For some people, work is simply a means of survival. A way to make ends meet, to support themselves and/or their families. For others though, it’s a passion… a reason to wake up each day. Stephen Movley falls into the latter category and has been entrenched in plumbing since he was just 15 when he was an apprentice to his father for five years from 1957. And despite being semi-retired now, he’s found himself busier than ever.

“Recently, upon reflection, I realised that I have always treated plumbing as a profession rather than just a job and from an early age I was always striving to excel in my studies and in business. I always tried my best to learn from my mentors,” Stephen says.

Born in England in 1942, Stephen migrated with his family to Western Australia at the age of eight.

“We stayed with my uncle George in Mt Lawley for six months where dad and I slept on an open veranda. Eventually my family purchased a block in Watermans Bay and we moved to rent a beach cottage next door.”

Stephen attended Hamersley Primary School where he believes he learnt his first real lesson in life.

“I learned that there was no future in being a Pommie here. I left home each day as an English lad in sandals and socks and arrived at school as a barefoot Aussie,” he laughs.

His introduction to the intricacies and importance of the role of plumbers came early as his father was one as was his uncle back in England.

“The first thing dad built on the block was a flush toilet with a septic tank as the pan toilet at the rented house was a bit crude for our English sensibilities.”

It’s fair to say that Stephen has always been driven by determination and a desire to make a difference. He attempted to jump the gun and sit his Licensed Plumber examination when having completed his training but still having two months of Indenture to run and was forced back six months by the powers that be. He passed his exams in 1963 and during the six months he had to wait to sit the exam he built a house and married his wife of 51 years, Elsie.

“I commenced my Plumbing Diploma during apprenticeship but changed to Builders Registration which I completed in 1968. Even then there was a lack of understanding about the complexities of plumbing systems within builders and I ended up a reference point in the night school classroom when plumbing was discussed.

“On completing my apprenticeship with top marks I was invited to join one of the top plumbing consultancies in Perth but declined as I was more interested in contracting. Also at that time I was invited to join the Institute of Plumbing Australia as a student member, which I accepted, and after completing my builder studies I became a full member. During this time I had also commenced representing the family business at the Master Plumbers Association.”

It’s a trait that Stephen believes is both a blessing and a curse because it can impinge on family but he admits that if he is a member of an organisation, he tends to become involved rather than just belong.

“Prior to IPA and MPA I was involved in competition motorcycling and represented my club at the state association, served as club sports secretary and was state machine examiner for motocross (called scrambles in those days). I eventually gave that away due to business management roles and a young family as I could not afford to be injured.

He started moving up the ladder in the IPA early while still a student member and has been a member of the Institute Council (National) since the early 1970s.

“I have always treated involvement with industry organisations and committees as an extension or even an intricate part of being in business. Business and industry meetings always receive the same priority in my diary.

Despite being officially retired (a term he uses loosely), Stephen still remains a key voice for the industry. His current involvements include:

-Secretary/CEO of The Institute of Plumbing Australia
-Standards Australia
-Secretary of ASFlow
-World Plumbing Council
-AHSCA WA
-MPGA WA
-Plumbing Industry Working Group
-Plumbing Industry Reference Group to Plumbers Licensing Board WA

Understanding that these positions are all voluntary quickly makes you gain an appreciation for just how much work goes into the industry behind the scenes.

“I am currently spending a great deal of time on the review of plumbing legislation in Western Australia with other concerned industry stakeholders. Unfortunately this process is likely to go the way of the failed National Occupational Licensing Scheme where bureaucrats with little or no in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of modern plumbing disregard professional advice provided by industry and regulator experts. It is of little wonder that COAG had no choice but to throw the severely compromised scheme out notwithstanding the several years of industry input.”

Speaking of industry input, Stephen admits that he is continually astounded by the sheer volume of input into plumbing standards, regulations and codes freely given by members of the wider plumbing community in pursuit of world best practice protection of public health and the environment.

“This input equates to millions of dollars, thousands of hours spent away from business and family and lost opportunities for individuals yet governments of all persuasions although pleased to grab it as proof of so called “industry consultation” yet allow their bureaucrats to massage the end product to serve their own purpose without any consideration for future risk to the community.”

Another pet hate is the continued harping on about reducing red tape.

“I am all for removing red tape that provides no or little benefit to the community but there is very little red tape within plumbing. Sure the business side has its own restrictions but they are similar to all businesses. Most States now utilise self-certification for plumbing work in some form and the red tape usually amounts to a notice of intention in some format and a completion certificate. These simple systems have been improved in some cases through electronic lodgement. Recording of matters such as backflow preventer test results and as-constructed drawings should not be seen as red tape but essential tools for maintenance of the plumbing systems.”

So how has he always found the time and nous to ‘just get things done’?

“I think that my way of operating stems from a lifetime of taking notice of interesting people and my early mentors. I guess from the early days of working in my partnership with my father taught me a lot. We had an unspoken mantra that no job was too small, too difficult, too big or too unknown.

“If I did not know something I sought instruction and learnt something new. In fact, I still learn something new every day.”