MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Left to Right - Rhett, Max, Doug, and Elliot
Keeping it in the Family The Secret Ingredient to a Successful Plumbing Business For the Lewis family in Roma, there is no secret to success when running a family-built, small business. The days are long, the admin work can be daunting, and the hours spent on job sites in the middle of nowhere are increasing. But to them, the time spent together as a family and the memories created far outweigh any of the negatives. MPAQ’s Corbie O’Brien visited the family in Roma to discuss their thriving plumbing business. I was fortunate enough to sit down with Max, Belinda, and their three sons Doug, Rhett, and Elliot as MPAQ highlights the important roles fathers play in our lives as we celebrate Father’s Day this September. The Lewis family are the proud owners of Roma Plumbing, a small business located in Roma, Queensland, a 500km drive west of Brisbane. Having completed his apprenticeship with the previous owners of Roma Plumbing, eldest son Doug runs the family business next to his younger brothers Rhett and Elliot, all qualified plumbers and gas fitters. . When the family bought Roma Plumbing, Doug was just 21, and Max and Belinda admitted that they worried they might have jumped into the deep end a little. “We spoke about it in the beginning, that we are all in this together, and we must get along to make this business work; otherwise, it would selfdestruct. Nothing could really come between us,” said Belinda.
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| MASTER PLUMBER MAGAZINE Spring 2021
As the boys began their apprenticeships, it was clear that Roma Plumbing was going thrive, harnessing the power of the boys’ relationships, Max’s knowledge and skills, and Belinda’s determination to succeed.
Family Life When the boys were little, Max worked on the Wild Dog Fence in regional Queensland, and Belinda owned a successful beauty therapy business. Reflecting on their time growing up, the boys weren’t affected by Max’s absence when he spent long periods of time away on site, noting that they understood his hard work was a sacrifice he made for the family. “When it was school holidays, dad used to take us out to where he worked, so we got to see huge machines and the things he worked on,” said Rhett. “It was pretty cool.” Max would also oversee the show and tell at school when his sons were little. “I remember this one time; he bought a snake home for Elliot’s grade two show and tell. We put it in a jar, so he could safely transport it, and he walked into the front steps of the classroom, dropped it, and it smashed everywhere,” Belinda said. But what’s it like working with their dad now? “He’s always there to give us advice, or just a helping hand if we need. We’re pretty lucky to have him,” said Doug.
