. Her aspirations extend to scaling iconic structures like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, stating, “If I could scale that, it would be my dream.”
The demand for high-rise window cleaners has surged alongside the construction boom in Canberra. Workers must possess an industrial abseiling ticket, which requires completing a course costing nearly $2,000. Kefford, who initially began his career on wind turbines, shared how he overcame his fear of heights through experience. “The most dangerous part of my job is probably driving to work, especially with Canberra drivers,” he joked, reflecting on the lighter side of the job’s inherent risks.
Dibb, with a background in engineering, found greater satisfaction in outdoor work. “I just loved being out on the ropes, working with my hands,” he said. He transitioned to window cleaning only recently but has long held a ropes ticket since 2018. For him, the challenge of overcoming vertigo was significant but manageable, and he now enjoys the job immensely.
Stringer has also adjusted to the heights, expressing that his initial discomfort has transformed into confidence. “I’m very comfortable going down now,” he noted. While their main focus is on office buildings—thereby limiting the chance for any voyeuristic glimpses—the cleaners still enjoy brief interactions with office workers. Stringer recounted a memorable moment when a colleague waved and gave him a thumbs-up from a window as he completed his task.
This unique profession not only provides a living for these individuals but also fosters camaraderie, as they share the thrilling experience of working at such heights. Their stories illustrate a fascinating blend of adventure and community, making high-rise window cleaning in Canberra a job like no other.
