Winner and finalists announced regional Victoria’s best electrician competition

The drumroll moment has arrived to announce regional Victoria’s best electrician and the finalists who received the most votes from the audience. Who had the spark to win? Find out below.

The drumroll moment has arrived to announce regional Victoria’s best electrician and the finalists who received the most votes from the audience. Who had the spark to win? Find out below.

The drumroll moment has arrived to announce regional Victoria’s best electrician and the finalists who had the most votes from the audience.

There were almost 200 entries in this round’s competition, and the results are finally here.

Sparkies have the responsibilities and skills to install and repair electrical systems.

Part of their everyday tasks include designing, assembling, installing, testing, commissioning, inspections, maintenances and wiring.

The trade can be challenging, having long hours and potential safety risks.

Every electrician who was entered received an impressive amount of votes, and now it’s time to reveal the winner.

Who do you think had the spark to take home the crown?

See the finalists below.

FINALISTS

LACHLAN HIGHDALE: LACHLAN HIGHDALE ELECTRICAL — MILDURA

There were three sparkies with the same amount of votes in the competition, and Mildura’s Lachlan Highdale was one of them.

Mr Highdale is a well-known face in the Sunraysia community, where he has serviced the area for years.

Electrician Lachlan Highdale is a well-known face in the Sunraysia community, and is one of the finalists of the regional Victoria sparky competition. Picture: Supplied

Kathryn Mackenzie — one of Mr Highdale’s clients who entered him in the competition — said he was punctual, completed work in a timely manner and was easy to talk to.

“Always responsive — no job is too big or small nor is it ever any trouble — certainly a master of his craft!,” said another customer.

Check out Mr Highdale’s business here.

NICK WHITTLE: EAZY MATE ELECTRICAL — BENDIGO

Alongside Mr Highdale, Bendigo’s Nick Whittle from Eazy Mate Electrical has been named a finalist.

Customer Glen Wylie said Mr Whittle was friendly and easy to work with.

Nick Whittle from Eazy Mate Electrical is a friendly sparky who is easy to work with. Picture: Facebook

“He left the place nice and clean and will be using Nick for future works,” Mr Wylie said.

Eazy Mate Electrical are a passionate team of electricians who are always willing to help and be at your service.

Find out more about the business here.

PHILIP HAND: PHILIP HAND ELECTRICAL — MILDURA

Also receiving the same amount of votes is Philip Hand from Mildura.

Philip Hand Electrical is a well established company — with more than 25 years experience — servicing Mildura, Red Cliffs, Sunraysia and surrounding areas.

His business provides residential, commercial, government and solar power services.

Mildura electrician Philip Hand has built rapport with the community and has thousands of satisfied customers. Picture: Supplied

Mr Hand has been described as always being reliable, providing highly experienced electricians, very responsive and adaptable to all of his customers’ needs.

Mr Hand’s company has provided more than 500 installs and has more than 920,000 satisfied clients.

SECOND RUNNER UP

SAM ROFE: O’BRIEN ELECTRICAL & AIR CONDITIONING — BENDIGO

Placing third in the competition with a decent vote count was Sam Rofe from O'Brien Electrical and Air Conditioning in Bendigo.

Mr Rofe started work experience then went onto an apprenticeship at the same company, and is now coming up to 16 years at the business.

The 33-year-old then worked his way up into the office.

Mr Rofe said what he loved most about being a sparky were the everyday challenges and how diverse the field is.

“My favourite bit is everyday is different — you never know what the day will entail and solving a multitude of problems for our customers,” he said.

Sam Rofe from O’Brien & Air Conditioning in Bendigo has placed runner up in the sparky competition. Picture: Supplied

“It keeps you on your toes and thinking — I love going into work everyday.”

Mr Rofe said he loved training apprentices and seeing how they start out and then training them to where they end up.

“We have many long term staff that we’ve trained from scratch and now they’ve been with us 10 plus years,” he said.

“We do a lot of things with the Bendigo community through the council — such as donating back to things we haven’t been involved with — I love what we can give back to our local community and local customers.”

Mr Rofe’s favourite quote is, “I’ll make it happen” with all the challenging jobs customers have given him over the years and he has always found a solution to their problem — another part he loves most about the job.

RUNNER UP

LUKE ZWIERSEN: LZ ELECTRICAL — NYORA

Gippsland electrician Luke Zwiersen from LZ Electrical in Nyora has claimed second place.

The 26-year-old said what makes a good sparky was a worker who customers can put their trust in.

“To make them feel like they don’t have to worry once you’re there — especially with electricity,” Mr Zwiersen said.

He has been running his business for five years.

“I started the day I finished my apprenticeship,” Mr Zwiersen said.

Luke Zwiersen started his business, LZ Electrical, the day he completed his apprenticeship. Picture: Facebook

“An advice for a kid looking for an apprenticeship is they’ve got to be dedicated to the job — you’ll get the odd one who is set on being a sparky.

“When I was 16 and doing work experience, I knew that’s what I wanted to do and that’s all I was set on.”

Mr Zwiersen said he was stoked to learn about the news on being one of the finalists.

“We always try to do every job to the absolute best we can and get to everybody as quick as we can,” he said.

“(There’s been) lots of callouts for trees on lines and trees on sheds — we have to be very flexible in what we do because everyday we get something popping up that’s wrong or broken.”

FIRST PLACE

NICK ARINGO: ARINGO ELECTRICAL — BALLARAT & GEELONG

Taking home the crown of regional Victoria’s best sparky competition is business owner Nick Aringo, who received the most votes from readers.

Mr Aringo runs Aringo Electrical — a flexible, reliable and reputable company serving Ballarat, Geelong and the surrounding areas.

Whether a client requires a small wiring fix or the installation of state-of-the-art smart home, Aringo electrical can get the job done right.

Nick Aringo from Aringo Electrical that serves both the Ballarat and Geelong areas, has won regional Victoria's best electrician competition. Picture: Facebook

The 32-year-old said he was overwhelmed he had won and loved meeting people throughout his work.

“All the hard work probably goes unrecognised and now it’s recognised which is good,” Mr Aringo said.

He said one of his highlights as an electrician was working on KFC in Drysdale.

Full details of Aringo Electrical can be viewed here.

OTHER ELECTRICIANS WHO WERE NOMINATED/RECEIVED VOTES

There were dozens of other electricians nominated who also received a number of votes — see below who they were. (No particular order)

ALBURY WODONGA AREA

— DN Bishop & CO, Wodonga

— Patrick Fenaughty: ROITECH, Albury

— Shane McLellan: Engage Electrics, Albury/Wodonga

— Brayden Putland: Broadline Industrial, Wodonga

— Craig Rafferty: Raff Bro Electrical, Wodonga

— Lachlan Verbaan-Fletcher: Bj Heating and Cooling, Wodonga

BALLARAT & WEST AREA

— Whitehouse electrics PTY LTD, Ballarat

— Matt Hartigan: Hartigan Electrical, Ballarat

— Brodie Schumacher, Ballarat

— Andy Rabbits: Service Stream, Ballarat

— Nicholas Verhagen: Service Stream, Ballarat

— DMS Electrical, Ballarat

— Dan Baxter, Ballarat

— Matt Elliott: Elmat Electrical, Skipton

— Nick Briody: Effective Electrical, Ballarat

— Scott Allison: SMA Electrical, Ballarat

— Lachlan Edwards: LRE Electrical, Ballarat

— Buggzys Electrical & Split System Air Conditioning, Ballarat

— Ben: Atack Electrical, Ballarat

— Paul Lahey: Up Electric, Brown Hill

— Adam Holden, Ballarat

— Jesse Jordan: AdvancedOne Electrical, Ballarat

— Tamika Fuhrmeister: Darren Willems A1 Electrical, Ballarat

— Bob Von: Coetzee Electrical, Ballarat

— Matt Hines: MH Electrical, Ballarat

— LiveWire Electrical & Design, Ballarat

— Dylan Pearson: Elite Electrical, Ballarat

— Phillip Winter: Wintertech Electrical, Mount Egerton

— Luke Bourke: High End Electrical and Solar, Ballarat

— Liam Cullinan: LXC Electrical, Ballarat

— Steve Purtell: S.K Purtell Electrical, Daylesford

— Matt: Norstar, Ballarat

GIPPSLAND & BASS COAST AREA

— Aaron Coffey: ANTCO Solutions Electrical, Phillip Island

— Max Royal: Royal Electrical, Cowes, Phillip Island

— Josh Thompson: Thompson Electrical, Corinella

BENDIGO & NORTHWEST AREA

— Paul Lahn: Lahn Electrics, Bendigo

— Brad Hall, Bendigo

— Nic Dawson, Bendigo

— Dave Matthews: DBM Electrical, Bendigo

— Cal: BARE Automation, Bendigo

— Russell Broad: RB Electrical and Solar, Bendigo

— Cameron Hateley: Oxlong Engineering, Kangaroo Flat

— Shaun Nowell: Dearaugo & Lea Electrical, Bendigo

— Jordan Lucas: Ballarat Electrical Company, Bendigo

— Shane Byrne-Law: BL Electrical Contracting, Bendigo

— John Rohde: Bendigo Solar Services, Bendigo

— Eddie Landwehr: Landwehr Electrical, Donald

— Andy: Click Control Solar Electrical, Bendigo

GOULBURN VALLEY AREA

— Matt Collie: Collie’s Electrical

— Brady Electrical, Kyabram

— Dan Rose: Rose Electrical, Kyabram

— Tricon Electrical Group Prompt, Shepparton

— D & J Electrical, Murchison

— Matt Byers: Byers Electrical, Shepparton

MILDURA & SUNRAYSIA AREA

— Jake Hill-Ford: JAAZ Electrical, Mildura

— Frank Davoli: Davoli Electrical, Mildura

— Rodney Cetinich: Cetinich Electrical and Solar, Mildura

— Bailey Heywood, Mildura

— Brendan Kiley: Mildura Electrical & Refrigeration, Mildura

— Garip Ozer: Ozer Electrical, Mildura

— Riley Plummer: Bailey’s Electrical and Automation, Mildura

— Gaffur Celik: John Zappia Electrical, Robinvale

— Tanner: Cetinich Electrical and Solar, Mildura

— Andrew Whiteleg: ABW Electrical, Mildura

— Larry Cirillo: Cirillo Electrical, Mildura

— Connor Stone, Mildura

— Ricky Hayes, Mildura

— Enserv Electrical Contractors, Mildura

— Peter Lyon, Mildura

WARRNAMBOOL & SOUTHWEST AREA

— Cameron Stewart: McDonald Electrical, Warrnambool

— Russell Woodward, Warrnambool

THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS & VOTES

Congratulations to all our finalists and winners of the competition.

Stay tuned for the finalist announcements in the upcoming comps.

Originally published as Winner and finalists announced regional Victoria’s best electrician competition