Hock was known as "the demon of the drip torch" (a drip torch is used to start a line of fire using a mix of diesel and petrol). In a 1989 fire, when Bill wasn't watching, Hock ran a line of fire from a drip torch over Bill's boot. It wasn't until Hock had moved on metres away that Bill realised his boot was on fire!

As others joined the Girraween team - Johnny Rogers and the district carpenter/painter Ray Rock - they would find themselves the brunt of many a Hock Goebel joke.

However Hock's main source of enjoyment was pulling pranks on eldest brother Bill. Recruiting Peter Haselgrove, Hock and Peter put a cow in a pig trap that Bill was to check later that afternoon; unfortunately the cow ruined the trap trying to get out!

Bill would get his own back every now and then. Hock insisted on wearing an aluminium hard-hat, especially when they were constructing the septic pits and using gelignite to blast holes in the solid granite rock. Bill and Hock would take guard along the road to halt any passing vehicles when it was time to detonate. On one occasion, when Hock was heading for his position, Bill crept up behind him and threw a handful of small stones at Hock's hardhat - at the same time yelling "Look out Hock!" Tom Ryan recalls Hock leaping wildly into the air and yelling "You bloody dog!" at Bill.