Regional Victoria’s best plumber competition 2024: Winner and finalists revealed
Which plumber unclogs all of your problems? You voted and now it’s time to announce regional Victoria’s favourite dunny divers. Find out who took the crown.
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The audience voted, and now the results are in to crown regional Victoria’s best and favourite plumber.
Plumbers have the important responsibility of installing and maintaining pipes, tubes and water supplies, preparing cost estimates, clearing and repairing drains, repairing leaks and much more.
So which one has helped you the most in your time of need?
We organised each plumber into categories based on the areas they service across country Victoria.
Find out below who all the finalists were and who was named the winner — each candidate has been voted anonymously by our readers from previous polls.
FINALISTS
6TH PLACE — DUAL VOTES
Cameron Borserio: CC Global Plumbing — Bendigo, Marcus Arandt: DPK Mechanical Services — Bendigo, Bradley Carmes: Alderson Plumbing — Mildura and Grant Rasmussen: GPK Plumbing & Gas Fitting — Mildura.
These four plumbers all had the same amount of votes in the competition — making them all dual finalists in sixth place.
CAMERON BORSERIO: CC GLOBAL PLUMBING — BENDIGO
Cameron Borserio, from CC Global Plumbing in Bendigo, is a finalist.
Mr Borserio has been working at the company for several years and is known by friends as loving to have a chat.
MARCUS ARANDT: DPK MECHANICAL SERVICES — BENDIGO
Marcus Arandt, who is employed Bendigo’s DPK Mechanical Services, is a finalist.
BRADLEY CARMES: ALDERSON PLUMBING — MILDURA
Mildura’s Bradley Carmes from Alderson Plumbing is a finalist.
GRANT RASMUSSEN: GPK PLUMBING & GAS FITTING — MILDURA
Also a finalist in the competition is Grant Rasmussen from GPK Plumbing and Gas Fitting in Mildura.
5TH PLACE
MATTHEW HYNES: WARRNAMBOOL & DISTRICT PLUMBING
Warrnambool and District Plumbing owner and dad Matthew Hynes has placed fifth in the competition.
According to their website, Warrnambool and District Plumbing pride themselves on being a trusted “neighbourhood plumber”, delivering “top-notch” plumbing solutions with a “personal touch”.
Customer Jodie M said in a review Matthew and the team did a magnificent job on their “dream home”.
Nothing was too complicated and they listened and gave excellent advice when designing,” she said.
Customer Trish M said the team went “above and beyond” in assisting her with a water leak.
“I called and they were there within the hour. Will definitely use them again for other work. Quick and reliable,” Trish said.
4TH PLACE
MITCHELL QUIDDINGTON — BALLARAT
Ballarat man Mitchell Quiddington has come in at number four in the competition.
Not only is Mr Quiddington a plumber, he also owns “The Upper Class” clothing brand.
3RD PLACE
DOMENICO CRISERA: DWR SERVICES PTY LTD — MILDURA
Making the top three in the competition is DWR Services’ Domenico Crisera from Mildura.
Mr Crisera, who has been a plumber for eight years, said he was “pretty surprised” with the news.
“(I) just feel really privileged,” the 23-year-old said.
Mr Crisera said what he loved most about his job was the customer satisfaction.
“Just being able to help out the customers and change their day around with whatever we’re doing for them — just to see their reactions is pretty rewarding,” he said.
“To be a successful plumber, you’ve just got to have good passion, good drive and determination.
“You really just have to enjoy it at the end of the day — you’ve got to enjoy what you’re doing — it makes it a lot easier.”
Mr Crisera said with time you improve as a plumber.
His advice to other starting out or apprentices was to be confident, always ask questions and that it was okay to make mistakes.
“Never be scared to ask questions — because that’s how you’re going to eventually get better and better,” Mr Crisera said.
“I’m sure the person you’re working with will show you the right way and teach you.”
He said the challenges in the job got easier as time passed.
“They become easier to manage and overcome,” Mr Crisera said.
“As far as challenges, you come across a lot — you come across them every day really — it’s just something you can’t get overwhelmed with.
“You’ve got to just keep a clear head and ask questions from fellow plumbers if you get stuck because they’re always happy to help.
“You’ve just got to attack it with a calm mindset — and that’s the best way to get through it.”
2ND PLACE
CHRIS ATKINS: O’BRIEN ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING — BENDIGO
Receiving the second highest amount of votes and placing runner up in the competition is Bendigo’s Chris Atkins from O’Brien Electrical and Plumbing.
Mr Atkins, who has been a plumber for 13 years, said he was pleased his hard work and that his determination was noticed.
“And helping people with all plumbing problems and fixing the issues — in turn making their day better,” he said.
The 30-year-old added a successful plumber was someone who worked everyday to the best of their ability and listened to what their customers wants.
“If you can’t, explain why and how to do it with a way they are happy with,” he said.
Mr Atkins said to always listen to the tradesmen and do what they ask the as best as you can.
“Ask questions — no question in a silly question,” he said.
1ST PLACE
LIAM THOMPSON: SJB PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE — BENDIGO
Excitement has built to announce the winner of this round’s competition … and that is Liam Thompson from Bendigo’s SJB Plumbing and Drainage.
Mr Thompson racked in the most votes, making him place first.
His work, that specialises in a wide range of plumbing, has 18 years experience in the industry.
And Mr Thompson’s hard work has paid off.
OTHER PLUMBERS WHO WERE NOMINATED/RECEIVED VOTES
There were many other plumbers nominated who also received a number of votes — see below who they were. (No particular order)
ALBURY WODONGA REGION
— Gavin Cadman: Caddyshack Plumbing, Albury Wodonga
— Brendan Jones: Bj Heating & Cooling, Albury Wodonga
BALLARAT REGION
— Justin Howden: Vicurban Plumbing, Ballarat
— Rick Corbett: Corbett Hot Water Plumbing Ballarat, Ballarat
— Rod Mayne: Mayne Plumbing Services, Ballarat
— Riley Murphy: Shane Edwards Plumbing, Ballarat
— Ben Taylor: Taylor’s Tap Repairs, Ballarat
— Alyssa Lucas: Ballarat Plumbing Services, Ballarat
— Ryan Slade: Sleep’s Plumbing, Canadian
GIPPSLAND & BASS COAST REGION
— Brett Richards: Kookas Plumbing, San Remo
— Paul Storti: Storti’s Plumbing, Wonthaggi
— Ryan Taylor: Bosse Gas, Moe
— Jack Shaw: 4Shaw Plumbing, Traralgon
BENDIGO REGION
— Steve O’Keefe: O’Keefe Plumbing & Gas Pty Ltd, Bendigo
— Brian Rowley: BWR Plumbing, Bendigo
— Jayson Wilson: Wilson Plumbing, Maiden Gully/Bendigo
— Macauley Ramsay: Harrison Plumbing, Bridgewater/Bendigo
— Nathanael Stevens: NS Plumbing Pty Ltd, Castlemaine
— Adam Pavic: Pav’s Plumbing, Bendigo
GOULBURN VALLEY REGION
— Nathan Hicks, Numurkah
— Lee Whitley: Whitley Plumbing Shepparton, Shepparton
— Troy Caddy: TLC Plumbing, Goulburn Valley
— Nathan Saron: Admoor Plumbing, Mooroopna
— Nick Hand: Nicholas Hand Plumbing, Shepparton
— Timothy Scholz: Tim Scholz Plumbing, Shepparton
— Redmond Weston: Red Plumbing, Tatura
SUNRAYSIA REGION
— Gary Bramley: Gatz Plumbing and Gas Services, Mildura
— William Burford: Urban H20, Mildura
GEELONG REGION
— Tyson Norman: TJN Plumbing & Gasfitting, Geelong
— Fix It Right Plumbing, Breakwater
— John Drew Plumbing, Geelong
WARRNAMBOOL REGION
— Pat Walsh Plumber & Gasfitter, Warrnambool
— ASAP Local Plumbing, Warrnambool
THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS & VOTES
Congratulations to all the finalists and winner of the competition.
Stay tuned for the finalist announcements in the upcoming comps.
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