6 minute read
Masterlink messageboard
THERE’S BEEN PLENTY TO CELEBRATE AT MASTERLINK, WITH NO FEWER THAN 14 SCHOLARSHIPS PRESENTED TO DESERVING APPRENTICES—PLUS THE CREATION OF A NEW NATIONAL AWARD.
Plumbing World Scholarship winners, from left, Jed Haymes, Bayley Wilkie and James Moore (overall winner).
Plumbing World Scholarship winners
Each year, Plumbing World awards a $1,000 scholarship to three Masterlink apprentices who have shown diligence in their studies and maturity and personal growth. The overall winner also receives complimentary NZ Plumbing Conference registration, flights and accommodation.
The 2022 winners are James Moore (overall), Bayley Wilkie and Jed Haymes. Congratulations!
James Moore is now the senior apprentice at Glennies in Wellington and has made excellent progress in his career, says host Mike Gooch. Good communication with colleagues, management, other tradespeople and customers has become one of James’ strong points. He has also developed sound problem solving methods and excellent forward planning skills. James was also the 2021 winner of the Master Plumbers Apprentice Outward Bound Scholarship.
With Laser Plumber Te Puke handling heavy workloads, fourth-year apprentice Bayley Wilkie has risen to the challenge of working independently and is eager to learn all facets of the company’s work. She is also self-motivated and organised at her block courses, coordinating a Facebook Messenger group that is helping her and her cohorts stay on top of their paperwork. Bayley won the national Laser Plumbing Employee of the Year Award in 2021 and is described by her hosts as a great asset to the team.
Apprentice plumber Jed Haymes puts his all into his training at host business Plumbing Services Nelson. Always looking for opportunities to learn different skills, Jed also takes health and safety at work very seriously, asking to run the weekly office health and safety meetings. A personable, respectful worker, Jed took ownership of more than his share of the workload towards the end of 2021. The business was fully loaded up with projects and Jed could see the heavy workload— volunteering his time on Saturdays to help work through all the projects.
GREENS VANTAGE SCHOLARSHIP
Masterlink apprentice Brendan Wood was extremely grateful to be the recipient of the 2022 Greens Vantage Scholarship, worth $2,000, which he plans to invest in specialised plumbing tools. Brendan works at Plumbing & Gas Works in Hamilton, who say the Greens Vantage tapware range is a go-to for its performance and reliability.
Brendan is having a stellar year, having also won a 2022 Masterlink Outward Bound Scholarship!
Brendan Wood with, from left, Masterlink RM Russell Walsh, Greens Tapware National Sales Manager Mark Lunjevich and Jacob Smith of Plumbing & Gas Works.
MASTERLINK APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Masterlink is marking its 20th anniversary by establishing a new national Masterlink Apprentice of the Year award to recognise gold-standard apprentices. We are delighted to announce that the very first winner of this award, supported by Makita, is Editor (Eti) Sauvao, a fourth-year plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprentice hosted by Ben Mayne Plumbing in Auckland.
Ben says Eti came to the company in 2020 wanting to learn as much as possible and complete his life goals. With good problemsolving skills and natural leadership ability, Eti is an inspiration to other apprentices at the firm. He is always willing to help others and is liked and respected by everyone he works with. With a solid gold work ethic, he brings his best to work every day—and always with a smile.
Above all, Eti is a forward thinker, turning up to work early with all the gear sorted for his job because he planned for it the night before. He is a fantastic asset to his host business, enhancing both their reputation and profitablity.
Eti Sauvao is shown here with his trophy and awesome Makita XGT 6-piece power tool combo kit prize, worth over $3,000.
7 GO OUTWARD BOUND!
This very minute, seven winners of this year’s Masterlink Outward Bound Scholarship are enjoying their 16-day Marlborough Sounds adventure. This incredible opportunity would not be possible without the generous support of Methven Caroma and the host businesses who have generously released their apprentices for this life-changing experience. Congratulations:
Brendan Wood
Maria Contreras Huerta
Basil Carpenter
Troy Haronga (pictured) Nathan Smith Sebastian Sekene Thomas Gadsbey NZ Plumber looks forward to catching up with the winners and reporting back in the next edition.
SAFE DRIVER TRAINING
Driver behaviour is the main cause of road accidents. That’s why Masterlink ensures all new apprentices complete a driver safety course as part of their induction. “Our series of online modules is designed to help our people become better drivers and stay safe,” says Training Manager Jason Goei. “This training is also available for our existing apprentices.”
As a bonus, each apprentice completing the Masterlink Driver Training Programme is given three course links to share with colleagues, friends and family—completely free of charge.
Masterlink milestones
WELCOME
A warm Masterlink welcome to new apprentices: Antony Donaldson Alba Plumbing Gas and Heating, Wanaka Lisala Situa Aqua Plumber Auckland George Kerr Hardy Plumbing and Gas, Wanaka Alec Shackleton Hardy Plumbing and Gas, Wanaka Trent Toomey University of Otago, Dunedin Vanshaj Mehra Venture Commercial Plumbing, Auckland
Conor Murphy Kumeu Plumbing, Auckland Thabani Mbangwa Kumeu Plumbing, Auckland Harry Heath Waiheke Plumbing and Gas, Auckland Lachlan Thorne On To It Plumbing, Auckland Noah Pearce Heron Plumbing, Auckland Harry Udy Certified Drainage, Auckland Finn Gallagher JP Drainage, Auckland Bradley MacGregor MT Carroll, Napier David Hodges Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Palmerston North
Daniel Morgan Aquacraft Plumbing, Christchurch Bryn Nelson Tech Mechanical, Napier
QUALIFIED
Congratulations to Carlos Donnell Brown and Sean Berry for completing your Level 4 Plumbing & Gasfitting National Certificates!
Masterlink RM Russell Walsh (left) presenting Sean Berry with his Gasfitting National Certificate. Sean began his plumbing & gasfitting apprenticeship at age 30, leaving a desk job to pursue his new career. He is extremely grateful to his boss and mentor Mark (Mario) McMinn of Mario’s Plumbing for giving him the opportunity and teaching him the ropes. Sean is now working towards Certifying registration.
Fourth year Masterlink apprentice Andrew Smith features in the latest edition of Leaving School magazine. This free publication showcases a variety of different study and career options for high school students.
Andrew, 21, who is hosted by Glennies Plumbing in Wellington, came to plumbing through the school Gateway programme and says you just need a good attitude, to work hard and be willing to learn as much as you can. “The great thing with Masterlink is you have a mentor, who acts as a middle person and who is with you and supporting you, all the time,” says Andrew.
His goals are to finish his apprenticeship, pass all his exams and get his Certifying licence. “Once you have got that, the possibilities are kind of endless,” he says.
Masterlink has also created a new promotional video to encourage school leavers into a plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying career.
Andrew Smith, hosted by Glennies Plumbing in Wellington.
