Bunnings Trade Magazine February 2026

FEBRUARY 2026

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BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

JOB FIT Chippies rate their favourite workwear

BACK INTO IT!

CERTIFIED SDA RANGE

It’s a new era in building, backed by expert support

Grab the new year by the horns and see your operations thrive with tools and tips from family business duo Dale Bluschke and his father Gary, and other industry specialists YOUR FREE GO-TO MAGAZINE FOR TRADIE TALK, TOOL REVIEWS, BUSINESS & MORE...

When it comes to standing out and leading the way, you need performance and design that’s tested by Australians for Australians, in the toughest conditions this country can throw at it. Which is exactly where we’ve taken things with the New HiLux. And we haven’t stopped there. There’s a whole new level of luxury, with updated interior, a visionary new design and an array of improved technology that makes it our best HiLux yet. Building on fifty years as Australia’s most trusted workhorse, the New HiLux doesn’t just stand out from the pack. It leads the pack. Visit your local Dealer or go to toyota.com.au/HiLux

Pre-production models shown. WorkMate grade shown with optional Genuine Accessories.

General magazine enquiries trademag@bunnings.com.au Advertising enquiries info@hammermedia.com.au

When using power tools, always wear the recommended safety gear. Editorial content is general in nature and is not intended to be a substitute for legal or professional advice. Products featured in the magazine are on offer while stocks last. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. Colours may vary slightly from images shown due to the printing process. Prices shown are Bunnings prices at the time of publication and some prices may vary in regional areas. Pricing is to be used as a guide only. Bunnings Trade magazine runs third-party advertisements. Bunnings does not endorse, evaluate or take responsibility for the products or claims in these advertisements. This publication is not for sale.

CONTENTS 42

18 TRADIE TALK AND UPDATES 10 NEWS Your need-to-know industry info and the latest highlights.

Product is available to buy online only at bunnings.com.au and is sold by Bunnings Marketplace. Not all items are available in all states and territories. Delivery charges may apply.

12 How to get the most from POWERPASS PERKS

a PowerPass membership.

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

14 One builder’s tips for tradies

THE RIGHT WAY TO GROW to evolve their operations.

Published by Medium Rare Content Agency Pty Ltd, ABN 83 169 879 921, Level 1, 83 Bowman Street, Pyrmont, NSW, 2009, Australia for Bunnings Warehouse, ABN 26 008 672 179, Botannica 3 – Level 2 East Tower, 570 Swan St, Burnley, VIC, 3121, Australia. ©2026. All rights reserved. For any queries or feedback, please forward to the attention of Bunnings Magazine Team, Botannica 3 – Level 2 East Tower, 570 Swan St, Burnley, VIC, 3121, Australia.

18 Chippies give their verdicts TOP-NOTCH TOOLS

on the best gear for the job.

22 The comfiest workwear TRADE FIT

for getting around onsite.

SIX TIPS FOR GOOD 30 CASH FLOW

SYSTEMS 34 SUPPORT How TIACS helps apprentices manage their mental health.

TRADIE TESTED 38 Tools need an upgrade? We check out the goods.

I BUILT AN SDA 42 ‘HOW HOME FOR MY SISTER’ A builder uses the Assisted Living range and Bunnings Trade team to his advantage.

TRADE TIPS

the pipeline for your industry.

outside of the creative box unlocked their careers.

Mentoring could boost your potential, two tradies reveal why.

THE HEAT 53 BEAT Stay safe onsite as temps

soar with sun protection tips from one tradie who learned the hard way.

CHECK OUT MY RIG 54 Decking expert Jake Kerr gives us a tour of his super-sized set-up.

ON THE TOOLS

YOUR NICHE 46 FIND Tradies share how thinking

SHOULD I USE A BUSINESS COACH?

38

Experts share smart ways to stay on top of your finances.

INDUSTRY UPDATES 2026

24 Learn what’s coming down 28

Printed by IVE Group. Paper fibre is from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.

ISSUE 06 FEBRUARY 2026

HACKS HUB TRADIE PROFILE 58 AFL great Kevin Sheedy reveals why he’s still dedicating his time to guiding tradies.

SUPER CAR CARE 60 Professional racer Bryce Fullwood on the products that keep his car in mint condition.

CRACK UP 62 THE Headscratchers and funnies.

‘THEY SAVED MY JOB’

THE REAL BOSSES 65 MEET They’re the ones in charge.

Trade Landscape Specialist team can help you in a pinch.

HAD ONE JOB! 66 YOU What could go wrong?

50 Uncover how the Bunnings

WANT TO GET IN TOUCH? Email us at trademag@bunnings.com.au trade.bunnings.com.au

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WHAT’S ON Put these Bunnings Trade events into your calendar.

Trade Brekkies*

JANUARY FRIDAY JANUARY 30 (7am-9am)

MARCH FRIDAY MARCH 6 (7am-9am)

APRIL FRIDAY APRIL 10 (7am-9am)

MAY FRIDAY MAY 8 (7am-9am)

G’DAY, WELCOME! s the old saying goes: “There’s no ‘I’ in team” and that definitely rings true for small business owner Michael Nikolovski. As he and his crew head back to work after the holiday shutdown, Michael reflects on starting a boutique residential building company, build2grow, 14 years ago and the non-negotiables he’s learned along the way. “Working with people we know and trust has been vital [to our success],” Michael says, while also sharing how the Bunnings Trade teams – from the support of 134 TRADE (134 872) to the Building Solutions Studios and Frame and Truss specialists – are considered part of the build2grow family. Read his back-to-work tips and the aspects he focuses on to ensure his business thrives (page 14). Michael and his team also rate the Assisted Living range, available through Bunnings Trade, as does builder Jarrad Hills, who takes us through his personal story and shares why the SDA-certified quality products and competitive pricing have his tick of approval (page 42). As we return to the jobsites, we also hit up family chippies Dale and Gary Bluschke (pictured above, from left), and Women in Trade trailblazer Tracey Melville, about the essential tools, PPE and products they’re stocking up on (page 18). And we set their modelling careers in motion as they showcase some workwear fits (page 22). Meanwhile, key industry heavyweights across the sector share the updates you need to be aware of for 2026 (page 24), and we hear from two tradies who have turned their creative passions into successful small businesses (page 46). Now, let’s get stuck into it! Good luck for the year ahead.

Bunnings Trade Expo

Bunnings respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and Elders of this Country and recognises their values, beliefs and continuing connection to land, waters, cultures and communities. May the stories, knowledge and wisdom shared on this land unite us as one people in the true spirit of Reconciliation for today, tomorrow and for our future generations.

*TRADE BREKKIES MAY NOT RUN AT ALL LOCATIONS. SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL TRADE TEAM TO CONFIRM EVENT DETAILS

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APRIL THURSDAY APRIL 30 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (12pm-8pm)

MAY THURSDAY MAY 7 Sydney Showground (12pm-8pm) THURSDAY MAY 14 Adelaide Showground (12pm-7pm)

SCAN HERE to find out more about your local Bunnings Trade Expo and turn to page 10 for further event information.

trade.bunnings.com.au

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TRADIE

TALK

WHEN USING POWER TOOLS, ALWAYS WEAR THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY GEAR

MORE SHOTS, LESS STOPS Paslode’s new FrameMaster NightWolf packs 1500 shots per fuel cell – that’s 50 per cent more than before – and its electronic, cleaner-burning fuel injection adjusts for hot or cold conditions, meaning you can get going quicker in any worksite conditions with fewer misfires, steadier power and faster reloads.

NEWS

UPDATES

Need-to-know industry info and the latest highlights.

COMFORT AND CONTROL Engineered for balance and endurance, NightWolf’s relocated trigger sits near the centre of gravity to reduce wrist strain, while a lighter, better-balanced design moves naturally with you. What does this mean exactly? It’s a tool that works as hard as you do, without leaving you knackered. Turn to page 18 for a stack more top-notch tool recommendations...

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NEWS & UPDATES

DEDICATED SUPPORT

EXPO RETURNS The Bunnings Trade Expo is back in business and heading to a major city near you in 2026. Get along for hot deals and demonstrations. If you’ve never been to the Bunnings Trade Expo before, this is your year. Buzzing with hundreds of tradies, industry experts and 60-150 top-tier suppliers all under one roof, there is also new tool demos, hot offers and enough innovation to make the most seasoned sparky, chippy or plumber feel like an excited apprentice in the tool aisle spending their first pay. Anyone who has been can attest to the fact that it’s an unmissable real-world scroll through everything new and next in the trade game – and it’s family-friendly. For those looking to get ahead of the curve, discover flash products, chat with suppliers, or just enjoy a day making smart upgrades to their set-up, the Bunnings Trade Expo is the kind of event that pays off for your business long after the doors close. It’s high-energy, hands-on and full of opportunities to walk away with better gear, better connections and a bargain or two worth bragging about. The annual Bunnings Trade Expo takes place in major cities around the country. See page 7 or visit trade.bunnings.com.au/campaign/trade-expo for dates. 10 trade.bunnings.com.au

If you’re in need of a trusted partner who knows the trade industries inside and out to help take on some of the heavy lifting so you can focus more on your business, the Account Managers at Bunnings Trade are tailor-made for the job. The team (which features more than 170 trade experts across Australia) offers one-to-one support with job quotes, estimates and product sourcing for your project’s needs. From the front gate to the back fence, they’re ready to align with your workflow and connect you with the right gear, the right supplier and smart fulfillment options. Reach out via 134 TRADE (134 872).

GOING LEAD-FREE A reminder for tradies that from May 1, 2026 only plumbing products in contact with drinking water that have a weighted average lead content of 0.25 per cent or lower will be authorised under the National Construction Code (Clause A5G4). Existing installations are exempt, but all new work or repairs after the deadline must comply. While existing stock is still available, you can begin using products that carry the WaterMark Certification Scheme Lead Free or LF symbols now. The Australian Building Codes Board and your local Master Plumbers Associations have more info.

TRADIE TALK

WORKPLACE REFORMS As we head back to the job, Natalie Cameron, HIA Director – Workplace Relations, shares the updates you want to be across.

TRADE BLAZER

Workplace laws are set for more changes in 2026. These changes will affect employers, workers and contractors across the trades sector, so it is important you stay up-to-date.

KEY REFORMS TO FOCUS ON

Nominations for the 2026 Women in Apprenticeships Awards open on Friday, March 6. A past recipient shares how the win changed her working life.

olly Bromage comes from a family of plumbers. Her father is a plumber, as was her grandad, so it felt natural to follow in their footsteps. “My dad is a mechanical plumber, and that’s what I do, too,” Holly, who’s now a second-year apprentice with a Melbourne-based air-conditioning and heating company, says.

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AWARD WINNER When Holly learned she was one of 10 to win the Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Award (partnered with the National Association of Women in Construction) last year, it was a huge surprise. “Seeing the girls who had won it previously, it seemed like a pie-in-the sky type of thing. Winning the award really made me feel very loved and welcomed into the industry,” she says. At a practical level, Holly adds the prize has been “incredible” and meant she could buy her own tools. Each year, Bunnings Trade provides winners across Australia with tools, equipment and gift cards to help kickstart their careers. “I bought a huge set of AEG power tools,” she says.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING Despite her family’s history in the trade, Holly tried out a few different careers before deciding a future in plumbing was for her.

“After school, I went into engineering at university. Coming off the back of COVID, I decided I needed a break from study. I then worked as a traffic controller and at school camps,” she says. It was the opportunity to do an apprenticeship and learn while working that sold Holly on a trade. “There aren’t too many industries that will offer you good old-fashioned on-the-job training. With an apprenticeship, you get the opportunity to learn from the beginning. I’m very excited to one day complete my apprenticeship and see where it takes me.”

THE SHIFT IS IN MOTION While women plumbers are still a minority, Holly says she’s seeing more women at trade school. “I’ve been welcomed with open arms by most people around me, which has been incredible,” she smiles. “The guys at my work have been lovely.” Her advice to women apprentices is simple: “You deserve to be here and to be learning just as much as the boys do. We belong and our work matters.” SCAN HERE for the latest updates about the Women in Apprenticeships Awards nominations for 2026 (open from March 6 until April 10), to read about past winners and for more information.

• Payday Super: Employers need to be ready to pay superannuation to their team at the same time as wages and salaries. • Right to Disconnect: Small businesses must respect an employee’s right to disconnect from work after hours. • Stronger protections for workplace safety and mental health: This includes new legal obligations to manage psychological hazards in the workplace. • Employee Choice Pathway: There are small business requirements to allow eligible casual employees to move to permanent employment.

HOW TO PREPARE • Review and update policies: Ensure policies include the new requirements and obligations. • Update payroll systems: Adapt payroll and superannuation systems to accommodate Payday Super from July 1, 2026. • Provide training: Train staff and managers on the new rules, including any updated safety regulations. • Check contracts: Review employee and contractor agreements to ensure they comply with the new regulations and are updated to reflect any changes in classifications or entitlements.

HIA can help you prepare for the workplace changes coming in 2026 with professional training and advice. Visit hia.com.au or contact HIA on 1300 650 620.

trade.bunnings.com.au

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POWERPASS

PERKS There’s more to your Bunnings Trade PowerPass membership than exclusive pricing and support. Use the membership to its full advantage by unlocking these five benefits. BY JULIE LEE

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f you’re only using your Bunnings Trade PowerPass membership for in-store savings, you’re missing out – there are a lot more PowerPass offers to take advantage of. “These perks are designed to assist tradies in running and growing their business, and make doing business easier and more efficient,” Bunnings Commercial Partnership Manager Alan Harding says. “And when you have time for yourself, there are offers like gym memberships to help with work-life balance.”

1. MAKE BUSINESS EASIER Accounting software revolutionises business admin – you can send invoices, automate reminders and connect your system directly to your bank to automatically import and reconcile transactions. It will also help make tax time much, much easier. Xero deal*: Get 90 per cent off Xero for 6 months. MYOB offer^: Get MYOB from $6 for 12 months.

2. GET FIT Is your New Year’s resolution to be healthier? Check out this Anytime Fitness deal. As well as a special 12 trade.bunnings.com.au

price on gym membership at Anytime Fitness clubs around Australia, you’ll also get access to the Anytime Fitness member benefits and workout app, which is like having a personal trainer on your phone. Anytime offer#: Save 20 per cent of the weekly membership price and skip the joining fee.

3. SAVE MONEY ON YOUR UTE What does almost every tradie have? A ute. And if you run a business, you probably own more than one. That means a lot of servicing. Use the PowerPass UltraTune exclusive price to get it done cheaper. UltraTune offer†: Receive 10 per cent off the local retail price of an Ultra Manufacturers Logbook service, Ultra Minor Service and Ultra Major Service.

4. DO MORE ONLINE TRAINING Continuing Professional Development (CPD) can be a challenge. This year, commit to a few short online training courses to get your points up. Pointsbuild offers nearly 200 courses to choose from. Pointsbuild offer‡: Save 10 per cent on CPD online training courses.

HOW TO REDEEM THESE OFFERS Taking up these offers is easy for POWERPASS members. Follow these steps... 1. Go to trade.bunnings.com.au/ powerpass 2. Scroll down and select the offer you’re interested in 3. Hit ‘get the offer’ or click the relevant link – and remember to have your PowerPass membership number handy

SCAN HERE to find out more about how you can power your business with PowerPass.

5. PRIORITISE YOUR HEALTH InstantScripts is Australia’s largest online medical clinic – you can talk to doctors online, day or night, request repeats of your regular scripts and get single-day medical certificates for sick leave, to name just some of the services. InstantScripts offer∆: Get 20 per cent off services from InstantScripts.

PHOTOGRAPHY MYOB. *XERO.COM/AU/CAMPAIGN/PARTNERSHIPS/BUNNINGS; ^MYOB.COM/AU/LEGAL/BUNNINGS-POWERPASS-ANNUAL-OFFER; # ANYTIMEFITNESS.COM/EN-AU/TERMS-OF-USE; †ULTRATUNE.COM.AU/TERMS-CONDITIONS; ‡TRADE.BUNNINGS.COM.AU/TRADE-SERVICES/POINTSBUILD; ∆ TRADE.BUNNINGS.COM.AU/TRADE-SERVICES/INSTANTSCRIPTS

TRADIE TALK

TRADIE TALK

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

THE RIGHT WAY TO GROW

After years spent getting his business just right, builder Michael Nikolovski has some tips for tradies hoping to grow their operations – start now! BY SCOTT ELLIS

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BUILD THE RIGHT TEAM “I started on my own in 2012,” Michael says. “It was just me doing sales, bookkeeping, estimating, onsite management… everything! The first on board was [Contract Administrator] Adam Milenkovski, and he was only a part-timer at first because he was studying construction management.” Next, the company added Michael’s brother, Steven, as a Site Manager and their bookkeeper, Carminia Cruz. “From there, we started building out the team to be across all trades,” Michael says. Two more of the first – and they’re still a part of the business – were father and son carpentry duo Gary and Dale Bluschke, who began sub-contracting 14 trade.bunnings.com.au

with build2grow 14 years ago, followed by a roster of other subbies who all shared the company’s vision. “Having people we know and trust has been vital,” Michael says. “I think in that first year we did six builds. In the second year, it was eight builds, then ten, and now we’re up to 30 projects a year!”

We have a crew that all know each other and they all know how to work together. Half the battle is getting people to work together... the painter knows the plasterer who knows the tiler who knows the plumber... It works better this way. MICHAEL NIKOLOVSKI, BUILD2GROW FOUNDER

LOOK AHEAD A key to that success, Michael says, is looking ahead and, right now – the start of a new business year – is the perfect time to do just that. “We’re always looking to the future,” he says. “When Adam does the quotes, from very early

PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN KINGMA

rom a one person operation to a team of experts working on up to 30 projects a year, boutique residential builders build2grow are the perfect example of what’s possible when tradies get serious about expanding their business. But it wasn’t an overnight success, says the Geelong outfit’s boss, Michael Nikolovski. Growth was more a combination of hard work, a constant evolution of how the business runs and finding the right people for each individual job. As build2grow continues to push full steam ahead in 2026, the team shares tips for starting a business from scratch and cementing your longevity.

(FROM LEFT) MICHAEL NIKOLOVSKI, ADAM MILENKOVSKI AND STEVEN NIKOLOVSKI PLAN A NEW BUILD

WHAT WE USED The build2grow’s Highton build in Geelong, Victoria, sourced much of their materials and products through Bunnings Trade, including: James Hardie cladding Wall materials Posi-joists Frames and trusses

SCAN HERE to discover how the Frame and Truss team at Bunnings Trade can support you in securing high quality framing solutions for your next build, including prefabricated roof trusses, wall frames and floor truss systems.

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COMMUNICATION IS VITAL FOR ANY ASPECT OF BUSINESS

BUILD2GROW FOUNDER MICHAEL LEANS ON BUNNINGS TRADE FOR SUPPORT

“The contractors we use supply their own equipment; they know what they need,” Michael says. “We run very clean and safe sites, so Steve will also push to make sure that not only everyone has the PPE they need, but that all tools are tested and tagged as well.” Michael says since COVID, most building sites are back on the job the second week of January instead of the third – still giving them a month off from December to January, which he says is: “plenty of time to get ready, so we can start refreshed. “You’ve got to stay ahead of the game and that means making sure you have everything you need, not just the information on the jobs coming, but definitely the right PPE as well,” he says.

MANAGE, BUT DON’T MICROMANAGE we will be talking to suppliers and trades so they know the job is coming up and they make sure they’re available for the dates we’re aiming for.” The same logic can work the other way for tradies; reaching out to their main employers now to make sure they know they’re free. The more work you lock in now, the more consistent the year will be. “Once the job is awarded to us and we get a building permit and contract, we’ll start issuing purchase orders and ordering everything from the slab to the blinds and carpets, so everyone knows when they’re needed,” Michael says. The build2grow team do their best to start two jobs every month and finish two jobs every month, at the very least, so they always have “six months worth of work in the pipeline for next year. That’s essential for any business to do well,” Michael says. 16 trade.bunnings.com.au

Everyone’s been through enough storms that there’s usually nothing we haven’t encountered before. And it’s that combined experience that makes it all work. ADAM MILENKOVSKI, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR

HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE JOB With a fresh year ahead, it’s also the right time to make sure you have whatever you’ll need, from tools to PPE to workwear, vehicles – everything.

Relying on the expertise of others by getting the contractors to look after their own roles is a key to the build2grow philosophy. If you get the right people on your team, acknowledge that they know what they’re doing, then let them do it. “We have tradies that all know each other and they all know how to work together,” Michael says. “Half the battle is getting people to work together and getting them to work on the same page. Our tradies are very old-school – the painter knows the plasterer who knows the tiler who knows the plumber. It works better this way. You look at other bigger companies and everyone’s working for themselves, and they don’t have that relationship.” At build2grow, the two main silos working in tandem with each other are pre-site and onsite, with Michael overseeing and moving between the different areas as needed.

TRADIE TALK

or regarding a document that Adam and myself might know about, and so on.”

TALK IT OUT Communication, Adam agrees, is vital. “There’s definitely a lot of moving pieces and that means a lot of planning and a lot of internal discussions,” he says. “We spend a lot more time in the office having five minute conversations about little things to make sure that we’ve covered all of our bases than we do on conversations about the big overwhelming things… because we all know everyone’s been through enough storms that there’s usually nothing we haven’t encountered before. And it’s that combined experience that it makes it all work.”

THINK BIG “Everyone has their separate roles and they obviously specialise in separate things,” he says. “Adam is all pre-site, everything from estimating to building permits, to what and who is needed for the job. Then, as soon as we land on the site, Steve takes over and he books in all the trades and suppliers, with

Mia across the bookkeeping, invoicing and accounting. I float between each of the areas of the business. For example, I make sure I spend one day a week with Adam estimating and working on future projects, then one day a week onsite with Steve in case there’s questions about something from a design perspective

There’s no denying that growing your business can be hard work, Michael summarises, but if you do it properly and put the right steps in place with the right people and suppliers – and then remember to check things are working each year – it can succeed. “And then everyone is in a much better position.”

HOW BUNNINGS TRADE HELPS TO KEEP US AHEAD The crew at build2grow considers the Bunnings Trade experts a part of their team, calling on them for everything from foundation to fit-out. DEMAND THE SUPPLY A key aspect of the build2grow team are the suppliers and building a strong trust with them. “With our suppliers, we haven’t just plucked them out of nowhere, we’ve tried and tested them first,” Michael says. “The ones that are good, we’ve maintained and added to because half the battle is getting people on the same page.” With Bunnings Trade, Michael says, those relationships can be years old. “When I started out on my own, I used Bunnings and I still have a relationship with the same team,” Michael says. “That continuity helps a lot because I can ring them and they know what I need. It just makes the whole process so much easier.” While Adam adds: “They’re essentially as much a part of our team as we are.”

LOOK FOR THE EXTRAS While the Bunnings Trade PowerPass app is used daily by the build2grow team – “There’s savings,

for a start, and every purchase is easier to allocate to a job,” Steven says – they also use Landscape Specialists, the Frame and Truss service and Port Melbourne’s Building Solutions Studios (BSS). “You can drop by and immediately see every fixture that’s on offer to make selections and, even better, they have it all on PDF, so they’ve basically created a virtual catalogue,” Steve says of BSS. “When you visit a client, you can go through the options online, make selections, place orders and they’ll be delivered when you need them.”

GAME-CHANGING RANGE Discovering the quality Assisted Living range and the support of its dedicated Bunnings Trade team has also opened doors for build2grow. “Recently, we got an email saying Bunnings Trade now has a whole set-up at the Building Solutions Studios for NDIS-related work, which was fantastic,” Michael says. “It really showed us how they can help us service a new sector.”

SCAN HERE to find out more about the Bunnings Trade Building Solutions Studios and how their product ranges (all in one convenient location) can help support you and your clients on a project.

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TRADIE TALK

TOPNOTCH TOOLS

We’re all back on the job, so which tools do other tradies rate? We chat to three chippies to find out. BY SCOTT ELLIS

ow much of a beating have your tools taken over the years? And what about that battery? Still charging as quickly and lasting as long as it used to after going full stick on sites? As we all pick up the tools again after taking some time out, it’s important to make sure your kit is up to scratch, you are primed with supplies and, perhaps most importantly, to check out if there is anything fresh on the scene that can make your working life faster or easier. “Things wear out or they just fail, and while most people replace as they go, it’s well worth doing a big check to see what you need,” Gary Bluschke, carpenter and co-owner of Straight Edge Carpentry, says about organising your tools in the new year. “Now is a great time to see what else is out there, too, because new tools come onto the market you

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TRACEY MELVILLE

might not know about or improvements to old tools are brought out and they can change everything.” Even slight tweaks to a tool’s design can make a world of difference, adds Gary’s son Dale, who has run the business alongside his father for 17 years. The father and son team has more than 50 years of carpentry experience between them both, so it’s safe to say they know their tools. “If you’re doing repetitive work with a heavy tool, for example, that can take a lot out of you,” Dale says. “So a new version that’s a bit lighter and easier in the hand, but still has the power, can be incredible.” Fellow chippy Tracey Melville, of Geelong-based home care and maintenance company A Helping Hand: Geelong and The Surf Coast, agrees. As a “Jane of all trades” who completed her apprenticeship in carpentry, but also works in

(FROM LEFT) DALE BLUSCHKE AND HIS FATHER, GARY

gyprocking, tiling, waterproofing, painting “and anything else that comes up, really!” Tracey says it’s vital to do a regular audit of your tools. “Because I use a variety of tools and equipment, I’ll often suddenly need something and it has to be there ready to go,” she says. “If you have time to take a closer look at the start of the year at what you’ve been using a lot and what you could add to the toolbox, then do it.” As the old tradie saying goes: “It’s better to be looking at it, than for it” when it comes to your gear. “For sure!” Tracey wholeheartedly agrees. “It’ll speed up your day no end.” Gary, Dale and Tracey took to a build2grow jobsite in Highton, Victoria, and jumped on the tools to give us the insider’s lowdown on the latest combo kits and the new Paslode FrameMaster NightWolf.

PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN KINGMA

WHEN USING POWER TOOLS, ALWAYS WEAR THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY GEAR

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

GUIDE TO: THE SIX-PIECE COMBO KIT

165mm circular saw (DHS680Z) WHAT DALE SAYS: “Circular saws are one of the most used tools a chippy will have, and we’ve got a pretty new Makita, so this felt very familiar. It’s got a lot of torque to cut through whatever you need. If my other Makitas are any guide, they’re a long-lasting tool, so I was very happy with this one. My only other thought was I’d prefer the model with the blade on the opposite side. That would just feel more natural to me.”

THE TOOLS Makita 18V Brushless 6-Piece Combo Kit, I/N: 0289417 THE PERKS • All tools are compatible with the Makita 18V and 2X18V range • The batteries supplied are 5.0Ah and compatible with all star compliant Makita tools • The brushless motors allow for longer running times with cooler temperatures • Tool bag allows for easy transportation of the tools

WHAT’S IN THE KIT? • • • • • • • • •

DHP486Z hammer driver drill DTD154Z impact driver DGA504Z 125mm angle grinder DHS680Z 165mm circular saw DJR187Z recipro saw DML802 LED torch 2 x 5.0Ah batteries Rapid charger Tool bag

THE TRADIES’ VERDICTS Hammer driver drill (DHP486Z) WHAT GARY SAYS: “This one feels familiar to me because I’ve had Makita drills for years; they’re powerful and reliable. These are a great tool to have on hand because you can use it as a normal drill, perfect for timber or steel with the right bits. Then, if you need to put a plug into masonry, you can flick it to hammer and with a masonry bit it’ll do the job nicely. It’s a handy tool, this one.”

Recipro saw (DJR187Z) WHAT GARY SAYS: “We have a Makita recipro already, which we use a lot, but it’s the larger model, so the first thing I noticed was that this is a lot lighter and easier in the hand. But it still has a lot of power, so there wasn’t a feeling like it was any less of a tool at all. The size and weight would make this easier to use in tighter spaces, and if you have to hold it for a long time.”

Impact driver (DTD154Z) WHAT DALE SAYS: “I liked this driver from the start. I’ve used plenty of impact drivers through the years and use one a lot on the job still, and this one definitely felt like it had a bit more power in it to me – even though it also feels lighter in weight. It’s great in the hand and feels pretty balanced with the battery locked in. You can feel it’s powerful straight away and that it has a lot of torque, which is important.”

125mm angle grinder (DGA504Z) WHAT TRACEY SAYS: “Makita grinders have been a favourite of mine for a long time. With the right blade they’ve got the power to accurately cut through steel, concrete, cement sheets, tiles... whatever you need. What I love about this new one is it has all that, plus there’s the safety features my old grinder didn’t have. With the safety switch on this one, if I take my finger off the button it stops almost instantly. None of that winding down for ages. That’s a huge improvement!” trade.bunnings.com.au

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TRADIE TALK

GUIDE TO: THE THREE-PIECE KIT

THE TOOLS AEG 18V Brushless 3-Piece 5.0Ah Force Kit, I/N: 0501421 THE PERKS • Hammer drill has 90Nm of torque, 2100rpm and 31,500ipm • 2,900rpm and 4,200ipm in impact driver • Removable mesh filtration cap on angle grinder

WHAT’S IN THE KIT? • • • • • •

18V hammer drill 18V 3-speed impact driver 18V 125mm angle grinder 18V Force 5.0Ah battery pack 18V 3.2A charger Tool bag

TRACEY’S VERDICT OVERALL REVIEW: “I’ve got to be honest, I’ve been using the AEG kit a lot since I first tested them and they’ve become some of my favourite tools. They’re lighter in weight, which is perfect if you’re using them all day, but that doesn’t mean they don’t also pack a punch.” 18V brushless hammer drill WHAT TRACEY SAYS: “This is a very good drill. With variable speeds (2100rpm for standard drilling and 31,500ipm in hammer mode), it’s up for anything. 20 trade.bunnings.com.au

It feels good to hold and to use, and it has a lot of torque for its weight. This was surprising for me because when I first picked it up I was taken aback by the fact it didn’t feel like a deadweight, like a lot of hammer drills can do.”

18V 3-speed impact driver WHAT TRACEY SAYS: “I was a bit unsure about this when I first picked it up because it is light, but when I tested it, the torque is definitely there and it does the job well. From the moment I used it, I could feel the power and torque right through the

speed range (from 2,900rpm and 4,200ipm for heavy-duty screwdriving). I like this one a lot!”

18V 125mm angle grinder WHAT TRACEY SAYS: “Angle grinders are a bit of a standard tool for cutting metal, concrete, cement board, tiles – all sorts of things – so I was very interested to try this out. And it certainly performs. It feels really good in your hand, is well-balanced and with the right cutting blade. I’ve found this a really great addition to the toolbox. It’s just a nice-feeling tool that gets the job done, and that’s what you want.”

PPE HAUL Don’t sell yourself short, put your safety first on the job with these PPE must-haves.

Mechanix Wear Eco Speedknit Gloves – Large, I/N: 0422120

UV Wraps Polarised Wraparound Safety Glasses, I/N: 0087480

GUIDE TO: THE NAIL FRAMER THE TOOLS Paslode FrameMaster NightWolf Nail Gun Kit, I/N: 0920714 THE PERKS • Light, better balanced and designed to move with you • With 1500 shots per fuel cell, you’ll get more done between refuels • Lower cost nails and fuel, due to firing efficiency, saves you money • Extended service life, so you spend less time at the repair shop • Comes with a three-year warranty

WHAT’S IN THE KIT? • • • • •

Paslode FrameMaster NightWolf Two batteries and a charger Safety glasses Allen key Carry case

THE TRADIES’ VERDICTS Q: How does it feel in your hands? TRACEY: This feels very good, well-balanced and has enough weight behind it so you know it’s up to the job. DALE: It wouldn’t want to be any heavier though, especially if you had to hold it over your head for doing trusses for a long time. GARY: The weight is there, definitely, and that might take some getting used to, but

3M Black Clear Flat Temple Safety Glasses, I/N: 0054513 the power is impressive and a big change to what we’ve had before! I’ve just put four nails into an LVL and the stud behind it, just to test, and they’ve all gone straight in with no problems. Q: What power rating would you give it? GARY: It’s got a lot of power. Just from testing it on some 60mm LVL, the nail went all the way in. Usually, you have to shoot the nail in then get a hammer out to get the last quarter of an inch in, this goes right in every time! TRACEY: It does. That’s a big improvement on other framers. I can see this being useful for when you’ve got harder timber, for sure. There’s also a better indicator, so you know how much gas is left and the ventilation seems to be improved – you can’t smell the gas after each shot like you could sometimes.

Citeco Noise Isolating True Wireless Awareness Earbuds, I/N: 0580355

3M™ WorkTunes™ Connect w/Bluetooth®, 90570-DC Hearing Protection, I/N: 0780156

Citeco Class 5 Ear Muffs, I/N: 0479799

3M™ Medium Paint Project Reusable Half Facepiece Respirator, I/N: 0414681

trade.bunnings.com.au

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TRADE FIT When you’re working hard every day, being comfortable on the job is a must.

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

GARY WEARS Citeco Yellow/Navy Long Sleeve Taped Shirt Hi Vis, I/N: 0816560; Citeco Khaki Cuffed Cargo Ripstop Pant, I/N: 0816784; Hard Yakka Wheat Legends Safety Boots, I/N: 0262091

DALE WEARS Citeco Charcoal Marle Tee, I/N: 0818429; DeWALT Khaki Bennington PROStretch Shorts, I/N: 0820841; Hard Yakka Size 7-12 Crew Work Socks – 5 Pack, I/N: 0045532; Blundstone Brown #7508 DuraFit Elastic-Side Safety Boot, I/N: 0814995

Hard Yakka boots: “Good work boots have flexibility, but are also comfortable. These ones have great support around the ankle and protection over the whole foot.” GARY BLUSCHKE, STRAIGHT EDGE CARPENTRY CO-OWNER

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PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN KINGMA. CLOTHING AND BOOTS AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE SIZES AND SELECTED COLOURS. SOME PRODUCTS NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL BUNNINGS STORES, BUT MAY BE ORDERED ONLINE OR AT THE SPECIAL ORDERS DESK. HARD YAKKA PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN SELECTED STORES IN WA, CHECK ONLINE OR AT YOUR STORE FOR MORE INFORMATION

TRADIE TALK GARY WEARS Citeco Navy Short Sleeve Shirt, I/N: 0816962; Pants and boots (as before)

DALE WEARS DeWALT Navy Bennington PROStretch Shorts, I/N: 0731695; socks and boots (as before)

TRACEY WEARS Green Hip All Women Overalls Black, I/N: 0709127; Green Hip Long Sleeve Navy Blue, I/N: 0708754; Blundstone Wheat #7550 DuraFit Zip-Side Safety Boot, I/N: 0814951

Green Hip overalls: “These are awesome. So many work clothes are not made for a woman’s body, so they’ll be tight in the chest and hang loose below the belt. These are comfortable, you can move in them and they look great.” TRACEY MELVILLE, WOMEN IN TRADE: GEELONG AND THE SURF COAST CO-FOUNDER

SUPPORT AT HAND After more than 15 years of working as a carpenter, Tracey Melville is also busy bringing female tradies together. When Tracey Melville started out as a tradie, she quickly realised it wasn’t easy being a woman working in a man’s world.

Some bosses would look straight past a girl applying for a job, while other clients were worried that only a man would be able to do the work they required. But, if the outdated stereotypes and sexism weren’t enough, there was the simple fact that there was no female version of the “Old Boys Network”, where guys passed on job tips and supported each other. It inspired Tracey to build her own network, and now the tide is turning. “I work with my husband who is a builder, but I could see a lot of other women in trades who didn’t have the contacts,” Tracey says.

“With my business partner, [former Geelong Cats AFLW star and now plumber Jaime Woollett], we reached out to women in our area to get a network going.” Their group, Women in Trade: Geelong and The Surf Coast, now has 30 women from across a range of trades who regularly meet to offer support (with the social following of the online group growing daily), share work tips and generally be there for each other. “And there’s more of us out there,” Tracey says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re not in our area – it’s all about getting women together either in person or online. Let’s do it!” trade.bunnings.com.au

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BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

INDUSTRY UPDATES

2026

As tradies face changes in technology, regulations and client expectations, this year is shaping up to be epic. BY SCOTT ELLIS

W

ith some of the most increased building activity in years on the way in certain areas, 2026 is set to be a massive year for tradies. We’re coming off the back of a housing slowdown that’s finally run its course, there are fresh ideas from around the globe and regulations designed to get us working safer, and all of this means it’s time to get preparations underway for taking your business to the next level. The best way to do that? Make sure you know what to expect. We speak with industry leaders across the board to find out what’s coming...

UPDATE #1 BUILDING

According to forecasts from Master Builders, total construction activity is projected to rise strongly during 2026, reaching $312.5 billion, a 6.6 per cent lift on the previous period. “Residential building will see momentum increase, particularly in higher-density housing,” says Master Builders Association’s (MBA) CEO Denita Wawn. “But even so, the National Housing Accord remains at risk, with a five-year shortfall of around 180,000 homes still expected. Rapid reform to streamline planning, approvals and regulation will be essential if builders are to meet that demand.” Add in public investment in health, education and utilities projects, plus major infrastructure builds, such as Sydney’s Metro West and Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop, and construction is tipped to hit historically high levels. 24 trade.bunnings.com.au

THE DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL HOUSING IS GROWING FAST

“The stage is set for long-overdue productivity reforms, with outcomes expected to flow into 2026 through streamlined approvals, reduced red tape, and a better skills incentive system,” Denita says.

UPDATE #2 LANDSCAPING

“Residential landscape architecture will continue to be all about wellness, sustainability and bringing nature indoors,” a spokesperson from the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) says. “Homeowners will embrace outdoor spaces for relaxation and create wellness gardens with features like ice baths and saunas, and integrate natural elements, such as native plants, water features and natural stone.” Getting back to nature will be a big focus for clients. “Sustainable practices are also a priority, with designs incorporating more renewable materials, rainwater management and resilient planting for climate change.” Keep an eye out for a continuation of the trend of “biophilic design”, the AILA says. That’s when the

TRADIE TALK

EQUALITY IN ALL TRADES IS A BIG FOCUS IN 2026

From Helping Hand Day – an initiative to give back to local communities nationally – to the launch of televised DIY segments and a new radio partnership, Carpentry Australia is inspiring the next generation to pick up the tools. “Our data makes it clear: the more direct support apprentices receive from us, the greater their chance of completing their training,” Nathan says. “That’s why we’re expanding beyond Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with teams now on the ground in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.”

UPDATE #4

WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION IT’S ALL ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLNESS IN LANDSCAPING

natural world is brought inside to improve human health and wellbeing by connecting people to nature. The AILA says: “Homeowners are increasingly focused on creating environmentally-friendly, resilient gardens. Using native species is a key component along with sustainable hardscaping, such as recycled timber, permeable paving, and reclaimed stone for paths and patios.”

UPDATE #3 CARPENTRY

Australia is in the midst of one of its biggest building booms, confirms Nathan Quinn, Carpentry Australia’s Head of Development, and carpenters are central to it. “The Construction Skills Queensland Horizon 2032 paper highlights that carpenters and joiners will lead demand, with an additional 16,000 needed over the next eight years just to keep pace with future requirements,” Nathan says. “It’s clear that without a strong pipeline of skilled carpenters these ambitious national projects cannot be realised.”

With a cultural shift set to happen across the building world, in 2026 the National Association of Women In Construction (NAWIC) will focus even more on building a sector where people – of all genders, races, ages, strengths and abilities – choose to join and stay. “This change is long overdue and our new Organisational Strategy 2025-2028 outlines our focus and priorities as we work to create an equitable construction industry for all,” NAWIC CEO Cathryn Greville says. NAWIC launched their Ending Gender Harassment and Building Safer Workplaces Campaign during National Safe Work Month last October and also released the findings of a research project into parental leave in the construction sector, offering recommendations for government and the industry. “We work to support this change by focusing on culture, and by that I mean changing the behaviours and attitudes that are accepted, justified and promoted in and around construction sites and the services and activities that support them,” Cathryn says. trade.bunnings.com.au

25

UPDATE #5

CONSTRUCTION While the final decision on the content of the National Construction Code 2025 (NCC) has not yet been taken, proposed changes are likely to update materials and building practices in 2026, explains Steven Wojtkiw, Housing Industry Australia (HIA) Deputy Executive – Victoria. “Although the primary focus of the changes is on commercial and mixed use residential buildings, home building is also likely to be affected through proposals for more stringent condensation provisions,” Steven says. “Particularly for homes and apartments in colder climates in the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania (Climate Zones 6, 7 and 8), as well as electrical infrastructure requirements for all new homes. For apartments, it’s proposed to require balcony waterproofing be enhanced with drainage, set-downs, falls and membranes.” Also keep an eye out for new commercial energy efficiency regulations in a range of buildings (Classes 2 and 3 then 5 to 9), he says. The changes, when passed, will be confirmed on the HIA website.

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA has a suite of useful resources and tools, including laws and regulations, data and research, and safety support by topic to foster safe and healthy working environments. Head to safeworkaustralia.gov.au for more.

UPDATE #6 ELECTRICAL

As the electrotechnology industry faces a year of continued growth, one of the major things needed is more workers, Neil Roberts, Director of Policy, Technical & Safety with the National Electrical and Communications Association, says. But that’s not all. “The challenge is not only finding qualified workers, but in ensuring they are trained to meet the increasingly specialised needs of today’s projects,” Neil says. Projects like renewable energy systems, for example. “The roll-out of emergency backstop control for inverters – part of national efforts to stabilise the grid – places new technical and compliance responsibilities on contractors,” Neil says. Work Health and Safety (WHS) remains at the forefront, particularly for solar installations where teams can be working at heights. “Regulators are enforcing stricter compliance measures to reduce falls, injuries and deaths,” Neil adds. “In 2026, electrical contractors must act not only as tradespeople, but also as educators, safety leaders, and compliance specialists.” 26 trade.bunnings.com.au

UPDATE #7 PLUMBING

Plumbers face a dynamic year ahead, with the transition to lead-free products bringing with it fresh compliance hurdles and workforce shortages that may challenge national housing goals, despite a pause in NCC updates. Add in regulatory changes, and it’s creating complexity in an already unpredictable market. Key Industrial Relations (IR) reforms include the end of non-disclosure agreements, tighter rules on non-compete clauses, and, in Victoria, a potential right to work from home. The roll-out of plumbing and drainage standard AS/NZS 3500:2025 also remains uneven across states, creating uncertainty. “Keeping up with compliance can be daunting,” Ashleigh Dalmau, CEO of Master Plumbers, says. “But smart plumbers won’t go it alone – expert guidance, ongoing professional development and access to industry insights will help keep you ahead.” The expert advice? To ease the compliance burden, lean on your local Master Plumbers Association.

TRADIE TALK

UPDATE #8

SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY REMAINS FRONT AND CENTRE

A RENEWABLE ENERGY BOOM MEANS MORE SPARKIES ARE NEEDED

From the ground up, workers are facing new challenges this year, Safe Work Australia says. But with fresh guidelines in place, yours can still be a safe workplace. “Unstable ground can cause machinery to roll over or collapse, leading to serious injuries and fatalities,” Marie Boland, CEO of Safe Work Australia (SWA), says. “To make it easier for businesses and operators to understand how to safely use plant [machinery, equipment and vehicles etc] on unstable ground, Safe Work Australia is developing an interactive guide for assessing ground conditions.” For those using Elevated Work Platform guidelines, SWA is developing a new Code of Practice with information for businesses and operators – and for workers in the expanding rooftop solar sector, a new guide to managing risks is available. “There is new information on managing risks associated with installing and retrofitting batteries, lithium-ion and non-lithium batteries, and emergencies associated with batteries and their safe disposal,” Marie says. “Visit the Safe Work Australia website for more information.”

CONTRACTOR COMPLIANCE IS ALSO A PRIORITY

trade.bunnings.com.au

27

JAYSON CONCEICAO

ADAM JENNER

Mentoring can get your business on track and help it grow to its full potential, as two tradies we spoke to discovered. BY SCOTT ELLIS 28 trade.bunnings.com.au

THE PROBLEM: “Work was taking over our lives. Onsite and off, it was all we talked about and thought about.” THE SOLUTION: “Adam and his partner, Bec, work together, so they were constantly talking about business during the day and then into the times they should have been enjoying as a couple,” Aaron says of the Jenners

PHOTOGRAPHY GENERATE LANDSCAPES; TRADIES MENTORING TRADIES *UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY START ME UP! BUSINESS GUIDE

SHOULD I USE A BUSINESS COACH?

or a lot of small businesses, the toughest challenge is to just survive. Tradies who head out on their own might dream of being the big boss (and getting the big bucks), but more than 30 per cent of small businesses in Australia are predicted to fail in their first year, with an estimated 75 per cent gone by their fifth year*. If you ask tradie business coach and mentor Aaron Kemp, the key to beating the odds is learning to identify and avoid the biggest problems that challenge small business set-ups. “And with the new year kicking off right now, it’s the perfect time to find the right people to help you do it,” the former tradie and founder of Tradies Mentoring Tradies says. We have a chat with two tradies who took their problems to Aaron to find solutions.

F

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

TRADIE TALK

THE PROBLEM: “I’d tried business coaching plans, but it was a ‘cookiecutter’ that didn’t work for me.” THE SOLUTION:

ADAM FOUND HE WAS ALWAYS BUSY BUT THE CASH FLOW WASN’T SMOOTH

of Generate Landscapes in Sydney. “That’s not sustainable, you need to switch off. My advice was to set clear boundaries of what time is clock-off, and once that’s reached, no more work talk. That may sound strange, but if you think about the normal work environment, you don’t just ring colleagues and work right up to the moment you go to sleep.” Did it work? “Helping us set boundaries meant work wasn’t the only thing in our lives. And that’s important!” Adam says.

AARON KEMP (FRONT) MENTORS JAYSON CONCEICAO

THE PROBLEM: “Work was coming in, but the cash flow didn’t seem to be there.” THE SOLUTION:

THE PROBLEM: “I am wasting time quoting every job and never actually on the tools.”

“Most tradies are very money-driven, but even if their business is bleeding cash, they don’t want to look at the figures and see why,” Aaron says of Adam’s cash-flow challenges. “They tend to watch the big number in the bank balance and not think about everything that needs to be done to keep the net profit there. You have to look at the cost of everything before gross profit, like wages, the goods you need and all overheads, and make sure you’re sitting at a 50 per cent gross profit to allow you to make 20 per cent net profit.” Did it work? “It made us realise it’s not about landing jobs that have a big bill, it’s about finding the work that is still good after you take everything into consideration,” Adam says.

THE SOLUTION: “This is a trap a lot of tradies fall into,” Aaron says of Adam’s dilemma. But a simple way past it is setting up a “qualification process” for potential clients to filter out the jobs that would actually be right for him. “It can be a questionnaire you email to clients once they make the initial contact or even better, a form on your website,” Aaron says. “Driving traffic to your site means you get the answers you need and they can see examples of your work. Everybody wins.” Did it work? “What we set up really streamlined the process and meant I wasn’t wasting time chasing quotes that weren’t right for me,” Adam says.

THE PROBLEM: “What happens if work slows down for a while?” THE SOLUTION: Aaron also worked with Jayson Conceicao, owner and electrician with Xceed Electrical in Sydney. “Jayson was looking at moving to a new location, which meant he might have a period without income.

“You want someone who is going to get in and understand your individual business, where it’s at and what you need, and then create a program around that,” Aaron says of Jayson’s initial reservations on business coaches. “And also, someone who says, ‘If you can’t do it, I’ll get in there and do it for you.’ As a business owner, you don’t necessarily need to be filling out a cash-flow forecast, you just need to know the results of that forecast and how to keep it moving in the right direction.” Did it work? “It absolutely worked for us,” Jayson says of having the right business coach. “You need someone hands-on and doing it with you because it’s all a new skill you have to learn.”

This situation can happen to any tradie who might experience, for example, seasonal lows,” Aaron says. “The key is to figure out what you need in your bank account at all times, just in case everything goes wrong. When you know what that number is, you can then create a strategic plan – marketing or networking, for example – to keep it at that level.” Did it work? “That’s something nobody tells you when you start a business [managing cash flow], but once that line was there, it took a huge load off my mind!” Jayson says.

FIND THE RIGHT PERSON More than anything, tradies need to be able to recognise when they are struggling and reach out to someone who can help. “Qualify your business coach or your business mentor exactly the same as you would your clients,” Aaron advises. “Ask them the questions to see whether you can work with them and whether they can work with you to make sure you survive.” trade.bunnings.com.au

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TRADIE TALK

SIX TIPS FOR GOOD CASH FLOW

Keen to avoid cash-flow problems this year? Our experts share smart ways to stay on top of your finances. BY ANGELA TUFVESSON

TIP #1: KEEP TRACK OF YOUR FINANCES Regularly checking your accounts, including with your accountant, can help you catch cash-flow issues before they become a problem, explains Xero Economist Louise Southall. “This is really important for the construction industry because payments can be a bit lumpy. Projects go for varying lengths, and it can be a bit difficult to understand what’s coming in and what’s going out of your business.”

TIP #2: SEND INVOICES PROMPTLY It might sound obvious, but one of the best ways to avoid cash-flow headaches is simple: invoice for jobs as soon as they’re finished. “This should be your highest priority activity as a business owner, as unless you’re getting paid for the work you’re doing, you will go out of business,” Paul Rogers, Head Coach and Founder of Tradie Coach, says. “You would not believe how often I hear of tradies who forget to send invoices, or the customer has to harass the tradie to get an invoice.”

TIP #3: SET CLEAR PAYMENT TERMS A common pain point for managing cash flow is getting paid. Sally Davies, MYOB’s GM – Soloist and Embedded Finance, says to list clear payment terms on your invoices. “Be abundantly clear with your clients what your expectations are on payment deadlines – don’t leave anything to interpretation,” she says.

TIP #4: MAKE PAYMENTS EASY Louise says providing clients with as many payment options as possible makes it easier for them to pay your invoices. “I love a really big ‘pay now’ button on your invoice. Small businesses that do that get paid twice as fast as those that don’t have that button,” she says.

TIP #5: HAVE A SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR WAGES Paul suggests setting up a separate bank account for wages – for yourself, as well as your staff – that also accounts for the end-of-year shutdown. “Identify your typical monthly wage bill. Multiply that by 12 to calculate your annual wage cost, then divide by 11. This is how much you should be putting into your wages bank account every month, to make sure you have a buffer,” he says.

TIP #6: WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER Lining up short jobs with reliable clients can help to plug any gaps in your cash flow – especially early in the New Year and any time you’re coming back from a break. “Prioritise fast-paying jobs and clients in order to generate cash more quickly,” Sally recommends. “Ease back into full capacity to avoid tying up too much cash in materials or subcontractor payments before you’re paid.”

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DID YOU KNOW? You can skip the business admin when you connect your PowerPass to MYOB and use the software from $6 for 12 months (conditions apply)*. We’ve also partnered with Xero, offering PowerPass members 90 per cent off their software for six months*.

EDITORIAL CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR FINANCIAL POSITION, NEEDS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE *FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUNNINGS TRADE’S PARTNERSHIPS WITH XERO AND MYOB AND FULL T&CS, PLEASE VISIT TRADE.BUNNINGS.COM.AU/TRADE-SERVICES/XERO AND TRADE.BUNNINGS.COM.AU/TRADE-SERVICES/MYOB

BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

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BACK TO WORK SPECIAL

SUPPORT SYSTEMS Apprentices are on a steep learning curve – mastering a trade and finding their footing in the workplace. Without good support systems, the pressure can take its toll. We spoke to one apprentice about how employers can help build a mentally strong team. BY JULIE LEE

elen Spelitis never saw herself in a trade, but a timely redundancy and the chance to learn a new skill while starting a family business was too tempting. The initial plan for the company had been to hire an apprentice, until Helen had a revelation. “I got to use tools and found out how cool it was to build things and make stuff work,” she says. Five years on, and Helen has completed her electrical apprenticeship. The technical and logistical sides of growing a business have been rewarding. Emotionally, however, Helen admits she has faced some challenges. “I had experiences that rocked my confidence and my sense of self,” she says. “Those experiences snowballed in my head and got worse and worse until I’d created this negative spiral around myself that I couldn’t get out of.”

H

34 trade.bunnings.com.au

Thankfully, Helen reached out to TIACS, a free and confidential counselling service for blue-collar workers and their families. “It was hard to admit I needed [support],” Helen says. “And those first moments when the phone was ringing were hard – but the second that someone picked up, I was so glad I made that decision.” Apprentices don’t always want to ask for help, which is why it’s important for employers to be alert to the warning signs. We asked Helen to share some of her experiences as an apprentice and how she overcame feelings of self-doubt.

THRIVING AS A FEMALE IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY Helen thinks being a mature-age apprentice helped her navigate some of the challenges that can come with being the only woman onsite.

HELEN IS GLAD SHE CALLED TIACS FOR EXTRA SUPPORT

TRADIE TALK

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS “Most of the men I’ve encountered throughout my apprenticeship have been nothing but supportive,” she says. “There were some isolated experiences, but as an older woman I didn’t find them particularly intimidating or difficult to navigate.” However, she acknowledges this is harder to do for younger women. “For me, it really came down to having the confidence not to take it on board.”

JUGGLING LIFE, WORK AND STUDY Starting a new trade and building a business is a juggle Helen understands. “It’s hard – you’re in this brand new situation, learning a new skill set in a whole new industry,” she says. “You’re finding your feet socially, as well. You need role models who can help you navigate some of those challenging situations, and you need to feel supported enough to be able to talk to someone.”

FACING IMPOSTER SYNDROME Finishing her apprenticeship brought with it some surprising emotions for Helen. “Apparently it’s quite normal for apprentices – when they get to that last year – to think, ‘What the hell am I doing?’” she says. “There’s this impending responsibility. I think it’s normal to feel that way.” HELEN SPELITIS BEGAN HER TRADE CAREER AS A LABOURER BEFORE TAKING UP AN APPRENTICESHIP

You can reach

TIACS by texting or calling 0488 846 988 Monday to Friday 8am-10pm (AEST).

GETTING SUPPORT Before Helen called TIACS, she worried her problems “weren’t big enough”, but making that call was life changing. “It was this calming presence,” she says. “The counsellor listened to me spit out things that were bothering me and how I was feeling and then said, ‘Let’s unpack that.’ Reaching out to TIACS was like tripping a circuit breaker in my brain, which allowed me to then restart the system.”

THE FACTS

49% of trade apprentices drop out of or don’t finish their training*.

1.7%

of serious workers’ compensation claims from apprentices and trainees were caused by mental stress, which is much lower than the

9.7%

seen in the broader workforce^.

Mental health expert and TIACS counsellor Kurt shares his tips for workplaces when it comes to supporting apprentices. SIGNS YOUR APPRENTICE MAY BE STRUGGLING Recognising that your apprentice could be having a tough time isn’t always easy. “Someone might seem disconnected, quiet or withdrawn,” Kurt says. “Or they’re angry or taking more sick days. Any kind of ‘negative behaviour’ is, generally, a warning sign.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR APPRENTICE If you notice these signs, take a step back and assess the situation. Then open the lines of communication. “Pick the time where the environment is a bit more comfortable, like when you’re sitting in the ute, having a coffee,” Kurt suggests. “You’re shoulder-to-shoulder then and you may not initially have to look them in the eye.” Then try asking what’s been happening and how they’re feeling. “Having a conversation is about making sure you’re in the right environment, asking nice, open questions and not putting the expectation on yourself to fix them,” Kurt says. “Provide that emotional support, and then continue to check in with them.”

CALL TIACS Letting your apprentices know where to find help – and normalising conversations about mental health – is helpful, too. “Highlighting the fact that there are services like TIACS is ideal,” Kurt says. “It helps a boss or a workplace become more approachable.”

Not all OH&S risk is physical Psychohazards, such as poor support, bullying and unclear roles, are recognised in Work Health and Safety regulations as contributors to mental health harm, and employers are required to manage these risks†.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIACS. *NCVER COMPLETION AND ATTRITION RATES FOR APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES 2023; ^SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL DATASET FOR COMPENSATION-BASED STATISTICS, FIVE YEARS TO 2023-24P (‘P’ DENOTES DATA ARE PRELIMINARY FOR THE LATEST FINANCIAL YEAR); †SAFE WORK AUSTRALIA

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STRAP HERE

ON THE

TOOLS

IDEAS

PPE UPGRADE “When you’re looking at fresh tools for the new year, pick up new PPE too,” Frank Renic of FJR Carpentry and Maintenance says. “Even something simple like glasses get scratched on the job and need an update. Chances are yours have been rolling around with your gear and are scratched. New ones are much better and safer!” Turn for more of Frank’s top worksite recommendations...

SOLUTIONS

The latest information on new-release products, reviews and topical trend forecasts.

WHEN USING POWER TOOLS, ALWAYS WEAR THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY GEAR

Makita 260mm (10-1/4”) Slide Compound Mitre Saw, I/N: 0575872

MIGHTY SAW “If you need accuracy or are doing a similar cut over and over again, then mitre saws are useful to have onsite,” Frank says. “If you are cutting noggins, for example, you can get a lot done fast. This one (pictured) is so smooth to use. Make sure you get the vacuum attachment so cleaning up is easier, too.”

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ON THE TOOLS

TRADIE TESTED Are some of your tools looking a bit worse for wear? We asked two chippies to check out the best upgrades available. BY SCOTT ELLIS (FROM LEFT) FRANK RENIC AND LEIGH JHOWRY

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1

DeWALT COMBO KIT “This is a great pair of tools; the drill feels really good and solid in your hand and the impact driver is small and light, but has a lot of grunt,” Leigh says. “I usually use another brand of tools, but this driver had really good torque and I can see why a lot of people go for them – I’m now using it on the job, too.” DeWALT 18V XR 2 Piece 5.0Ah Compact Combo Kit, including 2 x 5.0Ah batteries, charger and carry case, I/N: 0636625

HAMMER “The Estwing hammers have been around for a long time and you’ll always see them on someone’s belt – so many chippies get one and use them for years,” Leigh says. “The reason we can use them for so long and stick with them is because they’re good and reliable. This one pulls nails out clean and fast. They’re a tool all chippies need.” Estwing 15oz Ult Forged Smooth E6-15S Framing Hammer, I/N: 0716040 PAIR WITH: Estwing Nail Puller Pry Bar, I/N: 0646277

3

GLASS AND TILE DRILL BITS “Glass and tile drill bits are a great example le of a tool that you have to have for a particular articular job, and you can’t just grab something omething similar. These will cut into a tile quickly and cleanly, and not shatterr it like normal bits or a masonry bit,” Frank rank says. “Absolutely worth having in your toolkit for when you need it.t. Especially for a bathroom fit.” Suttonn Tools 6.0mm Glass and Tile le Drill Bit, I/N: 0437706

WHEN USING POWER TOOLS, ALWAYS WEAR THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY GEAR

hen you’re running a small team that takes on big jobs, you have to have the right people and the right tools. Carpenter Frank Renic knows this. “I’ve been operating FJR Carpentry and Maintenance for about 15 years, doing everything from roofing to decks, kitchens, bathrooms and full renovations, so we need to have a range of reliable tools,” the Victorian-based small business owner says. “Some are specialty items, but a lot are tools that everyone uses, so they have to work.” The start of a new year is the perfect time to make sure everyone has everything they need. We asked Frank and his carpenter colleague, Leigh Jhowry, to take us through (in no particular order) eight essential toolkit items as they head back to the jobsite.

5

4

PPE

“You’ve got to have the right PPE to protect yourself while you’re working and update it,” Leigh says. “Scratched glasses are hard to see through, so you can make mistakes. These are nice and clear and wrap around for protection, and the plugs are great if you’re using loud tools all day.” Citeco Clear Anti Fog Anti Scratch Safety Glasses, I/N: 0479870; 3M Banded Reusable Ear Plugs 20.2dB, I/N: 3370300

TRADE LIFTS “When you need to move something up a little before you can secure it in place – and it happens a lot – these lifts are perfect,” Frank says. “Hanging a door, for example, is something every chippy does regularly, and no matter how long you’ve been doing it, these lifts definitely make the job easier.” Stanley FatMax Tradelift – Twin Pack, I/N: 0584695

VACUUM

6

“All tradies know, if you keep a clean site it makes everything ev smoother,” Frank says. “You don’t feel like you’re working in a mess. If you drop something, you can find it, and sawdust on a floor is one of the biggest ways to slip an and fall – and nobody wants that! This is a good, powerful vacuum that’s not too loud.” DeWALT 34L Stealthsonic Stealths Wet And Dry Vacuum, I/N: 0903688

BIT SET

7

“Cheaper screwdriver bits can break, strip the heads of whatever you’re screwing down or fall out of the driver. It’s worth getting the right ones for your tool, they just work better,” Franks says. “These ones fit my driver perfectly and they grip the screws properly. That makes the jobs faster.” Makita 43 Piece Screwdriver Bit Set, I/N: 0853531

SPIRIT LEVEL

8

“Getting things level or plumb is super important when you’re a chippy, so a good level is important,” Leigh says. “Everything from doors to walls, benchtops, floors – whatever! – if you can quickly check it’s horizontal or vertical before you fix it in place, it makes life a lot simpler. And these are good, strong levels that can survive a worksite.” Stanley FatMax Xtreme Level 2 Pack 60cm and 200cm, I/N: 0848602 trade.bunnings.com.au

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ON THE TOOLS

JARRAD AND HIS SISTER, SARAH

The expanded Assisted Living range through Bunnings Trade makes it easier for tradies to help older people and those living with a disability stay at home. And for this builder, it’s personal. BY JULIE LEE

into an aged care facility when she was 25. Coming from a family that was all tradesmen, I wanted to look at how young people could be stuck in aged care facilities and to help her and the two other girls get out. Q: How did you help your sister? A: Two friends and I created Ability Homes Australia. We built a home for my sister and the two other girls – that was the first project. From there, what was supposed to be a single project has expanded out to more than 80 new builds and about 450 renovations across four states. Q: What are some of the features of SDA homes? A: Wide open spaces, including wider hallways and open-plan living in the kitchen and dining rooms. Bathrooms focus more on accessibility and ease of use, with level-entry showers and wall-hung vanities. The use of automation is also very common.

ccessible housing has come a long way in Australia – between 2020 and 2025, the number of people with funding for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) increased by 58 per cent*. But there’s still a long way to go: the NDIS predicts we’re going to need more than 27,000 SDA homes by 2027*. Combine that with an ageing population keen to stay at home for longer, and there’s significant demand for SDA building and home modifications. Jarrad Hills has been at the forefront of SDA innovation, founding Ability Homes Australia in 2016; it became registered as a charity in 2018. He has

A

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JARRAD HILLS

watched as the Bunnings Assisted Living range has expanded to keep pace with demand, and is using the range to help make the day-to-day challenges of Australians living with disabilities that much easier. Q: How did you get into building accessible housing? A: My younger sister [Sarah] was born with both an intellectual and physical disability, and she was put

Q: What are some of the challenges of working in this space? A: The challenges have been access to good quality materials that are compliant within the codes. When we started, the only options were a chrome handrail and fittings and fixtures that looked like you were living in a prison. Pricing had also blown so far out of proportion. Fast forward 10 years and the accessibility range is now amazing. We could pretty much use the majority of products within a standard residential home. Q: How has the availability of products changed over time? A: The Assisted Living range available at Bunnings Trade is now a lot bigger – the Special Orders side and availability of products has grown exponentially, which is amazing. The Bunnings Assisted Living

PHOTOGRAPHY ABILITY HOMES AUSTRALIA; JARRAD HILLS. *NDIS.PROPERTY/STATISTICS; ^GRATTAN.EDU.AU/NEWS/SHARES-HOUSESNOT-GROUP-HOMES; †MYAGEDCARE.GOV.AU/NEWS-AND-UPDATES/BIG-CHANGES-AGED-CARE-SECTOR

‘HOW I BUILT AN SDA HOME FOR MY SISTER’

ON THE TOOLS

ASSISTED LIVING: THE FACTS SUPPLY AND DEMAND By late 2024, the regions highlighted by the NDIS as having the most potential growth for developers and builders were NSW, Vic and Qld*. HOUSING NEED There are four SDA categories: Improved Liveability, for people with sensory, intellectual, physical or cognitive impairment; Robust, for those who need an environment that can withstand high-impact behaviours; Fully Accessible, for people with significant impairments or very high support needs; and High Physical Support, for those with significant physical impairments who require substantial support. In areas with lower numbers of SDA dwellings, there is a need for Robust and Fully Accessible*. FUTURE OF SDA HOUSING Research has shown Individualised Living Arrangements are a more efficient housing model than group homes for people living in SDA, which may increase demand for accommodation even further^. ABILITY HOMES AUSTRALIA MODIFIED THIS RESIDENCE IN VICTORIA TO MEET THE ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPANT

team has also worked in the background to bring in a really robust level of quality to the products, as well as style and grace when it comes to the look and aesthetic of products. They’ve also negotiated with suppliers on pricing that reflects the value Bunnings Trade offers. Q: What’s it like working with Bunnings Trade in this space? A: We’ve got an amazing Account Manager who knows the disability sector back to front,

OLDER AUSTRALIANS By 2035, the government predicts it will be supporting around 1.4 million Australians to stay at home while they age†. and the Assisted Living team has gone as far as pre-certifying the range to the four design categories that we build to – Improved Liveability, Fully Accessible, Robust and High Physical Support. That has been awesome for us. Q: What would you say to builders thinking about getting into this type of work? A: I’m all for it. I think the more competition we have in this space, the more accessibility to better pricing for the end user.

SCAN HERE to see the latest products and services Bunnings Trade has available through our Assisted Living range and SDA solutions, call 134 TRADE (134 872) or contact us via sda@bunnings.com.au. trade.bunnings.com.au

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Choose Earthwool. The smart choice for every job.

earthwool.com.au

WOMEN IN THE TRADES “A lot more women are getting into the trades now. In my [Millenial] generation alone, I’ve seen a massive shift,” painter and artist Kassy Abriola says. Her work in the sector has inspired her to launch Trade Chicks, a creative hub where she offers illustrations empowering women within trade industries and non-traditional roles.

CREATIVITY AT WORK Kassy, who uses her artistic side as a painter at Sunshine Coast theme park Aussie World, says no two days are the same onsite. “Because it’s a theme park, it’s not just hard fixtures, so I might be working on displays for Halloween or Valentine’s Day.” Read more about women in niche trades over the page...

TRADE

TIPS

EXPERTISE

INSPIRATION

Expert knowledge and insights from industry specialists.

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FIND YOUR NICHE Trades aren’t limited to building and construction. Theme park painter Kassy Abriola and acoustic guitar maker Daisy Tempest explain how niche creative skills can become rewarding trade careers. BY ANGELA TUFVESSON

NAME TRADE LOCATION

// // //

KASSY ABRIOLA THEME PARK PAINTER SUNSHINE COAST, QLD

K

assy Abriola has always been creative, but she couldn’t quite work out how to turn her passion for art into a full-time career. “I experimented with everything to do with art – airbrushing, mixed media, pottery, murals, skate decks and body art workshops,” she recalls. “But it wasn’t very stable.” By chance, she met a fellow creative who was designing visual concepts for the Sunshine Coast’s Aussie World theme park. “He asked me if I could help on one of the jobs. From then on, I became a painter at Aussie World,” the mother-of-two says. Nine years on and Kassy is now also the founder of Trade Chicks, a creative project that uses bold illustrations to celebrate, empower and connect women in the trades. She says being a theme park painter is still her dream job. “It satisfies my inner child who needs to paint every day, and I can do it as a career.”

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As the only female tradie during most of her time at Aussie World, Kassy is excited to see more and more women take up careers in the sector with Trade Chicks supporting women like herself in the field. We got the lowdown on how Kassy, who holds a Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, blends creativity with her trade, why she became qualified, and how she’s thriving in her niche profession.

NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME From painting a new roller-coaster to giving a set of colourful poles or pavement tiles a fresh coat after hundreds of visitors have passed through, Kassy says every day at Aussie World is different. “A lot of things are time sensitive because we need to work around the public,” she explains. “It’s exciting – not only am I working on hard fixtures, but because it’s a theme park, we celebrate things like Halloween and Valentine’s Day and need props. Last Christmas, we had a display of boxes I had to make look like presents.”

BLENDING ART AND THE TRADES Kassy says getting her trade qualification was as much about confidence as it was about skill. “I decided to become qualified because I was in a field of all blokes and I wanted to prove myself,” she says. That training has proved invaluable, giving Kassy the technical know-how to prep, plaster and handle the groundwork behind every project. She says her creative roots also give her an edge. “Having an art background has allowed me to see that a mural is damaged or something needs fixing and know what to do – not just come in and paint over the top.”

EQUALITY AT WORK Working in a team of men, “You’ve kind of got to prove your worth,” Kassy says. “But, once the guys get to know you and you become mates, you’re the same – they treat you the same. Once they know that you can do it, you’re in.”

TRADE TIPS

BUILDING COMMUNITY After joining the trades, Kassy started sketching the women around her. “I had the idea to draw what I was seeing and try to inspire other women,” she says. That idea grew into Trade Chicks as she shared the illustrations on social media and connected with women in trades, who can commission their own portraits. Kassy also offers caps, mugs and T-shirts of her artwork through her website. But at its heart, Trade Chicks focuses on building community. “It’s about finding like-minded women and sharing that it’s okay to be in the trade space now.”

PHOTOGRAPHY KASSY ABRIOLA; AUSSIE WORLD

BEING A PIONEER Kassy has noticed a shift in the number of women taking on trades. “There are more women generally – we’re everywhere,” she laughs. “In the past when I was driving and saw a sparky pulled over, nine times out of 10 it would have been a bloke. Now it could be a chick fixing that power line.” She says seeing more women working in these fields now is empowering. “It makes me happy because we can do these jobs, and we should have always been allowed to do these jobs.”

WHILE KASSY’S JOB UTILISES HER TRADE SKILLS, SHE SAYS IT’S ALSO “SO CREATIVE, AND I ENJOY IT”

There are more women generally – we’re everywere. In the past when I was driving and saw a sparky pulled over, nine times out of 10 it would have been a bloke. Now it could be a chick fixing that power line. KASSY ABRIOLA, TRADE CHICKS FOUNDER

KASSY’S TRADE CHICKS ARTWORKS CELEBRATE WOMEN TRADIES IN COLOURFUL WAYS AND ENCOURAGE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

KASSY’S TOP BUY Knee pads Hard Yakka Size M Black Legends Shaped Knee Pads, I/N: 3370398

“I have these on all of the time. They’re not overly expensive and I can’t fault them. You don’t need to have expensive products for them to be good quality.” trade.bunnings.com.au

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NAME TRADE LOCATION

// // //

DAISY TEMPEST LUTHIER SYDNEY’S NORTHERN BEACHES, NSW

L

eaving England behind, Daisy Tempest relocated not just herself but her business, Tempest Guitars, to Australia last January. As a luthier (guitar maker), she creates bespoke guitars for clients all over the world, including well-known musicians, art lovers and investors who are interested in heirloom pieces. The first place Daisy went after settling herself in Sydney’s northern beaches? It was to Bunnings for a “sausage sandwich”. “The moment I got off the plane, I thought, ‘I’m not leaving this country’,” she says. “Australia is amazing.” We talk to Daisy about transforming her love of music into a meaningful trade career, and she shares how Bunnings Trade is her support, why she feels tradies get more respect Down Under (“I’ve been blown away by the lifestyle tradespeople are afforded in

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Australia. It’s something I never experienced back home”), and how social media helps grow her brand. Q: Your dad is a classically trained pianist. Why did you decide to become a luthier? A: I started guitar making in 2017. I’d just graduated from university as an English literature major, but I wanted to do something in music. I didn’t want to be a musician. I wanted to make stuff and work for myself, so I found a luthier apprenticeship. I found an amazing female mentor who trained me up. Then I received an award to have free studio space in London for a year, and I launched my company off the back of that. Q: How does your business work? A: Big factories produce a lot of guitars and they have the infrastructure. My business model is different.

I realised I was going to have to charge more because I can’t afford to if I don’t. So I made a point of making my price what I thought was reasonable at the time to make four to five guitars a year. I film my guitars being built, because I think it adds something completely different that no-one else to my knowledge offers. Q: What have been your biggest challenges in getting your trade off the ground? A: I realised early on that there’s a big divide between people who can afford to make a living making guitars and people who want to but can’t. It’s why there’s a very predictable demographic working in the space – mostly older, middle-class, white men. People didn’t really like my business model because they saw me as challenging the status quo. It was a really, really tough time, having to put my foot down. But I’ve since

TRADE TIPS

PHOTOGRAPHY TEMPEST GUITARS. *TIMBERS VARY BY STATE AND TERRITORY; CONTACT YOUR LOCAL STORE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

had a few people tell me that I’ve helped to create a healthier price point model that’s encouraging more people to give it a try – especially women.

DAISY IS ACTIVE ON YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA. “I ENJOY IT, AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS WORTH KEEPING AROUND AND GROWING”

Q: You are very active on social media and in the digital space. How has that helped your business growth? A: Alongside my business, I run a woodworkingfocused YouTube channel with more than 120,000 subscribers, where I share educational content around guitar making and craftsmanship more broadly. I started putting out videos of me learning the craft and making mistakes. I got people interested, and then I started getting orders. Now, I earn good money just on the ads alone.

I’ve had a few people tell me that I’ve helped to create a healthier price point model that’s encouraging more people to give [guitar making] a try – especially women.

DAISY’S TOP BUY

DAISY TEMPEST, TEMPEST GUITARS FOUNDER EVER WANTED TO TRY MAKING A GUITAR? DAISY SAYS “GO FOR IT!”

Q: What do you like about being a tradie in Australia? A: In the UK, if I mention that I’m a guitar maker, people think it’s some kind of lower-class job. That’s a very common thing to think of trades in the UK. And there are a lot more women working in trades that I’ve noticed. I also used to get severe anxiety going into a hardware store because I would be spoken down to a lot. That just doesn’t happen in Australia, regardless of gender. Tradies are well-respected – they’re the cogs that keep society moving. Q: What advice would you have for others wanting to start their own business? A: It’s an amazing craft. If anyone’s on the fence about making a guitar, they should go for it because you don’t need all of the specialist things. Especially with something like an electric, you can just get creative when you’re wandering the aisles. You can make do and really get stuck in and creative with the way you make.

Tasmanian Oak “I use an ancient Chinese ‘go-bar deck’ method for glueing parts of the guitars together. It involves two flat surfaces, one above the other, held apart with posts. I’ve repurposed Tasmanian oak I bought at Bunnings to apply the clamping pressure.”

90mm x 18mm 1.2m DAR Rectangle Tasmanian Oak, I/N: 0080226*

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‘THEY SAVED MY JOB’

Two tradies reveal how the Bunnings Trade Landscape Specialist team helped them out of a bind. BY JULIE LEE

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TRADE TIPS ou’re strapped for time and running on the smell of an oily rag, so a bit of extra help with sourcing materials and managing deliveries to the jobsite would be a godsend. The Bunnings Trade Landscape Specialist team can offer targeted support across all landscaping needs – from materials to decking and fencing, and more – and they can even save you chasing quotes. We talk to two tradies about why they keep using the Bunnings Trade team to their advantage, saving them time, money and stuffing around – and we also chat with their Bunnings Trade Landscape Specialist. “It’s my job to help landscapers from start to finish, whether it’s getting a fast turnaround on quotes, sourcing products for their jobs or organising delivery to site,” Landscape Specialist Kate says.

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GET HELP, FAST Justin Hargreaves-Ward (pictured left), owner of All Seasons Yard Services in Adelaide, South Australia, was in a bind when he called Kate. “I was doing quite a large job at a school and was let down by other suppliers. We had the quotes and I had the order in for the timber, and they made it all so hard,” Justin says. “I was in a pickle because we’d already started the project and, obviously being for the government, it was scheduled.” That’s when Justin contacted Kate to see how she could help. “She came to the rescue and got me over the line,” he says. “Basically, I reached out to her because some of the materials specified were available at Bunnings. I asked if she could supply those, but she made a few calls to get the other materials we needed, too. She got back to me within a few hours and actually saved me quite a lot of money as well.”

organised for me,” he says. “We will basically get everything delivered to site, too, which is especially good for bulk orders.” Ben can compare Bunnings inventory with the Trade Assist team so he can then easily stop by and collect what he needs without fuss. “I can check on the PowerPass app on my phone, but if I want to double check, I call the team and they can tell me which stores close to my job have the stock I need.”

ASSISTANCE WITH QUOTES AND PRICING The real time-saver for busy tradies is the ‘Request a Quote’ feature online. You fill in a few details, then someone from the team calls you back. Or, like Ben does, just call your Account Manager. “I used to have to run around and check prices or organise quotes, whereas now I can call Kate or someone on the team. They’ll get me a price and I can do it all over the phone or via email,” he says.

QUALITY ONGOING SERVICE After Justin finished the school project, he needed to deliver ongoing maintenance and Kate was able to help him there, too. “Kate dug up what was required for me on the specifics of the timber. It was good because she supplied the materials, service and then after-project service, too,” Justin says. For Ben, he likes the connection of having one Bunnings Trade Team Member as his main contact. “Kate will call me up and check if there’s anything I need or tell us when events are on, like the Trade Expo and store barbecues,” Ben says.

WHY USE BUNNINGS TRADE LANDSCAPE SPECIALISTS? The Bunnings Trade Landscape Specialist team can help with: Quotes and pricing Stock and inventory Order and delivery updates Specialist landscaper and building support PowerPass membership support General trade enquiries

SCAN HERE to find out more about how the Landscape Specialist team can support you and your business needs.

SECURE POWERPASS SAVINGS Ben Grycewicz runs Living Landscapes Design and Construction, a residential landscape and construction business in South Australia’s Riverlea Park. He has found the one-on-one support he receives from Kate helps him to unlock his PowerPass benefits. “Once a month, Kate emails a list of products with hundreds of items on it with trade pricing,” Ben says, adding that after viewing and choosing the items his business requires, he can then rely on Kate to help place his next order without stress. “I can call Kate, and she can take care of what we need.”

MAKE ORDERING AND DELIVERY EASIER Ben also leans on the Trade Assist team at 134 TRADE for help with ordering. Before reaching out, he would be shopping around and chasing deliveries. “This saves me so much time. I just call them up at Bunnings Trade and say, ‘I need this’ and it’s

BEN GRYCEWICZ FINDS THE LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST TEAM INVALUABLE

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TRADE TIPS

THE NUMBERS* 15 minutes of sun

BEAT THE HEAT

exposure is all it takes for permanent damage to start on the skin.

95-99 per cent of skin cancers in Australia are caused by exposure to UV radiation.

34,000

non-melanoma skin cancers and 200 melanomas (approximately) are linked back to outdoor workplace exposure each year.

10 times

24 per cent

MATT ROWLAND

BY HOLLY BYRNES

utting corners on sun safety while on the job (or anywhere else, for that matter) can land us in all sorts of dangerous strife. Builder and carpenter Matt Rowland, who has been in the business for more than 20 years, learned that the hard way as a young apprentice with little care or attention to sun protection. “I was working in Karratha [Western Australia] in the mines, where the temperatures averaged about 48 degrees, and it was stifling, dry heat. I was up on a roof and didn’t have the proper clothing on – just short-sleeved shirt and shorts – and I hadn’t drunk enough water,” he says. “I was so young, just 19, and I didn’t think about it, but I came a cropper really quickly.” Helped down from the roof by his workmates, Matt was taken to hospital and treated for heat-related stress after fainting, suffering headaches and vomiting. Now, as the principal for his own design and construction business, Rowland Building Co., he knows a thing or two about sun safety and how important it is when taking to the tools in summer.

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WORKING SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY IN THE WARM WEATHER While hotter months see an uptick in activity outside, it brings extra risks which must be managed onsite. “We take it seriously, as most business owners should be doing,” Matt says of his company’s sun protection standards. “We supply all of our workers with proper PPE [personal protective equipment], including long-sleeved shirts, broad-brimmed hats and sunscreen. On the hotter days, we also have a 30-litre drum full of ice and water, so the guys

of tradespeople rarely wear sunscreen during the summer months and almost half (46 per cent) rarely apply it in the winter months.

can keep themselves hydrated during the day and while on their breaks.”

Six in 10

(58 per cent) of Australian tradespeople know colleagues in the industry who have had skin cancer.

HOW HOT DOES IT HAVE TO BE TO STOP WORKING OUTSIDE? While there is no specific temperature that stops work, as Safe Work Australia (SWA) explains, the human body needs to maintain a body temperature of approximately 37 degrees Celsius. “If the body works too hard to keep cool or starts to overheat, a worker can suffer from a heat-related illness, including fainting, heat rash, heat cramps and heat stroke.” Dehydration is perhaps the most common side effect and why workers should make sure to drink plenty of water or sports drinks (with electrolytes) to properly sustain your body’s efforts. If extreme temperatures make work feel unsafe, it’s important to tell your boss or project manager as soon as possible, take breaks or move indoors to carry out alternative work.

*YOUGOV’S CONSUMER SURVEY IN 2022

Stay safe this summer with these sun protection tips that will help keep you and your team covered as temperatures soar.

the UV radiation is what those who spend large parts of the day working outdoors are exposed to compared to indoor workers.

SEVEN

teaspoons of SPF50+ is the recommended amount of sunscreen to apply to exposed skin 20 minutes before heading outdoors, repeating the process every two hours.

THE FIVE FORMS OF SUN PROTECTION In 1981, Sid the Seagull urged us to ‘Slip, slop, slap’: slip on protective clothing, slop on water-resistant, broad-spectrum, SPF50 or higher sunscreen and slap on a broad-brimmed hat. Now, this slogan also includes ‘seek and slide’: seek out shade and slide on wrap-around sunglasses, for extra protection.

THROWING SHADE Covering up from the sun is your best b defence against its harsh sh rays.

Living Protect 200ml 20 Hard Yakka Navy Core Suns Lightweight Vented Long Sleeve SPF50 Plus Sunscreen Tube, I/N: 0075932 Shirt – Size XL, I/N: 0505743

OZtrail Gazebo 3m Quick Lock Blockout in Grey, I/N: 0442802

Bunnings Large ge Straw Hat, I/N: 8510048

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CHECK OUT

MY RIG

Forget a ute, decking expert Jake Kerr has super-sized his work transport.

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hen your business is building decks of any size in any location, you need to be able to arrive onsite with a lot of gear – and when it comes to bringing the whole box and dice, nothing beats a truck. “It just makes such a difference when you have two or three sites going at once to be able to load up the truck with everything you need, add the trailer if you need to, and head off,” Jake Kerr says. The business owner, who has been in carpentry for more than 10 years, started up his own exclusive decking company, My Deck, in 2018. Making big deliveries to various sites, running specialty items from job to job (Jake uses one track saw across multiple sites, for example), and keeping every sub-team fully supplied is simple when you’re working in bulk, he says. Oversized lengths of decking and all the other required heavy materials, as well as everything from fixings to finishes and tools galore, can easily be arranged in his Isuzu N Series Tradepack.

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How much can fit? A lot! And Jake has organised his gear in such away that everything is accessible. The truck has a Gross Vehicle Mass (or GVM, the maximum total weight when fully loaded, including the vehicle’s own weight, passengers, cargo and fuel) of 4,500kg and a huge Gross Combination Mass (aka GCM, the weight of the vehicle and its trailer) of 9,000kg – in short, it’s like taking the whole workshop on the road. “With the trailer on the back, it really feels that way sometimes,” Jake laughs, “and it’s good to know that if we need something, it’s all there.” The truck and trailer combo has been dynamite for the whole My Deck team. “If you add the trailer in, you really can carry everything you and everyone else needs,” Jake says of his plus-sized set-up. “And you’re not jamming things in. It all fits comfortably and neatly, which means it’s safer, too.” We asked Jake to give us a VIP tour of some of the clever features of his big rig.

ROOF RACKS Perfect for saw horses, acrow props and “pretty much whatever,” Jake says.

ON THE FLIP SIDE A second lockable space on the driver’s side has more storage and space for one of Jake’s most used items, the vacuum cleaner. “We use a lot of composite decking, so we’re always vacuuming,” he says. “A clean site is easier to work in and leaves the client happier.” Karcher H Class NT 30/1 AP Wet and Dry Vacuum, I/N: 0905194

TRADE TIPS SIGNAGE SELLS “I don’t spend on advertising because people see the name, the service and the number on the truck and call. It looks professional, so they know you’re not a small organisation. It’s a great message to send,” Jake says.

LARGE, LOCKABLE BAY DOORS Keeping Jake’s valuable tools and “virtual hardware store of fixtures” safe while out and about is imperative, so it was important for all sections to be lockable.

PHOTOGRAPHY CARLOS FURTADO

LONG STORAGE A full-length space for timber, decking and more. “At 4.8m long, this is great for long lengths of decking, which means less cutting onsite and a better finish.”

HIDDEN TOOL TREASURES Under the pneumatically-lifted signage is lockable drawers – each home to a must-have fixture – cupboards, and a hanging area for clamps and pry bars. And let’s not forget the essential coffee maker! Makita 12V Max – 18V Coffee Machine (Skin Only), I/N: 0076366

GENERAL STORAGE “This large-scale trailer set-up has almost everything,” Jakes says, including warning signs, PPE and safety gear. The point is that Jake has the space for anything he might need, so why not bring it all along?

FRONT CABINET “We keep spare clothes, brooms, buckets and more here. This is where the lesser-used, but needed items can be locked away.”

TOOL CABINET Nobody’s going to arrive without the essentials if they can be stored in one space, in marked bays. “A single glance shows everything is ready – and the batteries are waiting,” Jake says.

SLIDE-OUT TRAYS “The two full-length, slide-out trays at the rear are suitable for longer tools, rolls of membrane and extra supplies or wood offcuts. Handy and the right height to not strain your back.” trade.bunnings.com.au

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION

Always Powered Keep your worksite going with these portable products.

Storm-proof power Bad weather rolling in? Jackery portable power stations ensure your tools never stop, rain or shine.

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ummer storms are no joke. A nasty one can knock out power in half the street and bring your site to a standstill, derailing a day’s work in a matter of minutes. When you’re partway through a big job or managing a tight deadline, losing power isn’t just annoying – it can cost you serious money. This is when Jackery portable power stations can save your bacon. Built tough and always reliable, they’re the peace-of-mind back-up that every builder, sparkie, landscaper and construction manager needs to keep working – and earning – when the power suddenly goes out.

USE ANYWHERE, ANYTIME Jackery portable power stations are designed to go wherever your work takes you. Whisper-quiet and easy to use, they power tools, lights and charge tech (essential when you’re on-the-go creating content for your business socials), whether you’re on a multilevel city site or at a remote build out in the sticks. The Jackery 2000 Plus – the biggest and most powerful of the range with a 3000W output – delivers long-lasting battery life and high-output power for your tools and equipment, keeping even the toughest jobs moving when the weather gets wild.

SUPER STRENGTH AND PERFORMANCE Jackery portable power stations are built for professional, on-the-job use, with each series 56 trade.bunnings.com.au

undergoing 533 rigorous tests before hitting the market. Rechargeable via solar, 12V or mains power, these portable power stations combine durability with versatility, ensuring you can tackle any task during power outages. When the sun comes out, you can charge your Jackery Saga 100 Solar Panel to make sure you’re ready for the next big storm.

Jackery 600W Black 600 Plus Portable Power Station, I/N: 0649097

Jackery 2000W Black 1000 Plus Portable Power Station, I/N: 0649095

Jackery 2000 Plus Black Explorer Portable Power Station, I/N: 0537656

SMART TECHNOLOGY AND EFFICIENT Jackery portable power stations are more than just tough – they’re built with advanced smart technology so you can get on with the job if the weather turns bad. Intuitive displays show battery levels, output and charging status at a glance, so you always know exactly how much power you have left. Multiple output ports let you charge several tools and devices at once, making it easy to stay productive onsite without pesky interruptions.

Jackery Saga 100 Black Solar Panel, I/N: 0537657

SCAN HERE for more about Jackery’s portable power station range, available through Bunnings Trade.

FOR ALL TRADIES Whether you’re a construction manager in charge of a big site, a small business owner employing a handful of tradies, or even a sole trader, time is, quite literally, money. Even a short power outage can throw schedules into chaos and lead to costly delays. With Jackery portable power stations, you’ve got dependable back-up to protect against downtime, keeping essential tools and equipment running and ensuring jobs stay on schedule no matter what.

@jackery.au JackeryAU

HACKS

HUB

LIFESTYLE

BANTER

Life tips and some light relief after a long day.

PHOTOGRAPHY MARK HORSBURGH/EDGE PHOTOGRAPHICS

PIT LANE PPE On the circuit, the right gear is paramount for personal safety, says Supercars Championship driver Bryce Fullwood. His team uses Mechanix Wear Medium Extreme Grip Glove (I/N: 0270117). “A lot of what they’re touching is very hot, so they certainly need good quality gloves.” A durable pair of Mechanix gloves can protect your hands from heat, cuts and grime.

INTERIOR CARE Our work vehicles cop just as much grime as a Supercars driver’s car. To cut through the grit and dirt, racing teams call on purpose-built products, like Selleys 500ml Polyglaze Interior Protectant (I/N: 0443244). “That’s something they do back at the workshop,” Bryce says. “Polyglaze is the stuff they use.” For more car care tips and tricks from Bryce, turn to page 60...

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M A K E R S //

SPORTS CENTRAL

TRADIE PROFILE He was a plumber and a player and, even now, iconic AFL coach Kevin Sheedy still gets a kick out of talking to tradies. BY LUKE DODEMAIDE // // //

KEVIN SHEEDY PLUMBER MELBOURNE, VIC

PHOTOGRAPHY NEWSPIX

NAME TRADE LOCATION

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HACKS HUB

W

hether it was a footy or a wrench in his hand, AFL legend Kevin Sheedy put in the hard yards on and off the field. Long before football became a full-time gig, it was the done thing to slog it out on the tools – in Kevin’s case, as a plumber – while backing up for training and play. Nowadays, Kevin still lends his hand in the tradie space, attending trade shows and connecting with the next generation. “I enjoy talking to a lot of [different] tradespeople because I was a tradesman,” Kevin says of a recent trade show he attended for Carpentry Australia, before offering some sound advice for up-and-coming tradies: “Listen to your teachers. When you’re on building sites, try and learn as much as you can from other people in different trades, because everybody’s got knowledge. If you chase knowledge, then you’re going to get a fair amount of good life to live because knowledge is a powerful weapon.” With three premierships under his belt for the Richmond Tigers (1967-1979), a 2009 induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, who acknowledge him as a “great promoter and supporter of Indigenous players”, plus his long tenure as Essendon coach and stint as inaugural coach for Greater Western Sydney Giants, he’s also the driving force behind Dreamtime at the ’G (launched in 2005). The 78-year-old reflects on his plumbing days and life in the football fast lane. Q: What’s the most valuable lesson that working as a plumber taught you, which you later applied to your playing or coaching? A: I think what I learned very early was to try and accept change quicker than what we’re used to. I remember distinctly when plastic piping was coming in, the plumbers thought that was just ridiculous. They thought, ‘It’ll all melt, it’ll fall apart.’ And yet here we are, we’ve got fantastic plastic piping, along with copper and bronze, and all those sorts of different characteristics we need to transfer, whether it’s gas or water or whatever. But they really didn’t ever think that you’d have drainage for plastic pipes under the

ground. Even the rubber-type hoses we have now, instead of piping, that you put around your garden. So when you look back, my advice is to just accept change quicker than what we are accustomed to.

5 MINUTES WITH KEVIN SHEEDY

Q: You were a tremendous innovator in coaching. Did that lesson help lead to that? A: Absolutely. It really encouraged me in my very early days, and I’m talking around about 18, 19, 20, 21 [years old]. I do talk to the electrical trades union apprentices and the plumbers’ apprentices at their schools on different aspects of trying to pick up knowledge quicker to help them in their lives, as well as life skills. Q: Are there any skills from your plumbing days that you found surprisingly useful in your footy career? A: Yes. I would say that in plumbing, there are a lot of difficulties, particularly the maintenance of old homes. And then, sometimes, when you have to start rebuilding a whole new home, it’s like rebuilding a new team after the team has grown older. So, I mean, I was always into rebuilding my teams, so they would always be very competitive instead of letting the team grow old, or the house get old, and the plumbing gets old. So, yes, I was always into newness. Q: Over nearly 30 years in coaching, was there one fundamental principle that remained constant from your first day to your last, to help young people and tradespeople get the most out of themselves? A: I think they had to have the greatest attitude of all time, and not let their parents down. So, the best attitude wins most times. Right through difficult times and successful times, you still need to maintain a great attitude. Otherwise, someone will come over the top of you with a better attitude. I can say that’s one of the best things I preach to my players. Also, make sure they get a house and a home out of footy.

We ask the footy legend to run us through a few of the important things, including his Origin story… If I wasn’t involved in football… I would have been in horticulture and real estate. I like the outdoors. So, real estate sales would be something I’d be involved in because that’s outdoors most of [the time]. [As an avid gardener], I would definitely be in horticulture because the greatest period of my younger days was [regularly visiting] the [Royal] Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. I played with… about seven or eight tradies at Richmond [from 1967 to 1979]... I had plumbers and builders, and [Mark] ‘Bomber’ Thompson, my captain, was an electrician on our premiership side. Before football turned professional, 25 per cent of my players were builders and tradies. Coaching the GWS Giants in the club’s first two years… was a great experience. To create the start [of the players’] careers and lives, and ending up seeing captains like Callan Ward, and also a young kid come through called Toby Greene, who’s captain of the club now, was amazing.

KEVIN SHEEDY (CENTRE) WITH GWS GIANTS PLAYERS CALLAN WARD AND PHIL DAVIS IN 2012

The return of AFL Origin is… fantastic. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m hoping that’ll build up to a wonderful game called the All-Australian Game, where the 50 best players play for All-Australian selection. trade.bunnings.com.au

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// S T A R S O

TH

E CIRCUIT //

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SPORTS CENTRAL

SUPER CAR CARE Ahead of a new championship series beginning, Aussie racing driver Bryce Fullwood shares the car care products and tips he uses to keep his whip in mint condition. BRYCE FULLWOOD WITH HIS 2025 BRAD JONES RACING CAMARO, DECKED IN ALPHATHETA LIVERY

BY LUKE DODEMAIDE

ryce Fullwood’s ‘office’ is usually a car, which often travels at roughly 290km an hour. Last year, in Bryce’s eighth season competing in the Supercars Championship tour (colloquially known as V8 Supercars) the 27-year-old had more than 160 starts, was a triple podium finisher and made a name for himself as the only guy from the Northern Territory on those V8 tracks. As a racing pro, Bryce knows a thing or two about keeping his Supercar race-ready. Car care is also top of any team’s mind on the circuit (it can reflect a team’s attention to detail, with sponsors watching particularly closely). “The old saying used to be: ‘There are two miles an hour extra in a clean car’,” Bryce says, before filling us in on his background with the Supercars. “I never worked toward being a Supercars driver. I didn’t think that was possible coming from Darwin.” This was despite living just a mere rev of an engine away from Hidden Valley Raceway, the home

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of the Darwin Triple Crown. “We didn’t live very far from the circuit,” he says. “When we didn’t get to go to the track, we could hear it from home.” After signing his first V8 contract with Matt Stone Racing in 2016, Bryce then had stints driving for Kelly Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United before landing in the Brad Jones Racing seat in 2022, and he was snug in that Camaro. In the lead-up to the Supercars gunning in hot for another adrenaline-filled season, we caught up with Bryce to get his advice for keeping your car in tip-top shape.

WHAT DO THE PROS USE TO POLISH THEIR CARS? For a durable shine that stands up to race-like conditions, Bryce says you can’t go wrong with brands like Turtle Wax or ArmorAll, which act as a barrier between your car’s

clear coat and a harsh environment. He likes Turtle Wax 1.5L Car Wash & Wax (I/N: 0627784). “The [pit] guys are all over that,” he says. These washes and waxes help shield the paint from damaging UV rays that can cause fading and oxidation.

IS IT BETTER TO WASH WITH SPONGE OR CLOTH? Turtle Wax 50cm x 50cm Premium Detailing Cloth (I/N: 0626061) is the way to go. “[The car is] washed with a cloth. We use a waterless wash,” Bryce says. The reason for this is a practical one. “The race cars aren’t exactly sealed as well as a normal road car,” Bryce explains. “They leak like a sieve.” Using a waterless wash applied with a microfibre cloth allows the crew to control the liquid, preventing water from entering sensitive mechanical areas.

THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS GENERAL IN NATURE. IT DOESN’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE’S CURRENT STATE. YOU SHOULD SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE BEFORE MAKING ANY MECHANICAL DECISIONS. ALWAYS READ DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY ON CAR CARE PRODUCTS BEFORE APPLYING TO YOUR OWN VEHICLE

PHOTOGRAPHY MARK HORSBURGH/EDGE PHOTOGRAPHICS

V8 RACER BRYCE KNOWS HOW TO HELP ANY CAR PERFORM AT ITS BEST

WHAT ABOUT PAINT MAINTENANCE?

The old saying used to be: ‘There are two miles an hour extra in a clean car’... The team uses Mothers after they paint it to polish it so it looks perfect. BRYCE FULLWOOD, SUPERCARS DRIVER

Wondering how to maintain the car’s paint job? Bryce recommends Mothers 473ml Pure Polish (I/N: 0627533). “The paint on a race car has a very hard life,” he says. “The bugs and stuff [hitting the car] are enough to chip the paint.” For everyday drivers, regular car paint maintenance with a quality polish will protect your paint from the elements. “The team uses Mothers after they paint it to polish it so it looks perfect.”

ANY TIPS FOR THE BEST ENGINE OIL? Bryce says it’s what’s under the hood that gets you over a finish line, and that starts with the right oil. “The engine oil is an important part of the engine’s life, and these engines have a difficult life,” he says. Bryce uses Nulon 5L Mineral 15W-40 High Protection Engine Oil (I/N: 0627961). A quality engine oil, like Nulon or Valvoline, is one of the most important things you can do for your car’s longevity, according to the professional driver.

FULL-THROTTLE AHEAD Whenever he’s in the hot seat, this is how Bryce Fullwood prepares to hit the track.

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3

GETTING HIS HEAD IN THE GAME

KEY FOCUSES AND COMPETITION MUST-DOS

STAYING COMPOSED BEFORE RACE TIME

“Our psychological side of things is extremely important because we’re all there to win races and only one guy can win... it doesn’t always go to plan and you’ve got to be able to bounce back the next day and put your best foot forward ready for the next one.”

“For me, the biggest thing is just making sure I stay hydrated, pumping a lot of electrolytes in because we spend a lot of time in the race car and do a lot of sweating, and it’s difficult on your body. So just staying hydrated and trying to stay cool, and have a bit of a relax before the race starts because it’s generally quite a busy weekend for us off-track as well.”

“We have an hour block-out period before a race... for me, when I was part of a team of four drivers, we all sat in the truck and we just hung out, talking some shit, to be honest, and we just tried to relax before what was probably going to be a busy afternoon.” trade.bunnings.com.au

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THE

UP Life’s too short – have a laugh and get these funnies into ya.

HANDLEBAR HERO This impressive ’stache has been eight years in the making. There’s one thing Luke Duynhoven never forgets onsite: his handy mo’ comb firmly in his pocket. With his magnificent handlebar moustache groomed to perfection, it’s hard to miss the plumber when he rolls up to work. And yes, it’s all a bit of fun for the tradie who works for South West Roofing and Garage Doors in Warrnambool, Victoria, but it’s also something Luke takes quite seriously, hence the must-have comb.

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“I’ve been growing this mo’ since I was 21,” Luke, 29, says. “I just got lazy and stopped shaving one day, and then the more it grew the more I liked it!” Years later it’s become part of Luke’s signature look, he says, something his fellow tradies and family have learned is just part of who he is and how he presents himself. “Would I ever shave it? No way. I’ve had it so long now I don’t even remember what I look like without it,” he says. And besides, he adds, even if he was tempted to do away with it, a clean upper-lip might not

go over well with his partner, Sheridan, who has joked – and he’s not sure if it really is a joke – that if the mo goes, she might leave with it. “She’s told me I’m not allowed to shave it,” he laughs, “And yeah… I don’t want to risk it!”

MO-CARE MUST-DOS

KEEP IT SHORT: “If it’s below the lip, you’ll be forever eating food with hair in it.” FOOD WARS: “Eat your sausage rolls with sauce on the bottom!” GOOD HYGIENE IS IMPORTANT: “Make sure you’re washing and oiling it every day.”

HACKS HUB

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

COMPILED BY SCOTT ELLIS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ANSWERS 1. BLUE CAP NOW ORANGE 2. WHITE SIGN ON CONCRETE WALL MISSING 3. HI-VIS ORANGE SHIRT NOW YELLOW 4. ESKY ON TABLE MISSING 5. CIRCULAR SAW MISSING

Five things have been changed in the image on the right. Can you find them all?

OVERHEARD

ONSITE

We can’t say which site, but these clangers are too good not to share. “So MDF grows on what sort of trees?”

CHOP TO IT! NAME // Brayden Meyer TRADE // Arborist and logger HAILS FROM // Broadford, Victoria SIDE HUSTLE // Brayden is a fourth-generation timbersports athlete.

ACHIEVEMENTS // Captain of the champion Australian Timbersports men’s team, aka Chopperoos. BROKEN RECORD // Current World Record holder for the fastest timbersports underhand chop by a male (11.81 seconds) on September 15, 2024 at the Australian Pro Championship. This beat his own record of 12.01 seconds in 2022 at the same event.

WHAT IS THE UNDERHAND CHOP? // Athletes stand on a horizontally positioned block and cut through a 32cm-thick trunk with their axe. The block has to be chopped from both sides.

“You keep saying six hungee… how long actually is that?” “What do you mean you used the entire 4-litre can of Builder’s Bog?” “Hang on… whose boots am I actually wearing?”

PAYRISE PLAYLIST On a quest for more cash? Cue up these classic songs to give the boss a subtle hint. • • • • • • • •

Money (That’s What I Want) by The Beatles Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More by The Wonder Stuff Money Changes Everything by Cyndi Lauper Money, Money, Money by ABBA Money by Pink Floyd She Works Hard For The Money by Donna Summer Money Talks by AC/DC Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) by Simply Red

Got something funny you want to share? Hit us up at trademag@bunnings.com.au trade.bunnings.com.au

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GARAGE FLOOR COATING KIT

HACKS HUB

The king onsite – by name and stature

MEET THE

Double trouble, double the adorable // NAME Trax and Mocha, miniature dachshunds (Trax, left, is a short-haired silver dapple, and Mocha, right, is a long-haired chocolate dapple) // HUMAN ASSISTANTS Brad and Ashley Gall (Seventeen Mile Rocks, Qld) // TIME ONSITE Trax was the first one to come along, notching up 10 years onsite, and Mocha will be coming up to nine years with BG Electrical & Air Con. // FAVOURITE RESPONSIBILITIES Snooting around the jobsite, keeping an eye on proceedings, pretending we don’t know what name certain tools are when asked to bring them to the technician, and, of course, lunch breaks. // SOCIAL COMMITMENTS Long walks along the beach, napping under the covers, and playing with stuffed toys and tennis balls. // WHEN WE HIT THE ROAD, MOCHA LIKES TO… be the passenger princess, while Trax keeps an eye on the traffic and makes sure the human assistants are driving properly. // OUR HUMAN ASSISTANTS WOULD SAY… Trax is loyal, stubborn, snuggly and the unofficial site supervisor, while Mocha is sweet, sassy and spoiled (in the best way). // TRAX’S MOST IMPRESSIVE TRAIT IS… my dedication to quality control – nothing gets past me. Mocha has the ability to look glamorous, even onsite. // ONSITE WE ARE KNOWN FOR… our very distinct roles. Trax is good at alerting everyone to the deliveries before anyone has even noticed, and Mocha’s talent is to greet clients with tail wags – stealing their hearts instantly. // THE FUNNIEST THING TRAX HAS DONE IS… sneaking into a pile of laundry and popping my head out right when everyone thought I’d gone missing.

BOSSES

Sure, you might think you’re running the show, but we all know who the real CEOs of the home and jobsite are...

Nail gun? No idea what you’re talking about // NAME Blue, kelpie x huntaway // HUMAN ASSISTANT Pat (Melbourne, Vic) // TIME ONSITE Three years as ‘The Official Greeter’ for JSG Construct. // FAVOURITE RESPONSIBILITIES Safety monitoring. If someone is doing something I think is unsafe, I’m there. // SOCIAL COMMITMENTS Playing with the other dogs and then sleeping as much as possible.

// NAME Elvis, cattle x border collie // HUMAN ASSISTANT Max (Northern Rivers region, NSW) // TIME ONSITE From a puppy, at just eight weeks old, with Hands on Carpentry and Building Pty Ltd. // FAVOURITE RESPONSIBILITIES There isn’t a patch of dirt I have found that I don’t love digging holes in. // WHEN WE HIT THE ROAD, I LIKE TO… feel the wind on my nose. There’s nothing like air in your hair. // ON A JOBSITE I AM… a food thief. Don’t get distracted because I can sniff out good tucker a mile away. // MY PARTY TRICK IS… hiding tools and materials from Max. // YOU’LL USUALLY FIND ME… sunbaking in the garden with a toy nearby. // MY PROUDEST MOMENT IS… when a client throws a ball for me – not many can resist. // THE FOOD THAT ALWAYS GETS ME OUT OF BED IS… a good old sausage roll. // MY HUMAN ASSISTANT WOULD SAY I’M… the cutest apprentice and I never answer back. // WHEN WE HIT THE ROAD, I LIKE TO… stick my head out the window and get involved with the action. // MY MOST IMPRESSIVE TRAIT IS… being a kind and caring friend; everyone needs a Blue. // ONSITE I AM KNOWN FOR… an incident I had with a nail gun. But I am saying nothing more... it’s not something I like to talk about. // THE FOOD THAT ALWAYS GETS ME OUT OF BED IS… a bone. I’m old school like that. // THE FUNNIEST THING I’VE DONE IS… stand on my back legs – the nieces and nephews love it! // PROUDEST MOMENT Completing an entire 15km dirt bike track while chasing Pat. // YOU’LL USUALLY FIND ME… out the front waiting for new people and dogs to greet.

COMPILED BY SCOTT ELLIS

REAL

Safety first. Also handy when the Calling all tradies with a pet that rules the roost! Email your pictures, along with some funny details as per our ‘site bosses’ above, to trademag@bunnings.com.au boss is on a rant. Sorry…what? trade.bunnings.com.au

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HACKS HUB

YOU HAD

JOB!

When you’re called to a site and what you find leaves you scratching your head...

“Fantastic work as always by another trade professional (who we shall not name).”

“Yep, couldn’t unblock this one. Shout out to… (you know who you are!).”

// SEAN FITZ-GERALD, WEST RYDE, NSW

// STEADY PLUMBERS, SYDNEY, NSW

“Absolute cowboys. It’s a real shame people are out there doing shoddy jobs like this. This required a full strip-out; the more you look, the worse it gets. No waterproofing – the guys did the plumbing, electrical and tiling. The base of tiles were stuck on top of other tiles, with tiles sitting higher than the waste. Unbelievable.”

// ALISTAIR BUTTERFIELD, BUTTERFIELD HOMES, CROYDON, VIC

Seen some headscratchers on a jobsite? Email pictures to us, along with a caption of what the problem is, via trademag@bunnings.com.au 66 trade.bunnings.com.au

A great finish on your deck goes back to the start. And when you start with Specrite Merbau Timber, it comes pre-oiled and ready for a finishing coat. Plus, it’s easy to install for a premium, natural look that lasts.