Adrian Taylor was surprised to learn just how quickly he would be out of a job when the WA government announced it would shut down the coal industry by 2030.
Like many in the coal-mining town of Collie, 200 kilometres south of Perth, Mr Taylor has been left wondering, "What's next?".
Two years after the announcement, it is a question his hometown is still grappling with.
But Mr Taylor isn't waiting to find out. Instead he has mapped out a new future flying drones.
"We expected some news, but probably not quite that," he said.
"The lad I had with me was two weeks into his job and thought it was forever and he's going to be at an awkward age like myself.
"We're going to be 58 when it shuts, so it was a bit of a shock to the system."
Mr Taylor said it took him a while to calm down.
"Then, as it started to sink in, and you realise that's the way things are going," he said.
"I didn't really know what I wanted to do and then my wife suggested this venture."
While still working as a control operator at one of Collie's power plants, Mr Taylor has been working on getting his new drone business up-and-running after receiving a grant from the WA government.
Adrian Taylor says there are still unanswered questions for the people of Collie. (ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch)
He hopes his business will fit in with other plans for the town.
"Hopefully [we can help] with wind turbine inspections, battery monitoring and the thermal side of things, rehab with the mine work … and monitoring a bit of the environmental stuff," Mr Taylor said.
As the 2030 deadline looms closer, he said there were still unanswered questions for the people of Collie.
"It's going to be a very big challenge," Mr Taylor said
"There hasn't sort of been a lot of industry that was supposed to be starting, I haven't seen much dirt kicked yet.
"I think it's going to be a little bit longer transition than what was first thought."
The state government has already delayed the complete closure of one of its power plants after concerns were raised about energy shortages over summer.
More than 40 people lost their jobs earlier this month when the Muja 6 Unit C plant was put in reserve.
Mr Taylor said he would keep pushing forward.
"We've got a plan and that's all we can do at the moment," he said.
So, what's next?
WA Mining and Energy Union's Greg Busson said not everyone had a plan in place like Mr Taylor.
Mr Busson said he hoped green steel and magnesium production projects in Collie would take off and create jobs for locals into the future.
But with both projects in their early stages, he said locals were still unsure what job opportunities would be available to them.
Greg Busson says locals are waiting to find out what the next big industry will be in Collie. (ABC Pilbara: Tom Robinson)
"We've got our fingers crossed that there are announcements sooner rather than later because it will help a lot of these people with their decisions going forward," Mr Busson said.
"When you ask them, 'Well do you want to retrain?' They say, 'Well, what in?' It's alright saying, 'I'm going to go ahead and get this skill' and then it doesn't suit what's coming on.
"If the announcements come within the next six to 12 months, I'm confident the jobs will come on in time."
The federal Liberal party, led by Peter Dutton, has also flagged Collie as a site for a nuclear power reactor, although if the promise comes to fruition, it's not likely to happen before 2040.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has talked up renewables, which would feed into big batteries near Collie.
What about tourism?
Chris Martin worked at one of Collie's coal fire power stations for 38 years.
He retired before the state government announced its commitment to shut down coal, but said he saw the "writing on the wall" ahead of time.
Chris Martin has confidence in Collie's tourism industry future. (ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch)
Mr Martin has since taken up a role as head of the local visitor centre.
He said he was "bullish" about the town's future.
"I'm excited for the future of this town … and I think tourism is a big part of that," he said.
"Collie had a reputation of a grubby little mining town. It's not that anymore … I know of people who have holiday houses in Collie."
Mr Martin said Collie was sitting at the place where Margaret River was 30 years ago.
"And a big part of that is the trails in and around Collie and the inland waterways and the natural attraction of the bush," he said.
"Mountain biking is the new surfing."
The head of the Collie visitors centre says mountain biking is attracting tourists to town. (Supplied: Australia's South West)
Mr Martin said there were plenty of job opportunities for locals and encouraged people leaving the industry to look to the future.
"Think about what you're going to be doing, think about what skills, what sort of business interest you want to develop," he said
"Don't sit there waiting until suddenly you're out of work and think, 'Oh, what am I going to do now?' I think you've got to be thinking about the future."