Plumbing Connection 3-2015

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1 4 PLUMBING CONNECTION SPRING 2015
INDUSTRY NEWS
RHEEM AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES A NEWROUND OF
APPRENTICE PLUMBER GRANTS
Rheem Australia is again extending a helping hand to
apprentice plumbers, with the company announcing a new
round of Apprentice Plumber Grants. Rheem will award 25
grants worth $1000 each to encourage some deserving
apprentice along their way.
“These apprentices are our next generation of plumbers
and we want to help them complete their training,” says
Rheem Australia CEO Matt Sexton. “There’s a significant
need for financial assistance among apprentice plumbers,
and Rheem is happy to support the plumbing industry
wherever it can.”
Since the Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants program
was launched in 2012, Rheem has given assistance to 125
apprentice plumbers from all around Australia.
“This year, we are especially looking out for apprentice
plumbers who have ambition and drive to make a real
difference in their community using their skills,” Matt
says. “Over the past few years we have seen many
applicants showing enormous dedication and continued
hard work despite often challenging circumstances.”
Previous recipients of a Rheem Apprentice Plumber
Grant include a young newlywed man who together with
his wife spends holidays volunteering in a third world
country; a teenage apprentice who had to commute a
further 60km a day to get to work after a fire and flood
destroyed the road from his property; a mother of three
who started an all-female plumbing business; a hearing
impaired apprentice who’s not letting his impairment ruin
his dream of becoming a qualified plumber; and several
ambitious apprentices planning to use their skills to bring
adequate plumbing to remote and/or disadvantaged
areas.
Twenty two-year-old Christopher Pierce from Hillside,
Victoria, was awarded one of Rheem’s Apprentice Plumber
Grants in 2012 for his admirable ambition to use his
plumbing skills to obtain a job in Antarctica - something
he is still working towards today.
“As soon as I have all of the requirements, I will keep
on applying until I get the gig,” Christopher says. “If I
wasn’t successful, I would like to work somewhere around
Australia in the mines, or even over in Canada. The fact
that I can work overseas and assist with government
research, not to mention use the facilities that I help build
would be amazing.”
Chris says the Rheem grant helped him stay on track
financially during his apprenticeship.
“My car’s transmission blew the week I received the
grant, and I really need my car to get to work,” he says.
“The grant helped me out a great deal with paying for the
repair work. I also had to get my wisdom teeth removed
around the same time, so the grant certainly kept me out
of financial strife.”
There are no restrictions placed on the grants, and
successful applicants can decide how and when they use
it.
“There are many who have used the grant to enhance
their tool collection, in addition to putting it towards
education, bills, or fuel to get to or from work,” Matt says.
Contact:
The Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants program provides
assistance to apprentice plumbers like Christopher Pierce
every year.
THERE ARE MANY WHO HAVE USED
THE GRANT TO ENHANCE THEIR TOOL
COLLECTION, IN ADDITION TO PUTTING
IT TOWARDS EDUCATION, BILLS, OR
FUEL TO GET TO OR FROMWORK