Hi I’m David, mid 50’s and married for 37 years with two girls and five grandchildren.

I started my apprenticeship in 1972, qualifying in 1978 in New Zealand.

In February 1989 my family and I moved to Australia. I worked for a building firm doing plumbing, drainage and gas in relocatable homes, accommodation and construction units.  This was mostly new work with a few repairs. I then joined a firm doing RAAF housing maintenance and renovation contracts in and around Amberley air force base in Ipswich, lot of kitchen and bathroom renovations, water main and drain replacements, roof rescrews and general repairs.  I also did work for the RAAF on-base, - mobile photographic labs and parachute cleaning facilities.                                              

I joined the Trevor Johnson Trade Services (trading as FIXZIT) in 1994 where I worked for the next 19 ¾ years where I was the senior plumber, drainer and gasfitter before they closed in December 2013.  I did a wide variety of work from gas systems and piping in new homes to replacements and upgrades of hot water systems, stoves and room heaters repairs. The replacement of taps and water piping, toilets and drains, roofs and gutters. I located faults in gas stoves and cook tops and repaired those faults. Gas tested caravans, altered, repaired and certified them. Found gas and water leaks and stopped them, stopped water hammer and cleared a lot of blocked drains, heaps. I helped rescue trapped animals and recovered lost jewellery.

I also met some of the locals – Koala’s climbing over the guttering I was working on and Magpies taking my lunch from my hands. Legless lizards in water meter boxes, snakes moving past, green ants bitting me and paper wasps stinging. All in a day’s work.

I have enjoyed the plumbing, drainage and gas work over the last 40 years, gaining knowledge and experience in the work required for repairs, replacements, renovations and upgrades. I have seen a lot of new material and ideas.

I enjoy meeting people and making friends.  I like to leave a job knowing that the problem is fixed or a solution has been offered. 

My work over the last 40 years has been varied and at times unusual.  I look forward to the next years.

 My qualifications:

Plumbing, Drainage & Gas Apprenticeship    1972-1978 NZ
NZ Tradesman’s /Craftsman’s Ticket    1978-1989 NZ
Australian Contractors License   (Plumbing Drainage & Gas)      1989-  Australia

License Endorsements:

• Backflow prevention
• Thermostatic mixing valve
• Solar and heat pump
  

David