Plumber’s on the ball

By Glen Atwell
Beaconsfield plumber Glenn Penglase is turning up the heat on his trade.
The 23yearold was recently awarded the Frank Maskell Award, presented at the 98th Annual Gold Medal and Training Awards on 20 July.
GovernorGeneral Michael Jeffery presented the award, designed to encourage postapprenticeship specialised studies.
Glenn said plumbing was the only job he could imagine doing.
“I enjoy being an important part of the house building process and learning new skills,” he said.
Nominated by one of his teachers at the Chisholm Institute of TAFE in Dandenong, Glenn said he whizzed through his TAFE studies.
“I finished my studies early and completed the advanced gas and advanced roofing courses pretty quickly,” he said.
In his fourth and final year as an apprentice, Glenn said doing the advanced courses would allow him to sign off as an employer.
“If you don’t complete the advanced courses, you can only complete that sort of work under the supervision of someone who has.
“I want to one day own and run my own business, so that was the motivation for doing the extra studies,” he said.
Along with the award, Glenn received $550 as an incentive to continue studying.
He said the best part of the night, held at the Melbourne Arts Centre, was the fact that Channel 9 star Livinia Nixon hosted the prestigious ceremony.
“There were hundreds of tradesmen,” he laughed. “We all loved it.”
Glenn quickly added shaking the hand of the GovernorGeneral was also memorable.
But for Glenn, it was all in a day’s work.
“I received an award just for doing my job.
“It’s great,” he said.