Whats-Building-108-December-23
December 2023 issue of Fairbrother's company newsletter.
December 2023 issue of Fairbrother's company newsletter.
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what’s<br />
ISSUE <strong>108</strong> - <strong>December</strong> 20<strong>23</strong><br />
BUILDING<br />
Build Together<br />
Teamwork and persistence tell the story<br />
behind Galkangu - Bendigo GovHub
From the CEO’s Desk<br />
Cover Story - Galkangu Bendigo GovHub<br />
A New Chapter - Farewell Clinton Mead<br />
St Aloysius Catholic College<br />
Divisional Employees of the Year<br />
Divisional Apprentices of the Year<br />
Master Builders Tasmanian Awards<br />
Report - Northern Tasmania<br />
Breaking Ground - Anne O’Byrne Demolition<br />
Report - Southern Tasmania<br />
Bethlehem House - 225 Harrington Street<br />
Report - Victoria<br />
Bendigo Food Share<br />
Fairbrother Community Contributions<br />
Master Builders National Awards<br />
Fairbrother Health and Wellbeing Program<br />
4<br />
6<br />
10<br />
12<br />
14<br />
15<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
<strong>23</strong><br />
24<br />
27<br />
28<br />
Cover Image: Galkangu Bendigo GovHub<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 2<br />
Devonport Waterfront Hotel<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER<br />
20<strong>23</strong><br />
20<strong>23</strong><br />
MBA<br />
|<br />
National<br />
Page 3<br />
Award for Excellence $20m to $50m
Welcome to the <strong>December</strong> 20<strong>23</strong> What’s <strong>Building</strong><br />
newsletter, hard to believe that we’re at the end of<br />
another year! And what a year it’s been, we’ve once<br />
again managed to accumulate some great highlights and<br />
achievements.<br />
As the year progressed, we successfully completed a<br />
number of our challenging pandemic affected projects<br />
– notably Galkangu Bendigo GovHub, The Elliott<br />
Apartments, UTAS River’s Edge, Edgarley Aged Care and<br />
Middleton Prison. These projects are great examples of<br />
the hard work, dedication and perseverance our people<br />
continually display in delivering high quality projects for<br />
our clients.<br />
Another great example is the Devonport Waterfront<br />
Hotel which recently won the MBA National Award<br />
for Excellence $20m-$50m category. We commenced<br />
the project in early 2020 just before the on-set of<br />
the pandemic; we experienced all the well published<br />
issues with escalation, material availability and border<br />
closures – it was a tough project, there’s no doubt about<br />
that. But despite these challenges, one thing that we<br />
were absolutely determined to do was deliver a topquality<br />
project that we’re all very proud of. That’s what<br />
we did. We’ve delivered a high quality, national awardwinning<br />
hotel that sits as a landmark for our hometown of<br />
Devonport, Tasmania – and we’re pretty proud of it.<br />
This is typical of the work and attitude I see from all our<br />
people when visiting our various projects – a genuine<br />
commitment to achieving excellence!<br />
On the non-project front, we’ve made good ground with a<br />
number of strategic initiatives:<br />
• We launched our Graduate Program earlier in the year<br />
with four inaugural graduates entering the program.<br />
We are about to enter our second year and are<br />
working to provide an opportunity for another cohort<br />
of graduates to join our team.<br />
• We’ve progressed with plans to redevelop our facility<br />
at 12 Stony Rise Road in Devonport. This site hosts<br />
around 45 office staff catering for Corporate/Admin,<br />
Business Support Services, North West Construction,<br />
FM, Developments and Joinery, along with our joinery<br />
workshop that is home to another 35 employees.<br />
We have submitted a Development Application with<br />
the Devonport City Council and are due to receive a<br />
planning permit in the new year.<br />
From the<br />
CEO’S DESK<br />
• We have now<br />
also established<br />
a new office in<br />
the North West<br />
Melbourne region.<br />
This is in<br />
alignment with<br />
our Strategic Plan<br />
for the 20<strong>23</strong>/2024<br />
Financial Year, we<br />
have achieved<br />
the significant<br />
milestone with<br />
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER<br />
KURT ARNOLD<br />
the establishment of our newest office at Level 1, 155<br />
Roden Street, West Melbourne.<br />
• Activity within Fairbrother Developments is<br />
building good momentum with a string of planned<br />
developments that includes North Terrace Visitor<br />
Accommodation and three warehouses in Cambridge.<br />
The year has also seen us farewell one of our icons,<br />
Clinton Mead from our Southern Construction division<br />
retired in September after 28 years of service. Clinton has<br />
been an instrumental member of the Hobart team, his<br />
ability to visualise and describe construction methodology<br />
was as good as anyone I’ve seen. His knowledge,<br />
experience and mentorship will be missed. We wish<br />
Clinton all the best as he and partner Tanya enter their<br />
next chapter.<br />
Since our last newsletter, we’ve celebrated a number of<br />
employee years of service milestones - Gary Seabourne,<br />
one of our Hobart based Joiners has achieved 10 years.<br />
Callum Rolls from North West Construction, and Rod<br />
Bennett from Southern Construction have both hit the<br />
15 year milestone. We have Mick Worker from Southern<br />
Construction who has accumulated 20 years. Joining our<br />
25 Year Club is one of our Facility Management stalwarts<br />
in Mick Conceicao from Devonport. And hitting the<br />
significant 30 Years of Service is John Ellis, based in the<br />
Geelong Region. Congratulations on your achievements<br />
and thank you for your commitment to the company.<br />
In this newsletter edition, we announce our Divisional<br />
Employee and Apprentice of the Year award winners<br />
for 20<strong>23</strong>. These awards are recognition for standout<br />
performance and high achievement. All winners are listed<br />
on Pages 14-15. Congratulations and well done to our<br />
winners who will now be in the running for the overall<br />
Fairbrother Employee and Apprentice of the Year Awards<br />
to be announced in our first newsletter of 2024.<br />
Looking to 2024, the future is as bright as it’s been for a<br />
long time. Our divisional workloads across both Tasmania<br />
and Victoria are in a healthy, manageable position, and<br />
we’re certainly working on some pretty exciting and<br />
interesting projects right across the company. On top<br />
of this, the initiatives we have unfolding in relation to<br />
North West Melbourne, the redevelopment of 12 Stony<br />
Rise Road Devonport and our Fairbrother Developments<br />
projects are setting us up for another exciting year ahead!<br />
As always, thank you to everyone for your support and<br />
commitment over this past year. Wishing you and your<br />
family a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.<br />
UTAS River’s Edge<br />
Construction North<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 4<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 5
<strong>Building</strong> Together<br />
Galkangu Bendigo GovHub<br />
“The name Galkangu<br />
(gull-kang-gooh) is a<br />
Dja Dja Wurrung word<br />
meaning: ‘Build together,<br />
we make together, make<br />
things happen together, more<br />
connected to country.’”<br />
20<strong>23</strong> saw the completion of a number of<br />
Fairbrother’s ‘legacy’ projects – those which had<br />
commenced during the challenges of the COVID-19<br />
pandemic. This included Galkangu, the new GovHub<br />
building in Bendigo. The $105 million construction<br />
contract, a joint venture with Icon ST (Aust), had<br />
initially been awarded in <strong>December</strong> 2020 after<br />
Fairbrother had completed early works on the site.<br />
The initial demolition during stage 1 included<br />
safe removal of asbestos from previous services<br />
and a five-month pause in work as over 100,000<br />
archaeological artefacts were discovered and located,<br />
as well as building infrastructure that dated back to<br />
the 1860s. Upon completion of the archaeological<br />
dig, more than 12,000m3 of structural fill was<br />
imported to site to provide the foundation for the<br />
grand new building.<br />
The design process was conducted under significant<br />
consultation with local traditional owners, the Dja Dja<br />
Wurrung, and incorporated artwork, language, and<br />
cultural features across the project.<br />
“There were a lot of hours spent on design<br />
coordination and collaboration with DJAARA (Dja<br />
Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation),” said<br />
Ben Millar, Project Manager. “We probably picked<br />
six or seven of the ideas and took them through to<br />
completion, one of them being the façade artwork.”<br />
The external artwork, created by Natasha Carter,<br />
depicts ‘giramal’ meaning shield, and ‘buri-gutang<br />
djaa’ which means journey, or travel across country<br />
representing the values of respect, recognition,<br />
reconciliation and self-determination.<br />
At 13,000m2, Galkangu consolidates government<br />
services, housing up to 1,000 workers from the City<br />
of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government. A<br />
central hub to provide a unified customer experience<br />
and public sector presence, the facility plays host to<br />
nine local and state government agencies.<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 6<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 7
Galkangu (Bendigo GovHub) (continued)<br />
The project required some pioneering in construction,<br />
being a hybrid mass timber building, with limited<br />
examples of its kind in Australia. Many of the construction<br />
processes needed to be proven as part of the project<br />
as there were no existing guidelines in the National<br />
Construction Code or Australian <strong>Building</strong> Code for mass<br />
timber.<br />
“You’re not using a precedent that’s already been set,”<br />
Ben said. “Which is 95% of our work in construction –<br />
doing something that someone else has done before. We<br />
really had to reinvent the wheel and get things tested, or<br />
get independent assessments made on whether things<br />
worked or not.<br />
So, on a typical project, you’re using details that have<br />
been done plenty of times before whereas on this one we<br />
really had to demonstrate that something worked which<br />
had never been done before.”<br />
The unique shapes and design of the building resulted<br />
in 39 different timber connection types, each of which<br />
needed to be assessed and tested. A total of six fire tests<br />
were held across the course of the project, during which<br />
each of the 39 types were assessed.<br />
An additional unique aspect of the mass timber<br />
construction was the ability to use local timber for the<br />
project. Many of the earlier mass timber constructions in<br />
Victoria have been built using timber from Europe. For this<br />
project, the hardwood used in the beams and columns<br />
came from Heyfield, Victoria, while the pine floor plates<br />
were sourced from Wodonga.<br />
Supply chain concerns, especially for an innovative and<br />
unique project like GovHub had their impact throughout<br />
the process as well. Impacted again by the lack of mass<br />
timber construction previously completed in Australia<br />
meaning that multiple European suppliers needed to be<br />
used to pull together the quantity of fixings that were<br />
required for a project of this magnitude.<br />
“We just couldn’t get the quantity that we needed for the<br />
building,” said Ben. “So we ended up needing to split that<br />
into a couple of different suppliers. We got some plates<br />
and other connection material made locally to offset that,<br />
but it was a challenge, getting all of that when we needed<br />
it.<br />
“In ten years’ time I’m sure there’ll be 50 different<br />
suppliers of screws,” he added. “At the moment though,<br />
there’s two or three that are proven and have all the<br />
science behind their fixings so we were pretty restricted in<br />
what we could use.”<br />
On top of the challenges that came with building what is,<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 8<br />
effectively, a new type of construction in the Australian<br />
market, was the fact that the project was impacted by the<br />
COVID-19 pandemic. At its peak, there were close to 250<br />
workers on site, and with restrictions on movement and<br />
travel limiting the ability to bring additional labour from<br />
Melbourne.<br />
“We probably were fortunate with when the peaks<br />
happened that we didn’t have full numbers on site,” Ben<br />
said. “We experienced a couple of peaks when we were<br />
still doing groundworks, and probably had 20 on site so we<br />
were able to make it work during that period of time.”<br />
Initially scoped to be built with a 5-star green rating, a<br />
variation saw the goal pushed to achieve 6-star rating,<br />
which was achieved for the design and, at the time<br />
of writing, is in progress for recognition for the final<br />
construction. Some aspects of the project beyond the<br />
timber framing that have been used to achieve these<br />
sustainability goals include solar panel installation, water<br />
and energy monitoring systems and efficient indoor airquality<br />
systems.<br />
Another unique aspect of the project is the creation of<br />
a mobile app that will provide additional insights into<br />
the building and the land on which it stands, particularly<br />
in regard to the connection to country and indigenous<br />
culture. Stories, videos, and other content including<br />
language lessons will provide visitors to the building with<br />
a fresh understanding of the history and heritage of this<br />
significant Bendigo structure.<br />
Fairbrother’s connection to this building goes beyond the<br />
surface, with the majority of the workforce being Bendigo<br />
locals, and a lot of the joinery and carpentry work on site<br />
being performed by Fairbrother’s tradespeople.<br />
“I grew up in Bendigo, and most of the team – certainly all<br />
the Fairbrother people – were Bendigo locals,” said Ben.<br />
“We had a couple of good walkthroughs at the end where<br />
people were able to bring their families and kids to see<br />
where they’d been working.<br />
“There’s 1,000 people who are going to work in that<br />
building, so most of the people who worked on the<br />
project know someone who will be moving into it, or work<br />
in it in future.”<br />
The project’s success in overcoming pandemic restrictions,<br />
weather challenges, shortages, complex fire testing,<br />
and design changes is testament to the entire team’s<br />
dedication and expertise. Galkangu is a new, significant<br />
landmark in Bendigo and noteworthy for its sustainability<br />
and connection to country and the community.<br />
CLIENT: Developments Victoria<br />
ARCHITECT: Lyons<br />
PROJECT MANAGER: Ben Millar<br />
SENIOR SITE MANAGER: John McInerney<br />
PHOTOS: Ned Meldrum<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 9
When Fairbrother made the decision to set up an office in<br />
Hobart, Clinton Mead was one of the first to raise his hand<br />
and join Peter Killick in establishing a company presence in<br />
the south of Tasmania.<br />
The first project for the new southern Fairbrother division<br />
was Loughrans at Rosny in 1993, which subsequently<br />
became Harvey Norman. Clinton spent several years<br />
helping Fairbrother build and solidify a reputation for the<br />
southern division before heading overseas for a period.<br />
Returning in late 1998 and joining the Elizabeth Street<br />
Pier project, Clinton’s abilities were quickly recognised,<br />
and he stepped up to the role of Leading Hand working on<br />
the Hutchins School in Sandy Bay and the Silo Apartments<br />
in Salamanca; Foreman for Gibsons Mill Apartments<br />
and Zero Davey, and then Site Manager for a number of<br />
projects at Moorilla Estate – now much better known as<br />
MONA.<br />
“Zero Davey, that was a pretty challenging build in itself,”<br />
Clinton says. “But then you walk along Elizabeth Street<br />
Pier, Brooke Street Pier, Princess Street Pier, over to the<br />
Silos and Gibsons, just in that one small area there’s been<br />
a lot going on.”<br />
It wasn’t just central Hobart that Clinton saw the<br />
reshaping of the landscape, being Site Manager for the<br />
upgrades in and around Eastlands from 2005-2007,<br />
including the Village Cinemas. His involvement also<br />
Farewell Clinton<br />
A NEW CHAPTER<br />
included a number of other city-shaping projects for<br />
Hobart such as the UTAS Medical Sciences buildings,<br />
IMAS, Royal Hobart Hospital and NRAS in Liverpool Street<br />
– which was Fairbrother’s largest tendered project at the<br />
time.<br />
“Once we built the cinema, as my daughter came along,<br />
it was nice, we’d go over there and take her to the<br />
cinema and be able to say, ‘Dad built this one,’” Clinton<br />
reminisces. “That’s always been an enjoyable part of our<br />
work and what we can do, when you’re sharing with your<br />
family that this is what we built and it’s going to be there<br />
for a long time.”<br />
Clinton played his part in the development of one of<br />
Tasmania’s most famed tourist attractions, having been<br />
Site Manager for a number of early Moorilla (now MONA)<br />
projects, and continuing that relationship as he stepped<br />
up into the role of Project Manager.<br />
Things didn’t always go to plan, and Clinton recalls a<br />
challenge as they were reaching completion on The Source<br />
Restaurant. The large John Olsen painting that had been<br />
done for the ceiling of the building wouldn’t fit.<br />
“We hadn’t been able to get to the artwork itself … and do<br />
a physical measure check,” Clinton recalls. “Then we went<br />
to put it up in this area and it wouldn’t bloody fit!”<br />
All this was happening while trying to get the building<br />
ready in time for a wedding.<br />
“Dave was sitting out on<br />
the lawns, and we were<br />
frantically getting ready<br />
for that, and I went out<br />
there to the grass and<br />
said to him, ‘Look, I’m<br />
sorry, but the painting<br />
won’t fit up in the<br />
space. I can’t put it up<br />
now, but we’ll be able<br />
to fix it up and put it up<br />
later on.’“ he said.<br />
It was building that<br />
relationship with<br />
prominent Tasmanian,<br />
David Walsh, that<br />
Clinton believes helped<br />
with ongoing work at<br />
MONA.<br />
“They are spectacular architectural buildings,” Clinton<br />
says. “They’re phenomenal, and we’re just lucky to have<br />
been involved.”<br />
For all the large projects that he’s worked on, one smaller<br />
project stands out most for Clinton; working in the Gumatj<br />
indigenous community in the Northern Territory to build a<br />
couple of houses.<br />
“That was really rewarding to do something hands-on with<br />
those boys,” he says. “I remember seeing a thing one of<br />
the boys made; he just jigsawed out a little car from a bit<br />
of ply to give to one of his kids. He was as proud as punch,<br />
you know, that he had made this simple little thing to give<br />
to his kids.”<br />
For all the accolades, and all the projects that Clinton<br />
has been a part of, Clinton always brings it back to the<br />
people around him. In the last few years of his career he<br />
has taken on more of a mentorship role, imparting his<br />
knowledge and skills to the next generation.<br />
“I’ve had that chance to see so many of these guys come<br />
through, right from the beginnings of their careers to<br />
where they’re at now.<br />
“I’ve been very lucky to have good people around me the<br />
whole time. The reality is, if you’re happy working with<br />
the people you’re working with, that’s 90% done. I’ve<br />
always had good managers managing me, and I’ve had<br />
good people around me that I’ve been managing.”<br />
So what’s next?<br />
“When I say I retired, I haven’t,” he says. “Just stepping<br />
into the next chapter.”<br />
It’s a chapter that looks quite pleasant, too. Clinton and<br />
his partner, Tanya, have a 20-acre property on the Tasman<br />
Peninsula where they are now able to follow his other<br />
passion: wine.<br />
“At the moment we’ve got a pinot and a rosé, but I’m<br />
going to do a sparkling as well,” Clinton says. “That’s in<br />
bottles now, but it’s still two years away.”<br />
We wish you all the best with that venture, Clinton, and<br />
we’re looking forward to tasting the results!<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 10<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 11
From Call Centre to Curriculum<br />
ST ALOYSIUS<br />
CATHOLIC COLLEGE<br />
CLIENT: Catholic Education Tasmania<br />
ARCHITECT: MANA / Playstreet<br />
PROJECT MANAGER: Luke Wardlaw<br />
SITE MANAGER: Adrian De Jong<br />
PHOTOS: Josh Mitchell<br />
Converting a former call centre into a school campus was<br />
an unorthodox challenge, but one that was embraced<br />
by the Fairbrother team. The $20 million redevelopment<br />
included an almost complete demolition of the internal<br />
structures of the building, as well as making use of the<br />
10,000m2 car park to provide external facilities for the<br />
students.<br />
The ‘cold-shell’ fit-out, following the internal demolition,<br />
included replacing the existing computer floor system<br />
with a new timber subfloor that would accommodate the<br />
building’s new educational use.<br />
More than 12 tonnes of material were recycled during<br />
the demolition phase of the project, including a<br />
significant amount of copper from existing cabling. With<br />
sustainability at front of mind, much of the mechanical<br />
services – whilst being reworked to suit the new floor<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 12<br />
layout – was able to be reused in the new building.<br />
“An interesting feature of this project is that all the<br />
services run sub-floor rather than overhead,” Site<br />
Manager, Adrian De Jong said. “All the electrical and<br />
mechanical services come up as needed to feed the new<br />
classrooms and spaces.”<br />
The innovative usage allows the building to maintain some<br />
of the original aesthetics, including the feature paneling<br />
that segments the building into thirds and the vaulted<br />
ceilings and windows overhead.<br />
The revamped building has 24 classrooms, a large<br />
gathering communal space, kitchen areas for students,<br />
library, and a basement gymnasium and change rooms. In<br />
addition, science labs, digital media spaces, flexible and<br />
breakout learning spaces and separate staffing areas give<br />
the facility a completely new lease on life.<br />
“Our team got to work transforming the central area of<br />
the building into the school’s main gathering space,” said<br />
Project Manager Luke Wardlaw. “The feature ply seating<br />
bleachers and state of the art audio-visual system makes<br />
it a unique area that can be used communally for students<br />
but also as a learning space when required.”<br />
It’s not just the internal spaces that have been<br />
revolutionised as part of this project. A 10,000m2 car<br />
park meant a significant external landscaping project was<br />
required to make effective use of the area and provide a<br />
quality environment for students to both learn and play.<br />
The external landscape includes a number of unique<br />
aspects, including a geology space made up of sandstone<br />
pillars, dolerite boulders, and sliced quartz to provide<br />
insights into the way different stones form. More<br />
traditional aspects, including a small all-weather oval<br />
and undercover basketball courts provide for physical<br />
activity, and the foresight that activities in the area will<br />
likely include skateboarding saw the fronts of the concrete<br />
bleachers covered in metal to facilitate this.<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 13<br />
Internally and externally, what was once a busy corporate<br />
space has been transformed into a learning facility that<br />
will see future generations of Tasmanian students grow.<br />
“It’s amazing,” said Adam Martin, Manager of Facilities<br />
for Catholic Education Tasmania. “They’ve done a really<br />
fantastic job of detailing a series of education spaces<br />
which are going to hold the college strong moving<br />
forward. We can’t be happier as a client to have had<br />
that collaboration with Fairbrother … everyone’s been a<br />
massive contributor to this exceptional outcome.”<br />
In just twelve months, the Fairbrother team has converted<br />
an old, closed call centre into a modern facility that<br />
incorporates the technological advances of today’s<br />
learning environments.<br />
“I’m really proud of how the team rose to the challenge,”<br />
said Luke. “This project provides a warm and welcoming<br />
space for students to learn, socialise, relax, and exercise.<br />
Everyone involved has done an incredible job.”
Fairbrother Divisional<br />
EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR<br />
Southern Tasmania<br />
Josh Arnold<br />
Josh has had a great year having found his stride<br />
successfully leading and delivering Sorell Emergency<br />
Services Hub, and then flowing straight into guiding<br />
Brighton High School into a promising start. He<br />
communicates clearly and effectively with his team and<br />
subcontractors, leading to a positive and productive work<br />
environment. Nothing is ever an issue with the focus<br />
always on the job at hand. Josh is a great leader and well<br />
deserving recipient of this year’s Employee of the Year,<br />
well done.<br />
Corporate Services<br />
Bree Woods<br />
Bree has fully embraced her new role with enthusiasm<br />
and energy. Nothing is a problem for her, and she has<br />
demonstrated a keen willingness to learn and grow.<br />
Bree has proven herself to be a great trainer and mentor,<br />
having onboarded and supported both Rachel Stoker<br />
and Jaime McGregor. Both have benefitted from Bree’s<br />
knowledge, skill and guidance.<br />
To top this off, Bree provides valuable backup support to<br />
Jaime in Reception. All of this is done with a smile and<br />
cheerful demeanour.<br />
Northern Tasmania<br />
Kurtis Tuck<br />
Kurtis Tuck has been the standout nominee for the award<br />
this year, with outstanding efforts, beginning with UTAS<br />
River’s Edge, before moving on to UTAS Willis Street and<br />
Bothwell.<br />
Kurtis is an excellent communicator and builds rapport<br />
with his peers, subcontractors, consultants, and clients<br />
alike. His growth as a leading hand - and now foreman<br />
- over the last 12 months has been pleasing to watch.<br />
At only 24 years old Kurtis shows great leadership and<br />
potential for the future. Kurtis is an excellent role model<br />
for all employees with a can-do attitude and willingness<br />
to work.<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 14<br />
Northwest Tasmania<br />
Seth McGregor<br />
Seth has come leaps and bounds over the last 12 months<br />
while working on UTAS Willis St for both North & North<br />
West divisions. Seth’s commitment and willingness to<br />
learn and take on any task is fantastic to see.<br />
Seth has become a key member in the delivery team<br />
and has earnt respect from his peers with his hard work<br />
ethic and dedication. Seth certainly has a bright future<br />
ahead of him and will continue to be a valuable member<br />
of our Fairbrother team. I look forward to his continued<br />
development over the years to come.<br />
Joinery<br />
Scott Cole<br />
Scott’s exceptional performance throughout the year<br />
is evident, particularly in his role on River’s Edge and<br />
continuing into Willis Street. His successful management<br />
of this large-scale and high-end architectural Joinery<br />
showcases his ability to handle unique and challenging<br />
projects with a can-do attitude.<br />
UTAS River’s Edge stands out as one of Joinery’s most<br />
unique and challenging projects. Scott’s dedication,<br />
paired with his exceptional skillset makes him the ideal<br />
candidate for this award within the Joinery division.<br />
Facility Management<br />
Kory Eastwood<br />
Kory is a highly respected and skilled member of the<br />
Facility Management team based in Devonport. Since<br />
joining the FM team, after a period in Western Australia,<br />
Kory has undertaken a wide range of jobs with his “can<br />
-do”, no fuss attitude. We are able to delegate Kory a job<br />
of any type, and we know that he will do what he needs<br />
to do to get the job done. He is able to quickly establish<br />
relationships with both clients and sub-contractors,<br />
ensuring the best out come for all involved.<br />
Victoria<br />
Mehran Mohiuddin<br />
Mehran joined Fairbrother in 2019 and his individual<br />
development has been fantastic. His methodical<br />
process is exemplary, and his continual Click! ongoing<br />
system development assists the business in modern<br />
contemporary Estimating practices. Well done Mehran!<br />
Fairbrother Divisional<br />
APPRENTICES OF THE YEAR<br />
Southern Tasmania<br />
Cameron Direen<br />
Cameron’s work ethic, combined with his excellent<br />
can-do attitude and willingness to go beyond to meet<br />
project requirements is second to none. Cameron works<br />
well in a team environment and alone, he will take on<br />
and apply himself to any task given to him without fuss.<br />
Cameron is very reliable and is highly regarded from<br />
the entire southern team. Always conducting himself<br />
in a professional manner and with pride he represents<br />
Fairbrother well at work and training. Apprentice of<br />
the year is a warranted recognition of your hard work,<br />
congratulations on a fantastic year.<br />
North West Tasmania<br />
Toby Bailey<br />
Toby has an outstanding work ethic with a no fuss<br />
attitude. Toby is always focused on delivering a high<br />
quality standard of work and is proud of the work he<br />
produces. No matter the task being provided to Toby he<br />
has a can-do attitude and performs the task in a timely<br />
matter with great precision. Toby continues to impress<br />
his direct site managers and senior management. Toby is<br />
already on track to become a top-quality tradesman and<br />
will make a great mentor for his peers in the future. Well<br />
done Toby.<br />
Years of<br />
SERVICE<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 15<br />
Northern Tasmania<br />
Lincoln Wallis<br />
This year, there is no doubt in my or anyone in the<br />
Launceston divisions mind that Lincoln has been a stand<br />
out apprentice for 20<strong>23</strong>. He has been undertaking tasks<br />
that are normally reserved for skilled tradesman and the<br />
way he has grabbed these opportunities and delivered an<br />
spectacular end result needs to be recognised.<br />
Lincoln has shown a great deal of initiative and<br />
drive towards his work. A consistent high output of<br />
productivity, matched with a quiet mature and level<br />
headed work attitude sees him as a very fitting recipient<br />
of the Northern Construction Apprentice of The Year<br />
award. Lincoln has displayed leadership qualities amongst<br />
his peers and continues to impress not only his direct<br />
supervisors but also senior management.<br />
Joinery<br />
Jaymin Speight<br />
Jaymin’s skill set and maturity level exceed the typical<br />
benchmarks for an apprentice, particularly proven in<br />
his exceptional finesse with Architectural Joinery. His<br />
dedication is second to none, whenever a task needs<br />
completing, you can rely on Jaymin to stay back and help<br />
the team in finishing it. Jaymin’s roles on Rivers Edge not<br />
only demonstrated his ability but also highlighted his<br />
outstanding craftsmanship. These qualities pose Jaymin<br />
as the perfect candidate for the Joinery Apprentice of the<br />
Year award within the division.<br />
10 years 15 years 20 years 25 years 30 years<br />
Gary Seabourne<br />
Callum Rolls<br />
Rod Bennett<br />
Mick Worker Mick Conceicao John Ellis
CHRISTMAS<br />
CLOSURES<br />
Our offices will be closed over the<br />
Christmas period as all employees<br />
enjoy a well-earned break.<br />
• Construction sites will finish work on<br />
Wednesday 20 <strong>December</strong>.<br />
• Offices will close on Thursday 21<br />
<strong>December</strong>.<br />
All sites will reopen on Monday 8<br />
January 2024.<br />
To everyone at Fairbrother, our<br />
business partners, subcontractors,<br />
consultants, clients, and more, we<br />
wish you a very happy holiday<br />
season.<br />
Safe travels and we look forward to<br />
seeing you in the new year!<br />
39 Frankland Street<br />
MASTER BUILDERS TAS AWARDS<br />
In August, Fairbrother received four awards for excellence<br />
from the Master Builders Association of Tasmania.<br />
• Devonport Waterfront Hotel<br />
(New Construction $20-$50 million)<br />
• Friends WN Oats Centre<br />
(Renovation / Fit-out $1-$5 million)<br />
• Friends School Redevelopment<br />
(Education Facility)<br />
• 39 Frankland Street Launceston<br />
(Renovation / Fit-out over $10 million)<br />
Congratulations to everyone on a successful year!<br />
Friends WN Oats Centre<br />
Friends School Redevelopment<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 16<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 17
GENERAL MANAGER<br />
NORTHERN TASMANIA<br />
MARCUS PERKINS<br />
It is rewarding reflecting<br />
on what has been<br />
achieved over the last<br />
12 months as we round<br />
out the 20<strong>23</strong> year. We<br />
have seen a multitude<br />
of projects successfully<br />
completed, new projects<br />
secured with a good<br />
variety of size and<br />
complexity, and strong<br />
workloads moving into<br />
the new year. This is a positive position to be in and we<br />
are extremely proud of the efforts our people have made<br />
to put us in this position.<br />
Construction North West has continued with the current<br />
range of mid-scale projects and has seen the successful<br />
completion of Statewide Independent Wholesalers<br />
Awning, Rural Medical School, Fairlands Drive (Alpha<br />
Electrics), Bothwell District School and The Makers<br />
Workshop.<br />
Mersey Community Hospital Outpatients Clinic and<br />
Operating Theatres continues at a rapid pace. The roof<br />
of the main building, E Block, has now been installed. To<br />
have this space watertight is a significant milestone as<br />
service trades and plastering continue to make strong<br />
progress in each of the three levels of E Block.<br />
C Block level one is now painted, joinery is installed,<br />
and vinyl commenced, along with service trades now<br />
commencing fit-off works that will continue through<br />
into the new year. C block ground floor is programmed<br />
to continue, following the completion of level 1. This<br />
project continues for the whole of 2024 with minor stages<br />
following the main build.<br />
Progress at Wynyard Machine Centre has accelerated<br />
rapidly through the month of October and November. All<br />
A rewarding year<br />
NORTHERN TASMANIA<br />
Find us on social media<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 18<br />
main floors slabs and structure are now complete, and the<br />
roof and cladding package is nearing completion. Service<br />
trades are progressing well internally with rough in and<br />
fit off taking place. The machine centre pit continues to<br />
progress well with the last pour scheduled for the first<br />
week of <strong>December</strong>. The focus will then be on stripping<br />
all remaining formwork from the machine pit and casting<br />
in the machine base hold down bolts. Coating of the<br />
machine pit will then take place over the Christmas<br />
period.<br />
North Terrace is progressing well with structure seeing all<br />
the Level 2 floor slabs and Level 3 pour one now complete.<br />
The target is for completion of the main structure in<br />
readiness for the Christmas break. Internal wall framing<br />
and service rough in have commenced on the ground<br />
floor.<br />
Construction North again sees its primary focus on the<br />
delivery of UTAS Willis Street and St Luke’s Health. We<br />
have also secured the demolition package of the Anne<br />
O’Byrne building, adjacent to the Launceston General<br />
Hospital.<br />
UTAS Willis Street is continuing rapidly. Externally, the<br />
façade glazing, and aluminium sunshades are complete,<br />
and the lightweight cladding package is now well<br />
advanced. The atrium scaffold has been removed from<br />
the inside, which is a major milestone and has completely<br />
changed the feel of the building. Joinery, painting, service<br />
fit off and floor finishes are all progress at various stages<br />
across Levels 1, 2 and 3. The remaining existing building<br />
has now been demolished allowing civil works and hard<br />
landscaping to commence.<br />
St Luke’s Health has achieved some major milestones over<br />
the last few months, with the roof now installed, façade<br />
complete and the tower crane removed. Internally, the<br />
central core wet areas on each floor are progressing well,<br />
Click!<br />
along with services through the common areas. The raised<br />
floor commenced in mid-November and is now nearing<br />
completion, which has changed the look and feel of the<br />
building. The newly introduced fit out packages will see<br />
the project continue through until mid-next year.<br />
Our Joinery division remains at capacity, with a full<br />
workload well into the new year. Work for UTAS Willis<br />
Street is in full swing with wall linings and fixed joinery<br />
now being installed on all levels. This project has a large<br />
amount of detail and has been very time consuming for<br />
our drafting team to pull together. St Luke’s Health is<br />
Fairbrother has secured a pivotal project with the<br />
Department of Health, with the Department entrusting<br />
Fairbrother with the responsibility of clearing the path<br />
for a new development that will see the emergence of a<br />
modern healthcare facility.<br />
The project involves the demolition of three mid-1900s<br />
red brick and concrete buildings. The Old Laundry and<br />
Store <strong>Building</strong>, spanning approximately 2000m², along<br />
with The Boiler House, covering around 560m², will<br />
make way for the future. Simultaneously, the Anne<br />
O’Byrne <strong>Building</strong>, a substantial structure with four floors<br />
totalling 770m² each, holds a prominent place in the<br />
transformation.<br />
Fairbrother’s scope of work encompasses a range<br />
of technical challenges, emphasising the company’s<br />
proficiency in handling complex projects. The meticulous<br />
Breaking Ground<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 19<br />
progressing well but has slowed with the introduction<br />
of the fit-out packages that need to be coordinated with<br />
the consolidated scope. We have seen the completion<br />
of Alpha Electrics and the Makers Workshop, while work<br />
continues at the Mersey Community Hospital which runs<br />
late into 2024. In Hobart, 225 Harrington Street and St<br />
Aloysius are complete, Sorell High is progressing well, as is<br />
the Master Builders and Castray Apartments.<br />
Once again, thank you to all our employees for the efforts<br />
made over the past 12 months and we wish you a safe and<br />
Merry Christmas.<br />
Bethlehem House (225 Harrington St)<br />
Joinery<br />
ANNE O’BYRNE DEMOLITION<br />
planning involves statutory preparations, comprehensive<br />
traffic management strategies, and the formulation of<br />
temporary works designs to ensure a seamless execution.<br />
Given the nature of the buildings slated for demolition,<br />
asbestos removal is a critical component of the operation,<br />
demonstrating Fairbrother’s commitment to safety and<br />
compliance.<br />
The demolition process will involve lightweight stripping,<br />
precision in isolating and making safe existing services,<br />
and a thorough cleanup of the site once the structures<br />
have been successfully dismantled. The project also<br />
presents unique challenges, including the proximity<br />
to public spaces and a busy road. The Anne O’Byrne<br />
<strong>Building</strong>, situated alongside a major thoroughfare, poses<br />
height-related considerations, while negotiating steep<br />
embankments adds an extra layer of complexity to the<br />
project.
Another Year of Delivery<br />
20<strong>23</strong> has maintained the trend of previous years with us<br />
being extremely busy across both Facility Management<br />
and Construction South.<br />
It’s full steam ahead currently, with the pressure on to<br />
complete projects by Christmas! Construction South is<br />
flat out with Master Builder’s Training and Administration<br />
at Cambridge, St Aloysius School, Sorell School – Stage<br />
2, which consists of the Kindergarten to Grade 2 building<br />
plus also a Child and Family Learning Centre, and we have<br />
just handed over Bethlehem House at 225 Harrington<br />
Street. The next challenge of commencing future work is<br />
proving difficult with multiple contracts being secured, but<br />
being held up in the approvals process. It’s a little calmer<br />
in Facility Management, but in the New Year we have<br />
multiple new projects beginning.<br />
The structural concrete works have been completed on<br />
the Letitia Street social housing for Centacare – a fantastic<br />
milestone - and the timber framing is underway. This<br />
project is progressing quickly and has great visibility from<br />
the Brooker Highway.<br />
We have recently handed over Level 2 (office space) of<br />
the Castray Luxury Apartments and are now completing<br />
the remainder of the project with fitting off to the Level<br />
3 apartments progressing. The plasterers are working on<br />
the Level 1 apartments, while externally the installation<br />
of glass balustrades to the decks has commenced and<br />
external concrete works have just begun.<br />
Brighton High is rapidly transforming. All buildings have<br />
the structural component completed, with the five<br />
buildings at progressive stages of completion. <strong>Building</strong> D<br />
(Learning Centre #1) is the most advanced with joinery<br />
installation about to commence.<br />
SOUTHERN TASMANIA<br />
Beds for Those in Need<br />
The scaffolding has<br />
been removed at<br />
Glenson Place on<br />
Cadbury Road to<br />
unveil impressive<br />
facades. This facility<br />
will provide long term<br />
accommodation for<br />
people living with<br />
mental illness.<br />
GENERAL MANAGER<br />
SOUTHERN TASMANIA<br />
PAUL RANSLEY<br />
We are also delivering<br />
Sullivan’s Cove<br />
Distillery Cellar Door<br />
refurbishment at Cambridge, Queens Walk roofing<br />
package to the existing tower’s which will flow into the<br />
main project – two additional towers of social housing<br />
accommodation, and we are back at The Friends School<br />
remodelling the sports courts.<br />
Our Facility Management team has been busy while our<br />
Divisional Manager, Richard Colman took a well-earned<br />
holiday to Europe. We have maintained a good blend<br />
of responsive maintenance works and smaller projects.<br />
The new year will be hectic with the securing of five new<br />
wash bay facilities for TasNetworks as well as further<br />
works at Huonville, Snug and Smithton. We completed<br />
the refurbishment works at Glenorchy Council Chambers,<br />
installed some body scanner units at the Women’s and<br />
Hobart Reception Prisons and continued with our regular<br />
clients – SRT, Manning Electrical, RACT, Southern Cross<br />
Care, MMG, Elphinstone, Department for Education,<br />
Children and Young People and Tasmanian Catholic<br />
Education Office.<br />
Brighton High School<br />
Construction South<br />
BETHLEHEM HOUSE<br />
After a challenging 18 months, Fairbrother’s construction<br />
of the new Bethlehem House shelter in Hobart was<br />
officially opened in November.<br />
A 50-bed facility, the building complements the existing<br />
24-bed facility on the site of the old Waratah Hotel,<br />
providing a significant increase in the capacity for<br />
Bethlehem House to support vulnerable members of the<br />
community. Providing three levels of accommodation,<br />
the building also provides a number of communal spaces<br />
to encourage community and interaction between the<br />
residents.<br />
The endeavour began with a challenging initial 12 weeks<br />
during which Fairbrother needed to divert an active<br />
stormwater system that flowed directly through the site.<br />
The existing system, which directs most of West Hobart’s<br />
stormwater into the Hobart Rivulet, needed pinpoint<br />
accuracy and some opportune weather patterns to ensure<br />
that it was completed successfully.<br />
“We couldn’t have done it at a worse time of year,” said<br />
Darryn Purcell, Project Manager for Fairbrother. “It was<br />
done from July to September 2022, in probably one of the<br />
wettest springs on record, so it was a logistical nightmare.”<br />
Darryn credits the site team with “exemplary” work<br />
during this challenge, right down to the final stages when<br />
the team had to pick a three day window where no rain<br />
was forecast to cut open the existing stormwater line,<br />
demolish it, and finish the joins in a wet environment.<br />
These high-risk steps were executed perfectly, with the<br />
task being finished within an hour of the rain starting to<br />
fall again.<br />
As the project got underway in the construction phase,<br />
site access and limited space began to provide another<br />
set of challenges. The irregular building shape meant that<br />
significant scaffolding towers needed to be erected, and<br />
the various façades required their own individual attention<br />
to create the impressive final finish.<br />
The externals of the building are a mix of ornate<br />
brickwork, metal-clad nail strip façade, Equitone, precast,<br />
and glass curtain wall, providing a dynamic overall<br />
aesthetic to the building that is both modern and<br />
considered. The glass curtain wall façade in particular<br />
came with its own challenge, being located in an area that<br />
was not accessible by crane.<br />
CLIENT: Homes Tas<br />
ARCHITECT: Tim Penny<br />
PROJECT MANAGER: Darryn Purcell<br />
SITE MANAGER: Travis Smith/Sam Woehler<br />
PHOTO: Josh Mitchell<br />
“Usually, a glass curtain wall is built from a crane bottomup,”<br />
Darryn said. “But because we couldn’t get access, the<br />
whole thing had to be fabricated in-situ.”<br />
The facility also provides operational space for Bethlehem<br />
House, as well as medical consultation rooms, interview<br />
rooms, community rooms and a large dining room and<br />
kitchen serving both this and the neighbouring facility.<br />
Each level has its own breakout communal facility, with a<br />
larger space on the third floor for larger groups to socialise<br />
and get together.<br />
Despite the challenges, the workers on site maintained a<br />
consistent motivation, knowing that they were working to<br />
provide an important support system for people in need.<br />
“We developed that as a mentality,” Darryn said. “As<br />
things got hard, the purpose of this project is to get 50<br />
people off the street, so we generated that as the goal for<br />
us and the workforce.<br />
“There are 50 beds for those in need now, and it was<br />
worth it for that.”<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 20<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 21
GENERAL MANAGER<br />
VICTORIA<br />
MICHAEL JOSEY<br />
As we come to the end of<br />
20<strong>23</strong>, the big news is that<br />
we have the keys for our<br />
new North West Melbourne<br />
office!<br />
Located at Level 1, 155<br />
Roden Street, West<br />
Melbourne, the team led<br />
by Ben Millar is working<br />
hard to prepare the office.<br />
New carpet, reconfiguration<br />
of the amenities, and a lunchroom are the initial focus<br />
points, with disability access and signage coming soon. We<br />
have secured our first project for the region, the Parkville<br />
Youth Justice Facility; it is certainly an exciting time.<br />
I am reluctant to ‘go the early crow,’ but I feel the Victorian<br />
commercial construction industry has once again found<br />
a level of normality. We’ve successfully delivered our<br />
legacy projects, and our energy and focus are now looking<br />
forward. We have some incredible and unique projects on<br />
our books, and project opportunities continue to present.<br />
Tendering has been extremely busy, and our estimating<br />
team has worked tirelessly throughout the year. We are<br />
hopeful of being awarded more projects in 2024, which<br />
will be a great testament to the estimating team, our<br />
construction teams, and our clients, sub-contractors,<br />
suppliers and consultants.<br />
Graduate reviews and interviews are now complete, and<br />
we have five current graduates with two new starters.<br />
I’m pleased to note that our current graduates are all<br />
progressing well, with all participants completing the<br />
necessary tasks and gaining experience in line with the<br />
Graduate Program guidelines. We’re looking forward to<br />
welcoming our new starters and seeing them grow in their<br />
careers with Fairbrother. Our team has been proactive<br />
with Deakin, Monash and Melbourne Universities to get<br />
front and centre of new candidates looking to forge a<br />
career in the Commercial Construction sector.<br />
On the project front, California Gully Primary School in<br />
Bendigo was recently completed. A new build as well as fit<br />
out of an 1860 heritage school building, the project quality<br />
is fantastic. Matt Ginnivan and Tim Hurford have done a<br />
great job, and the Victorian School <strong>Building</strong> Authority has<br />
recognised the success of the project.<br />
Moving forward<br />
VICTORIA<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 22<br />
Deakin Hycel at Warrnambool is nearing completion. The<br />
first building of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, this<br />
facility will research the safe use of Hydrogen in longrange<br />
transport. The Woods-Baggott designed building is<br />
looking great and we are planning to handover in the first<br />
quarter of 2024.<br />
a2 Milk at Kyabram is gathering momentum. The<br />
challenges of building in an operational facility are not<br />
insignificant, but we are working well with the clients to<br />
achieve the project objectives. Design and procurement<br />
are nearing completion which should allow construction<br />
to become more efficient.<br />
St Joseph’s College in Echuca is also progressing extremely<br />
well. Comprising two buildings of almost 2,000m2 in total,<br />
there is a fast-track program in place and both builds are<br />
on program or slightly in front. We are looking forward to<br />
handing the project over in April 2024.<br />
The Werribee Open Range Zoo elephant enclosure is<br />
exciting and very different to our normal constructions. A<br />
21-hectare site, the project will provide huge pools, barns,<br />
and an environment that will seek to provide a natural<br />
environment for the elephants inhabiting the enclosure.<br />
We’re looking to deliver toward the end of 2024. Stay<br />
tuned to our socials for more info on this great project.<br />
Maryborough Hospital Redevelopment is being delivered<br />
in two stages. Stage one is a new four-storey building<br />
that provides much needed new health facilities to the<br />
Goldfields Shire communities. We’re looking to complete<br />
Stage 1 in April 2025 and are currently tracking well to<br />
reach this milestone.<br />
Parkville Youth Justice Facility is in the final stages of<br />
organisation. We’re expecting to mobilise site when we<br />
return in 2024 and looking to complete the project midyear.<br />
I’m proud to see the progress on these projects, it shows<br />
our versatility and commitment to delivering client<br />
objectives with safety and quality at the front of mind.<br />
It has truly been a solid year! There have been challenges<br />
that we’ve successfully managed, and the whole team is<br />
looking forward to some respite over the holiday period.<br />
To everyone, Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy<br />
new year.<br />
Bendigo Food Share (Impression)<br />
Central Victoria<br />
Community Assistance<br />
BENDIGO FOOD SHARE<br />
Fairbrother in partnership with the City of Greater<br />
Bendigo, Y2 architecture, and multiple sub-contractors<br />
have come together to deliver the new Bendigo Foodshare<br />
facility. Construction of the new food relief warehouse<br />
has commenced after a lengthy consultation and design<br />
process.<br />
This much-needed facility is vital to secure the future of<br />
Bendigo Foodshare as an essential service provider that<br />
weekly supports around 13,000 less fortunate people<br />
Fairbrother this year was announced as the naming<br />
rights sponsor for the Blokes Biggest lunch which was<br />
held on the 20th of November. The afternoon was a huge<br />
success where $145,000 was raised through sponsorship,<br />
donations, and an energetic auction. Prostate Cancer<br />
Foundation and Bendigo Health were the beneficiaries.<br />
across the Central Victoria region.<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page <strong>23</strong><br />
The demand for food relief has increased significantly with<br />
around a 60% increase in need over the past three years,<br />
and with the current landscape continuing to pressurise<br />
the expectation is the increase will continue. Fairbrother<br />
has rallied local suppliers and sub-contractors in efforts to<br />
deliver the project as economically efficient as possible.<br />
The commitments to date are truly humbling.<br />
Bendigo’s Biggest Ever<br />
BLOKES’ LUNCH
FAIRBROTHER<br />
FOUNDATION DIRECTOR<br />
GAYE RUTHERFORD<br />
The Foundation has continued its support of the Heart<br />
Foundation with a $10,000 donation in October to the<br />
MyHeart, MyLife program. The program is currently<br />
undergoing a significant review to ensure that it can<br />
provide the support needed to those in Australia who are<br />
experiencing a cardiac event. Pilot testing of the changes<br />
have shown that regular SMS and email messages sent to<br />
participants are seeing improved medication adherence,<br />
attendance at cardiac rehab, social connection and<br />
prompts to seek further medical help when required.<br />
The support provided from the Fairbrother Foundation<br />
is helping to finalise the program rebuild and see it<br />
relaunched in early 2024.<br />
$16,000 was donated in October to the Australian<br />
Huntington’s Disease Association (Tasmania Division),<br />
adding to $14,000 that was raised through a GoFundMe<br />
campaign and will help the Tasmanian Division to<br />
purchase ‘Eyegaze’ equipment. Pilot trials have shown this<br />
equipment provides a breakthrough in communication<br />
Fairbrother Community<br />
CONTRIBUTION<br />
As you would all be<br />
well aware, one of<br />
Fairbrother’s five core<br />
values is Community<br />
Contribution. We strive<br />
to give back to the<br />
communities that our<br />
people live and work<br />
in, this is extremely<br />
important to us. This<br />
We are proud to be able to support Speak Up Stay<br />
ChatTY’s sports program through the Fairbrother<br />
Foundation, with support of $40,000 per year for the next<br />
three years.<br />
Since 2018, the Sports Program has reached more than<br />
6,000 athletes in 150 clubs and across 22 different sports<br />
across Tasmania.<br />
The impact of the Sports Program has been seen with<br />
almost 98% of athletes who take part in the program<br />
feeling more able to look after their own mental health,<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 24<br />
value is delivered through charitable contributions<br />
that create direct links in support of our communities.<br />
Charitable contributions are delivered through two<br />
established entities: The Fairbrother Foundation and the<br />
Fairbrother Charitable Trust. Combined, Fairbrother’s<br />
charitable arms have contributed more than $1.35m to<br />
the communities that our people live and work in. We<br />
are extremely proud of this achievement and how it<br />
brings to life our company value of giving back to our local<br />
communities.<br />
FAIRBROTHER FOUNDATION<br />
for those suffering Huntington’s Disease through the use<br />
interpretation of eye movements and an eyepad. If this<br />
pilot is successful, it will have a significant and far-reaching<br />
impact on those enduring Huntington’s Disease, not just in<br />
Tasmania but potentially worldwide.<br />
The Foundation donated $5,000 in October to Trauma<br />
Awareness Network Australia (TANA), a non-profit<br />
grassroots organisation founded in North West Tasmania<br />
in 2018 to raise awareness of and educate about complex<br />
trauma and also advocate for policies incorporating<br />
an awareness of complex trauma and its mitigation.<br />
Foundation cofounder, Royce Fairbrother, attended<br />
a TANA awareness raising event in Devonport on 18<br />
November.<br />
And lastly, the Foundation donated $1000 to the Degree<br />
C North West Electrical team and their Movember<br />
fundraising efforts.<br />
and 99% feeling more confident to help a teammate in<br />
need.<br />
“After seeing firsthand the positive impact of Speak Up<br />
Stay ChatTY’s work, with Mitch and his team presenting<br />
annually to Fairbrother’s apprentice groups on the critical<br />
topic of mental health and how to support your own and<br />
those of persons around you, the Fairbrother Foundation<br />
was delighted when Stay ChatTY accepted our approach<br />
back in 2018 to provide ongoing financial support,” said<br />
Gaye Rutherford, Director & Chair of the Fairbrother<br />
Foundation.<br />
“Being able to significantly increase our support now<br />
in 20<strong>23</strong> to help the Sports Program strongly aligns<br />
with our Foundation focus areas of health, education,<br />
youth and local communities, and we are very proud<br />
that the employees and key stakeholders at Fairbrother<br />
whose work and dedication underpins the Fairbrother<br />
Foundation, can now know their support is having this<br />
ongoing and wide-reaching impact.”<br />
We are pleased to support Speak Up Stay ChatTY’s<br />
ongoing delivery of this program in local sporting clubs.<br />
Fairbrother Foundation Director and Chair Gaye Rutherford<br />
with Speak Up Stay ChatTY Founder Mitch McPherson and<br />
Project Officer - Sports Program Alex Fitzgerald<br />
FAIRBROTHER CHARITABLE TRUST<br />
2022-<strong>23</strong> saw an extension to the Fairbrother philanthropic<br />
vision, with the creation of the Fairbrother Charitable<br />
Trust. Structured differently to The Fairbrother<br />
Foundation, the Fairbrother Charitable Trust can make<br />
donations to wider charitable endeavours and indeed to<br />
charitable projects that align with the values and goals of<br />
the Fairbrother business. The first project the Fairbrother<br />
Charitable Trust has embraced is the development of a 14-<br />
unit 24/7 supported living facility. This is a purpose-built<br />
facility to support long term accommodation for persons<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 25<br />
With the significant role that sporting clubs play in the<br />
local community, an increase in mental health literacy<br />
not only improves the understanding of mental health<br />
awareness within club cultures, but also has a positive<br />
ripple effect into our communities at large.<br />
We love working alongside Speak Up Stay ChatTY and are<br />
proud to be able to support the important role they play<br />
within the community!<br />
living with mental illness and psychosocial disability. The<br />
Fairbrother Charitable Trust has committed to donate<br />
$500,000 per year for four years ($2 million) to Richmond<br />
Investments Tasmania, the charity charged with delivering<br />
this development in partnership with Homes Tasmania.<br />
The facility has been named Glenson Place, in honour of<br />
Thea and Royce’s son Glen and the health challenges he<br />
navigates. This is yet another stunning example of the<br />
Fairbrother commitment and legacy to make our world a<br />
better, more supportive place for those in need.
National Master Builders’ Award for<br />
WATERFRONT HOTEL<br />
Fairbrother Construction has been recognised at this<br />
year’s Master Builders Australia National Excellence in<br />
<strong>Building</strong> and Construction Awards for the construction of<br />
the Devonport Waterfront Hotel (Novotel).<br />
“It’s really special to be recognised on the national stage<br />
for the quality of our projects,” Fairbrother Chief Executive<br />
Officer, Kurt Arnold said. “We’re proud of the amazing<br />
work that our people produce across both Tasmania and<br />
Victoria, but to highlight this project on a national scale<br />
from North West Tasmania is significant.”<br />
The Devonport Waterfront Hotel took out the Master<br />
Builders Australia National Excellence award for New<br />
Construction (Commercial) $20-$50 million.<br />
“To win in this category against strong national<br />
competition really shows our strength as a construction<br />
company,” Kurt said.<br />
Built as part of the Devonport Living City urban renewal<br />
initiative, the 187-room hotel features a restaurant as<br />
well as office space and meeting rooms. The hotel stands<br />
out as a feature of the area, greeting visitors to the state<br />
as they arrive on the Spirit of Tasmania and serving as a<br />
backdrop to the open space and parkland at the entrance<br />
to the Mersey River.<br />
Commencing in March 2020, the project was impacted<br />
by the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing about challenges<br />
with supplies and labour, including the need to bring in<br />
subcontractors from out of state. It also, though, provided<br />
opportunities for innovation, with the bathrooms for 173<br />
of the 187 rooms being prefabricated module pods that<br />
were manufactured in New South Wales, arriving on site<br />
as complete units and only requiring the connection of<br />
services.<br />
“Despite all of the challenges, we were absolutely<br />
determined to deliver a top-quality project that we’re all<br />
very proud of,” Kurt said. “That’s what we’ve done. We’ve<br />
delivered a high-quality, national award-winning, $41<br />
million hotel that sits as a landmark in our hometown of<br />
Devonport, and we’re pretty proud of that!”<br />
The Devonport Waterfront Hotel opened earlier in 20<strong>23</strong> as<br />
the Novotel.<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 26<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong> | Page 27
Summer Fun Runs<br />
HEALTH AND WELLBEING<br />
With the weather turning warmer again, fun run season is<br />
back upon us. Fairbrother employees have participated in<br />
the recent Burnie Ten, Run4Geelong, and Hobart’s Point to<br />
Pinnacle (dubbed ‘The World’s Toughest Half Marathon’).<br />
In Burnie, we had 19 participants in the 10km event with<br />
a further three in the 5km course. Overall, the Fairbrother<br />
team placed second in the team results!<br />
Congratulations also to the participants who completed<br />
the Run4Geelong and the Point to Pinnacle.<br />
The following events are coming up in the first quarter<br />
next year:<br />
• Surf ‘T’ Surf – Warrnambool, January<br />
• Run the Bridge – Hobart, February<br />
• Ford Fun Run – Bendigo, March<br />
• Bluff to Boat Ramp – Devonport, March<br />
Don’t forget that as part of Fairbrother’s wellbeing<br />
program, employees and their families are eligible for<br />
free entry to these events; and we will provide you with a<br />
running singlet or t-shirt and water bottle to support you<br />
on the day as well.<br />
Email Rachel Clemens (rclemens@fairbrother.com.au) for<br />
more details.<br />
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE FAIRBROTHER PROJECTS<br />
What’s <strong>Building</strong>, Issue <strong>108</strong> DECEMBER 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Fairbrother newsletter<br />
Head Office<br />
12 Stony Rise Road<br />
Devonport Tasmania 7310<br />
P: (03) 6420 7000<br />
E: info@fairbrother.com.au<br />
W: www.fairbrother.com.au<br />
Editor:<br />
Ph: (03) 6420 7000<br />
E: communications@fairbrother.com.au<br />
Contact the Editor if you have an article or<br />
project to share in the newsletter<br />
Next issue: APRIL 2024<br />
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