On Friday 14 October, the 2022 Plumbing and Gas Industry Awards recognised the outstanding achievements, hard work, and dedication of Queensland-based individuals and companies. This year’s winners have broken all expectations through growth, development, community engagement and standards of excellence, making Queensland’s plumbing and gas industry beyond compare.
Presented by Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland (MPAQ) in partnership with Event Partner Reliance Worldwide Corporation (RWC), a record-breaking 722 attendees were at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) to celebrate the outstanding achievements made by plumbing and gas individuals and companies across 16 award categories.
Returning to host the ceremony for a second year was former AFL player Richard Champion, whose football career spanned fourteen years in total, including ten pivotal years with the Brisbane Bears/Lions before his retirement at the end of the 2000 season. Champion once again entertained attendees with his quick-wit and humour, while expertly emceeing the celebration of this year’s apprentices, plumbers, gasfitters, hydraulic consultants, companies, and other industry individuals who are leading the way in the plumbing and gas industry.
This year five exceptional apprentices were recognised across six award categories that are dedicated to recognising the hard work and talent of the individuals who make up the future of the plumbing and gas industry. Most notable of the apprentice winners was Daniel Crimmins, of Calibre Plumbing and Drainage, who won the Third Year Apprentice of the Year Award before also taking home the Reece Queensland Apprentice of the Year Award. Tasking himself with finding a new passion through a career change in his early thirties, Daniel joined the plumbing industry and has set himself apart with his very high level of technical knowledge, his passion for the industry, and his willingness to see projects through from start to finish.
Every year, the BUSSQ Service Excellence Award is always strongly contended, this year receiving a record number of nominations. The 2022 recipient of this competitive and popular award was Evermore Plumbing & Gas Pty Ltd. Evermore Plumbing & Gas are led by the belief that their clients’ needs come first and foremost, and this award recognises the fostered a sense of community and team pride within their business, their consistently high standard of work, and their relationships with repeat clients.
The husband-and-wife duo behind Brisbane company Q Plumb and Gas Pty Ltd both took home awards that recognise an individual’s success in the plumbing and gas industry. Paula Brodhurst-Hill won the Austbrokers Comsure Andrea Vogler Women in Business Award, andshehas been recognised for the way she injected new vision, set higher goals, and worked hard to ‘shake things up’ when she joined the business in 2016, leading to increased profitability and turnover in just a few short years. The Department of Energy and Public Works Tradesperson of the Year Award was presented to Mark Brodhurst-Hill who, as a plumber gasfitter, and business owner, strives to be the best at what he does. Having started the business over 12 years ago, Mark was recognised for utilising innovative approaches combined with technical knowledge and a good eye for detail to deliver outstanding service. With a focus on networking, training, and mentoring, Mark has ingrained continual improvement and lifelong learning in himself, his business, and his staff and is most proud of guiding his team to grow in both technical ability and knowledge.
Central Queenslandbusiness owner, Lachlan Cooke of Tropical Coast Plumbing took home the highly competitive RWC Businessperson of the Year. As a plumber, Lachlan Cooke has over 22 years of experience striving to provide the best plumbing service and support to customers, and as a business owner, Lachlan is a leader with vision, advocating that all employees are equally important and all roles are pivotal to each other. Initially based in Mackay, rapid growth and demand has seen Lachlan take Tropical Coast Plumbing and extend their reach and influence across Rockhampton, Yeppoon and soon to include Clermont and Townsville.
MPAQ’s Executive Director, Penny Cornah, has praised the number of nominees who applied this year and the high calibre of projects put forward.
“All of the nominees for 2022 were outstanding, whether they made it to the finalist stage or not. Their achievements should be acknowledged, and it’s worth noting how challenging it has been for our judges to determine our finalists and winners,” she said.
“The amount of effort and professionalism the companies and individuals in our industry have shown this year has been exemplary. It has been fantastic to see and is a testament to the focus that has been put on development and training. These continued improvements in skill and knowledge are clearly visible in their approaches to work and business operation.”
Ms Cornah said, “We are incredibly proud that the Plumbing & Gas Industry Awards are able to recognise a diverse range of individuals and companies, from the innovative and exciting projects that have helped to contribute to a sustainable future to the apprentices who highlight the positive future of our industry and the leaders who work hard, perform exceptional work, and inspire others.”
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Further information
Photos and interviews with finalists and winners can be provided upon request.
Award Winners
| Award Name | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 AITC School Based Apprentice of the Year | Cody Sharp, Super Bowl Plumbing |
| 2022 Construction Skills Queensland Merv Harris Memorial Bursary Award | Matthew James, Allanna Plumbing Services |
| 2022 Rheem Second Year Apprentice of the Year | Reuben Thomson, Shaw’s Plumbing and Gas |
| 2022 Third Year Apprentice of the Year | Daniel Crimmins, Calibre Plumbing and Drainage |
| 2022 The Service Trades College Fourth Year Apprentice of the Year | Henry McGahan, Tru-Flow Services Pty Ltd |
| 2022 Reece Queensland Apprentice of the Year | Daniel Crimmins, Calibre Plumbing and Drainage |
| 2022 Department of Energy and Public Works Tradesperson of the Year | Mark Brodhurst-Hill, Q Plumb and Gas Pty Ltd |
| 2022 Austbrokers Comsure Andrea Vogler Women in Business Award | Paula Brodhurst-Hill, Q Plumb and Gas Pty Ltd |
| 2022 RWC Businessperson of the Year | Lachlan Cooke, Tropical Coast Plumbing |
| 2022 Zip Water Industry Leadership Award | Paul Halliday, Emerson Automation Solutions |
| 2022 BUSSQ Service Excellence Award | Evermore Plumbing & Gas Pty Ltd |
| 2022 AHSCA Queensland Hydraulic Consultancy Design of the Year | Caboolture Hospital Redevelopment by Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd |
| 2022 MM Kembla Outstanding Copper Plumbing & Gas Project of the Year | RNA Showgrounds by Shaw’s Plumbing and Gas |
| 2022 simPRO Domestic and Residential Technical Award | Cambridge by Oz Plumbing and Gas |
| 2022 Gas Project of the Year | RNA Showgrounds by Shaw’s Plumbing and Gas |
| 2022 Commercial and Industrial Technical Award | Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club – Commercial Hospitality Building by Calibre Plumbing and Drainage |
For further comment or detail:
Penny Cornah
Executive Director
Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland
0418 724 457
penny.cornah@mpaq.com.au
Summer Adams
Projects and Events Manager
Master Plumbers’ Association of Queensland
0439 480 676
summer.adams@mpaq.com.au
Editor’s note: Photographs and interviews are available and can be organised with the winners.