14 minute read
NEWS & EVENTS
Farewelling a Beloved Father, Grandfather, Founder of Rivoland and MBA Member
ANTONIO (TONY) GUGLIELMIN
By Jeanette Guglielmin
Antonio Guglielmin, who was known as Tony was born on the 31st of October 1938 in a small town in Northern Italy called San Zenone Degli Ezzelini.
As a young boy, Tony had a love for the building industry. He left school at the tender age of 12, and as his parents could not afford to send him to study architecture as he dreamed, Tony found work with building contractors, where he learnt the art of bricklaying and rendering.
Tony was very hard working and ambitious, and when he was 14, he enrolled himself in a building course which would teach him all aspects of building. He completed this course in the evenings, whilst he worked fulltime throughout the day.
At 17, Tony migrated to Switzerland to pursue a career with a major construction company. After a short time, his abilities were recognised, and Tony was made supervisor.
In 1960, Australia was calling. Tony and his brother Lino re-united with their older brother Aldo in Queanbeyan. Immediately he found work as a bricklayer. Work conditions were not pleasant, and wages were extremely low, so Tony looked for other work.
After a stint in Innisfail QLD, where he was cutting sugar cane, Tony returned to Queanbeyan, where he returned to bricklaying. Wanting to use the skills learnt in Italy and Switzerland, Tony, with the help of his brothers, built a home for Aldo.
In 1963, Tony married his beloved Gabriella.
Soon after, Tony, together with his brothers, brother-in laws, and a cousin formed their own Bricklaying company called “Grappa Constructions”. They went on to complete the brickwork in many major sites in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region. Grappa Constructions also provided work to many new immigrants.
In the evenings and weekends, Tony, with his wife Gabriella as his labourer, built their first home in Queanbeyan. The 3 storey, full brick, suspended slab structure was built completely by Tony. He devised a pulley system of ropes attached to the car, with Gabriella driving forward and backwards, to lift items up to each level as required.
Many people, including the local council building inspector were left in awe as they saw what Tony had built. The building inspector could not work out how such a home had been built, with very limited access to resources.
Tony was extremely proud of what he had achieved. He loved this house, and it still stands as solid as a rock.
After welcoming their 4 children, Denny, Daniela, Jeanette and Ronny, Tony began looking for new challenges. In 1978, he was approached by his cousin Angelo from Melbourne who asked him to promote a specialty plastering product known as Granular Marble in the Canberra market. This product went well, and shortly after, he was given a few sample boards of tiles to promote.
This was the birth of Rivoland Tiles.
Tony and Gabriella worked extremely hard, and they sacrificed many things. It was not easy with a young family. The days were very long and exhausting. There were many times when they wanted to close the doors, but Tony’s strength, determination and dream kept them going. He wanted to build a future for his family. They kept going and built Rivoland into the wonderful company that it is today. It is a testimony to them both.
In 2005, with Denny at the helm, and the other kids in the business, Tony pulled away from the showroom. There was no retirement for Tony. He remained working in the background, updating displays, building, and extending the showrooms and warehouses. He was still the “Big Boss” however, putting his stamp of approval on all major decisions.
In the later years, Tony was fortunate to be able to return to his beloved hometown in Italy most years. Here he would relax a little and spend quality time with Gabriella and his family that remained there. This provided him with much happiness.
When not travelling, Tony kept himself very busy with the odd building project. The most recent was a townhouse development, completed just over a year ago.
There was nothing that Tony could not do. He was extremely talented in everything he did. Everything had to be perfect. Cutting corners was never an option. His incredible work ethic was always on show.
Strong, proud, yet extremely humble would be the best way to describe Tony. He was always grateful and considered himself blessed to have formed many wonderful friendships with his customers over the years.
Tony was always so thankful to the many customers that put their trust in him in the beginning, and to those that continue to support Rivoland today. On behalf of Tony…… Thank you.
“We will be forever grateful for the love and support that we have been shown from Canberra’s Building Industry and beyond” – Gabriella and family.
In 2020, the Master Builders ACT and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards were run through the Master Builders ACT Facebook and LinkedIn channels. The social campaign had an incredible reach across finalist posts, judge’s commendation posts and winners’ announcements.
THE ENTIRE MBA TEAM WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL ENTRANTS, SPONSORS, JUDGES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE 2020 EXCELLENCE AWARDS.
NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR
The 2020 Excellence Awards social campaign achieved:
FACEBOOK REACH 105,857
FACEBOOK ENGAGED USERS 11,900
FACEBOOK VIDEO VIEWS 28,730
INSTAGRAM VIDEO VIEWS 20,574
INSTAGRAM LIKES 3,574
LINKEDIN JUDGES COMMENDATION POSTS
IMPRESSIONS 42,477
LINK CLICKS 1,712
MAJOR SPONSORS
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
C ANBERR A
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
The 2020 House of the Year was awarded to Architekt Grüne Häuser (now MegaFlora) for The Angle House in Deakin.
THE HOUSE OF THE YEAR CERTIFICATE WAS DELIVERED ONSITE TO DANIEL FITZPATRICK AND HIS TEAM, ALONG WITH BALLOONS AND A DELICIOUS BLACK FOREST CAKE BY MBA ACT PRESIDENT GRACIETE FERREIRA, MBA ACT CEO MICHAEL HOPKINS AND DARRELL LEEMHUIS, DIRECTOR OF ASSET CONSTRUCTION HIRE.
The 2020 Project of the Year was won by Construction Control and Amalgamated Property Group for Civic Quarter.
THE PROJECT OF THE YEAR CERTIFICATE WAS PRESENTED TO CONSTRUCTION CONTROL AND AMALGAMATED PROPERTY GROUP BY MBA ACT PRESIDENT, GRACIETE FERREIRA AND ASSET CONSTRUCTION HIRE SALES MANAGER, GRAHAM WILSON, ALONG WITH A BEAUTIFUL CAKE AND GOLD BALLOONS.
WINNERS
Apartments and Units up to 3 storeys – Core Building Group Apartments and Units 4 storeys and above – Milin Builders Apartment and Units Highrise Living – Milin Builders Bathroom Project less than $30,000 - Braithwaite Building and Paul Tilse Architects Bathroom Project more than $30,000 - Heiniger Joinery, Archertec Interiors and Architects Ring & Associates Best Use of Material in a Commercial Project - LFX Group and PELLE Architects Best Use of Material in a Residential Project - McDonald & Co Civil Bridgeworks - Guideline ACT Civil Hydraulic - Woden Contractors Civil Other - Guideline ACT Civil Roadworks - Woden Contractors Civil Subdivision - Huon Contractors, Calibre Group and Riverview Projects Commercial Building less than $5million - Construction Control Commercial Building $5million to $20million - Manteena Commercial Commercial Building $20million to $50million - Construction Control Commercial Building more than $50million - Construction Control and Amalgamated Property Group Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration less than $1million - LFX Group and PELLE Architects Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration $1million to $5million – Eifer Commercial or Retail Fitout, Refurbishment or Alteration more than $5million - SHAPE Australia Commercial Project more than $50million - Construction Control and GHD Group Custom Built/Project Home less than $350,000 - MSL Projects Custom Built/Project Home $350,000 to $500,000 - Achieve Homes Custom Built/Project Home $500,000 to $750,000 - Sama and Co Custom Built/Project Home $750,000 to $1million - Classic Constructions (Aust) Custom Built/Project Home $1million to $2million - Architekt Grüne Häuser Custom Built/Project Home more than $2million - Pichelmann Custom Building Services and DNA Architects Display Home less than $500,000 - Exhibit Design & Construction Display Home more than $500,000 - Ideal Building Solutions Emerging Residential Builder of the Year - Eugene Haigh, Pichelmann Custom Building Services Kitchen Project less than $50,000 – Created Bespoke Joinery & Furniture and Paul Tilse Architects Kitchen Project more than $50,000 - Heiniger Joinery, Archertec Interiors and Architects Ring & Associates Landscape Design and Construction Commercial - Able Landscaping Landscape Design and Construction Residential - The Living Room Medium Density Dual Occupancy/Habitable Suite - Homes by Howe and Studio Black Interiors Medium Density Townhouses and Villas - McDonald & Co Onsite Construction Manager of the Year - Luke Jackson, Built Professional of the Year - Andrew Crompton, g2w Project Displaying Technical Difficulty or Innovation - Shaw Building Group Project Manager of the Year - Ned Pattinson, Geocon Constructors Renovation/Extension less than $250,000 - One M Group and DNA Architects Renovation/Extension $250,000 to $450,000 - Walmsley Building Renovation/Extension $450,000 to $1million - Architekt Grüne Häuser and Kraftworks Renovation/Extension more than $1million - Preferred Builders and Paul Tilse Architects Special Purpose/Adaptable Dwelling - Project Coordination (Australia) Subcontractor of the Year - 4Site Sustainable Civil Project - Construction Control and GHD Group Sustainable Residential Project - D3 Projects and Capezio Copeland WH&S Commercial - Lendlease Building ACT WH&S Targeted Risk Management System - Downer EDI Works 2020 House of the Year - Architekt Grüne Häuser 2020 Project of the Year - Construction Control and Amalgamated Property Group
Meet Two MBA Excellence AWARDS JUDGES
JAMES (JIM) HANRAHAN
James (Jim) Hanrahan was part of the commercial judging panel for the 2020 Excellence Awards. Jim has volunteered his time judging Excellence Awards entries for many years now, offering his wealth of experience in the building and construction industry.
Q. What was your very first job?
J. Paperboy whilst at school in Wagga. Morning delivery of MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA CEO, DENITA WAWN The Wagga Daily Advertiser newspaper. Having a metal basket attached to your bike was a status symbol.
Q. How did you get into the construction industry?
J. My father was a partner in a building business, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
I commenced my building career as a carpenter and joiner apprentice.
Q. How long have you worked in the industry?
J. Semi-retired after 40 years. Fully retired after a further 19 years’ operating as a Building Consultant.
Q. What areas of construction have you worked in?
J. I commenced an apprenticeship in residential construction and moved across during my apprenticeship to commercial construction. I remained in commercial construction for the rest of my career.
I progressed through most stages of the construction process to State Manger in NSW and Area Manager in the ACT.
Q. What are some of your own favourite projects?
J.
> Wagga Council Chambers
> Extensions to St. Edmunds College Canberra (first project as Project Manager) > Johannesburg International Airport > Building packages Parliament House Canberra > Broken Hill Base Hospital. Q. How long have you been an Excellence Awards Judge?
J. From time to time during the period 2002 to 2020 – possibly 12 times.
Q. Why did you agree to become an Excellence Awards judge?
J. An opportunity to contribute something back to the industry.
Q. What makes a project deserving of an award?
J. It is important to understand the judging is for excellence in building. You look for quality of building works and attention to detail and have an understanding of the complexity of the works. The judging is not for design however, complex designs are taken into account for buildability by the builder.
Q. What areas of a build do you consider when judging a project?
J. Judging is by visual inspection and having an understanding of works that are not visual i.e., services.
The quality of the works will stand out throughout the project inspection.
When judging you take into account the following:
> Delivery method
> Construction team
> Construction time
> Access
> Restrictions imposed i.e., storage, noise etc.
> Working in occupied buildings
> Buildability input from builder to achieve design objectives
> Quality of works and attention to detail.
PETER LEARY
Peter Leary has been part of the Excellence Awards residential judging panel for many years, including the most recent 2020 awards. Peter also his own company Peak Consulting, which helps him recognise truly outstanding projects.
Q. What was your very first job?
P. I landed a job at the local chemist at the age of 13. It was colloquially known as a chemist run where I would deliver medications from the chemist to the local hospital and nursing homes. I madly ripped around town on my bike fulfilling the required tasks.
Q. How did you get into the construction industry?
P. Like most, I started an apprenticeship with a local fit out company. Two months out of high school and into the big bad world of construction was a real eye-opener.
Q. How long have you worked in the industry?
P. Starting on 5 February 1980 through till today, uninterrupted, that makes it, 41 years this year. It really has been a case of time flies when you are having fun.
Q. What areas of construction have you worked in?
P. I think I have pretty much covered most of the industry with works ranging from joinery, commercial and residential interior fit out, multi-storey construction, single and multi-story residential, project management and consultancy. That’s not to say I know everything; every day really is school day in this game.
Q. What are some of your own favourite projects that you have worked on?
P. Interior refurbishment at old Parliament House was a real standout for me. Detailing new work into older joinery work was a real challenge that made you stand back and appreciate the effort required.
I will likely also remember fondly my first project, the High Court of Australia where the attention to detail was second to none.
Currently, my favourite project is anything I’m working on, I am loving the industry with all of its idiosyncrasies and characters. Working in my space in the industry I generally see both the best and worst of what we can accomplish in this crazy circus we call the building game. Making a difference every day is what keeps me going.
Q. How long have you been an Excellence Awards judge?
P. I believe I am on my fourth year. An interesting dynamic change is evident in that short time, not only relating to COVID-19 but the industry itself and how it tries to adapt to supply and demand. I have seen some outstanding projects in that time. I have also seen some valiant attempts not quite reach the mark.
Q. Why did you agree to become an Excellence Awards judge?
P. I think it is about giving back to an industry which provided me with the means to earn everything I have. It is also about meeting the best of our industry at a time when they are generally putting forward the product of their efforts. There is also the fact that I get to spend some time with some highly experienced co-judges whom I learn from every day.
Q. What makes a project deserving of an award?
P. I try to overlook the architectural merit and concentrate on what really makes a building project. A builder builds a building project and even the most basic architecture can be outstanding to look at if executed to the highest standard.
Q. What areas of a build do you consider when judging a project?
P. Attention to detail is always at the forefront of my critical assessment. Challenging details and the interconnectivity of materials and finishes is where I generally place my marks. Sometimes that is challenging in regard to looking at an architectural triumph, as the smaller details tend to disappear in those assessments.
It is about the tradesman in me assessing the degree of difficulty and the outcome.
I love the industry, my teams at Peak Consulting, Reliance Building Services and the persons that I interact with daily very much. I honestly do not feel that what I do every day is classified as WORK. At times I feel guilty (just a little!)
