By Mikayla van Loon
For one Lilydale local, stumbling onto the trade of plumbing in his mid 20s helped change the course of his life and has just seen him return from the Plumbing Champions in Germany.
Danny Hoekstra, now in his 30s, started his plumbing apprenticeship six years ago, citing it as the best decision he ever made.
Initially chosen to compete in the EU Apprentice Skills Competition in America in 2020 after winning the national competition in Australia, Danny was unfortunately unable to go because of the pandemic.
Instead he was selected to represent Australia in the Plumbing Champions event from three other people who went for the spot.
The World Plumbing Council (WPC) and ISH event hosted in Frankfurt brings together high achieving plumbers from America, Ireland, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Australia, New Zealand and Austria in what was traditionally a skills competition.
But this year, WPC partnered with The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) to build and install hygiene facilities at a run down sporting centre.
“They chose to take away the competition element of it and focus more on the charity aspect and the renewable aspects of the industry,” Danny said.
“The competition, usually it’s a big waste of materials, so this year, they just wanted to build something for somebody and we worked more as a team.”
Heading out to the Eintracht Frankfurt, Niddahalle complex to do the installation of materials, Danny said, was one of the best experiences.
“It was just like a rundown sports facility, a big complex where like 120 clubs use it and it’s a big deal for that community,” he said.
Not having heard about IWSH and the work they do in remote communities before, Danny said learning and being part of one of its programs has opened his eyes to how he can apply his plumbing knowledge and skills.
“They’re doing good things as a plumbing providing foundation to rural communities. They have been around for a few years now but this was my first involvement with them and I will continue to do what I can for them,” Danny said.
“They’re doing a project early next year in India, which I’m planning on going to for myself to help them. I was going to be travelling around that part of the world next year anyway.”
Although the event showed him how skilled labour can benefit people, Danny said it was also a wonderful opportunity to network and meet with some of the biggest plumbing bodies in the world.
“It gave me a deeper understanding of the industry and I got an opportunity to work around the world out of it and meet people in the industry.
“We did a six hour talk with plumbing leaders from around the world, talking about the future of the industry, such as hydrogen and things, so it was just a cool experience in general.”
Getting to be a part of such a big world event and represent Australia was far from the life Danny was born into but he hopes it can inspire others to take a chance on themselves.
Growing up, semi raised in care, Danny said he had a pretty terrible start in his teenage years, often getting into trouble and relying on Centrelink.
“It was a requirement for Centrelink to do something in regards to work, and basically I did a try-a-trade program at Swinburne.
“I found that it was actually probably not a bad idea. So I did one day of each trade as a taster and I chose plumbing because I thought it would be the trade that would teach me the broadest range of skills.
“At the same time it got me off the streets, and it’s a way out for a lot of kids, a lot of disadvantaged kids.”
Having met people from all over the world in the same industry as him, Danny said it became very clear that plumbing is a highly paid profession everywhere and it can be done anywhere.
“It was interesting to find out that skilled labour is high paying all around the world, it’s an in demand thing, everywhere.
“People don’t know that. Being a skilled trades person can take you around the world, not just if you’re good at it, just in general. Plumbing gave me something to focus on and kept me out of trouble.
“I was 24, 25 when I started my apprenticeship and I wasn’t the youngest person in the class. I was definitely above the average age, but I wasn’t the youngest person, so it’s for anybody. For kids where school is working out for them, it’s definitely an option.”
