Record Number of Women Recognised as Plumbers Shine a Light on Industry’s Best

22 July 2018

On Friday 20 July, the Plumbing and Gas industry came together to shine a light on the outstanding achievements made by Queensland-based individuals and companies this year and celebrate hard work and dedication of the industry as a whole with a record number of women recognised for their contributions.

Hosted by Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) in partnership with Event Sponsor Tradelink, the nineteenth annual Plumbing and Gas Industry Awards presentation dinner was held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

Over 500 attendees turned out to celebrate the apprentices, plumbers, gasfitters, hydraulic consultants, companies and other industry individuals who are leading the way in the plumbing and gas industry, including the women succeeding in a traditionally male dominated field.

This year the sell-out awards hosted VIPs including the Minister for Housing and Public Works, Digital Technology and Sport, the Hon. Mick de Brenni MP, the Shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works, Energy, Innovation and Digital Technology, Michael Hart MP, State Secretary for the Plumbers Union Qld, Gary O’Halloran and Commissioner of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, Brett Bassett.

Seven News presenter, Kendall Gilding was the MC for the night announcing the finalists and award recipients of seventeen award categories.

MPAQ’s Executive Director, Penny Cornah, has praised the large number of nominees who applied this year and the high calibre of projects put forward.

“The outstanding achievements of all the nominees in 2018, whether they made it to the finalist stage or not, should be acknowledged, as it was challenging for our judges this year to determine our finalists and winners,” she said.

“The increasing level of competition over the past few years is a testament to our efforts as a profession to put an emphasis on further training and development, and the advantages of this increase in upskilling is reflected in the innovative approaches to work and business operating methods.”

Mrs Cornah said, “In a typically male dominated industry, it is very encouraging to see two female apprentices, Sarah Condie from Tradettes and Eilish Anderson-Grundon from Axis Plumbing, recognised as finalists in a strong field of contenders and our QBCC Women in Plumbing and Gas award and Andrea Vogler Women in Business award going to strong female role models, Rachael Keiley from Demeter Constructions (pictured) and Kathy Akins from Akins Plumbing respectively.”

Award Categories & Finalists

Apprentice Awards
	Reece Queensland Apprentice of the Year   Kurt Finch – Grillscorp Pty Ltd, Annerley James Sims – Laser Plumbing, Gumdale – WINNER Rowan Morton – Beavis and Bartels, Northgate
	InSinkErator Second Year Apprentice of the Year   Kurt Finch – Grillscorp Pty Ltd, Annerley – WINNER William Cross – Slade Bros Plumbing, Cashmere
	The Service Trades College Third Year Apprentice of the Year   Sarah Condie – Tradettes, Clontarf James Sims – Laser Plumbing, Gumdale – WINNER
	Plumbers’ Union Queensland Fourth Year Apprentice of the Year   Rowan Morton – Beavis and Bartels, Northgate – WINNER Eilish Anderson-Grundon – Axis Plumbing, Coopers Plains
	Construction Skills Queensland Merv Harris Memorial Bursary Award   Andrew English – Young Civil & Excavation Pty Ltd, Loganholme Daniel Casey – All Style Plumbing, Kippa Ring – WINNER
	Australian Industry Trade College School Based Apprentice of the Year   Stirling Kent – Australian Industry Trade College, Gold Coast Riley Parker – Kirwan State High School, Kirwan – WINNER

Company and Individual Awards
	CBUS Domestic and Residential Technical Award   2Brothers Plumbing, Everton Park Akins Plumbing, Annerley – WINNER
	QLeave Commercial and Industrial Technical Award   Cooke & Dowsett Pty Ltd, Morningside Beavis and Bartels, Northgate – WINNER
	Elgas Commercial Type B Gas Installation of the Year   James Giles Plumbing Pty Ltd, Goomeri – WINNER
	Commercial Type A Gas Installation of the Year   Beavis and Bartels, Northgate – WINNER CC P & D, Molendinar
	Department of Housing and Public Works Innovation Award   Beavis and Bartels, Northgate – WINNER CC P & D, Molendinar
	BUSSQ Service Excellence Award   Millar’s Plumbing Service, Wellington Point Pasfield Plumbing Solutions, Beenleigh – WINNER CC P & D, Molendinar – WINNER Tradettes Plumbing, Clontarf AC Plumbing QLD, Cashmere
	The Andrea Vogler Women in Business Award   Alexandra Harrison – Obsidian Plumbing, Burleigh Heads Kathy Akins – Akins Plumbing, Annerley – WINNER
	AHSCA Hydraulic Consultant of the Year Award   Karl Paton – ACOR Consultants Pty Ltd, Surfers Paradise – WINNER Adam Hinze – Beavis and Bartels, Northgate
	Queensland Building and Construction Commission Women in Plumbing and Gas Award   Kimberley Kerby – Paragon Plumbing, West End Rachael Keiley – Demeter Constructions, Carrara – WINNER
	WFI Industry Leadership Award   Peter McLennan – Backflow Prevention Association of Australia, Bulimba – WINNER Greg Castle – Obsidian Plumbing, Burleigh Heads
	Tradelink Industry Mentor Award   Nathan Morgan – The Service Trades College Australia, Salisbury – WINNER John Urquhart – CC P & D, Molendinar

Lisa Hilton
Events & Member Services Manager
Master Plumbers’ Association of Qld
0439 648 164
Lisa.hilton@mpaq.com.au

Penny Cornah
Executive Director
Master Plumbers’ Association of Qld
0418 724 457
Penny.cornah@mpaq.com.au