Plumbing The Heights
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday February 12, 1998
Domain salutes Sydney's top tradespeople and introduces the winner of our inaugural Tradesperson of the Year award.
Plumbers aren't necessarily used to good press. Let's face it, they're often up to their elbows in other people's unpleasantness, and who
hasn't heard the "he ripped me off blind" tale about one of the trade's cowboys?
Lay your prejudices aside because the plumbing trade has pulled off a coup with the announcement that one of its own, Rick Lucas, has been named Domain Tradesperson of the Year. Rick Lucas, a plumber for 31 years, was a clear winner in the inaugural award.
His secret? "My work philosophy is to do the job to the best of my ability and to be as reasonable as possible." Admirable stuff. "People are looking for peace of mind," Lucas continues. "They appreciate good advice and it doesn't cost me anything."
Lucas was voted Tradesperson of the Year from a list compiled from our weekly Quote Unquote feature, which has championed the best of Sydney's tradespeople since Domain's inception.
More than 1,000 votes were received and the winners in each cat-egory are Builder of the Year: Mark Boudib. Painter of the Year: Lou Montouro. Carpenter/cabinetmaker of the Year: Derek Chan. Stonemason/ landscaper of the Year: Bede Saville. Electrician of the Year: Jim Graham. Derek Chan drew the second most votes overall.
However, Lucas topped the votes with client testimonials that are almost too good to be true (they are, we checked).
"At last we have found a plumber in who we can have confidence," enthuses client Ieva Gay. "He is always prompt and polite," says another. "He does all his work with a wonderful sense of humour," says yet another. "With skill, wisdom and sound know-ledge of his profession, Rick calmly restores order out of chaos," says a more-than-satisfied client.
To talk to Lucas is to realise that reaching the top of the plumbing trade is a decades-long process. "There's so much to learn," he says. On top of "five or six years at tech you also need a good 10, 15 years experience to learn things. Plus, you have to have a strong back and love what you do."
Lucas also puts successful plumbing down to an ability to relate to people and to other trades.
"I try to charge reasonable rates and look after people," he says. "I hate the thought of people not being happy."
It also helps to have an understanding partner. "I get called out all the time for plumbing emergencies and I'm lucky to have my wife, Vicki. She is very understanding," Lucas says. "I often get called away to fix things on public holidays, weekends and all hours of the night."
Lucas's business takes in plumbing, drainage, gas fitting and roof repair and maintenance.
"I love to search out the problem and be able to fix it," he says. "I love doing it all, even after all these years."
Congratulations to Rick and to all our runners up, who will all no doubt now have to put on extra staff to cope with the avalanche of work.
The winner of the readers' prize of a weekend for two at The Regent Sydney is Karen Craven of Newtown.
© 1998 Sydney Morning Herald
