Category: Aluminium

I believe I am the 

most dedicated young tradesman in the business. In fact, I not only believe it, I know it. Someone who is the best at what they do is someone who is always prepared to grow and learn. I make it my daily mission to leave every jobsite with a new skill, or piece of knowledge that can help me do a better job next time. I also maintain this same mindset in my personal life. I like to go to bed each night knowing that I’ve done everything necessary to improve my daily work and wellbeing.

I take great pride in my work, and I know that my tools are my livelihood. I’m always on the lookout for tools and technology to add to my kit, so I can improve the level of work I do. Recently a fellow tradie told me about the best aluminium ute canopies for sale. I instantly wanted to know more. I’d never had a canopy on any of my utes before, and I couldn’t understand why. Ute canopies have so many benefits such as keeping your tools organised and protecting them against theft and bad weather conditions. I’m definitely no stranger to having tools stolen by local thieves, or corroded by poor weather.

Later that night I kept thinking about whether or not I should commit to a canopy. I already had one of the most recommended ute trays Melbourne tradies have ever seen fitted on my ute truck, why had I not thought about getting a canopy?

Once my mind was made up, I decided to use one of my afternoons to head to an aluminium workshop. They gave me a quote for the canopy and installation, and I honestly could not complain. The quote was actually a lot cheaper than I thought it would be. The installation went without a hitch too. The team was precise, efficient, and professional. It was great to see a bunch of workers maintain the same dedication to their work as I.

It can be tough sometimes being one of the few females in a male dominated industry. I’m a tradie, or a ‘lady-tradie’ as some like to call me. My trade specialisation is welding. I’ve always been someone who has taken an interest in learning how to make things with their hands. My skill and passion from welding had definitely come from my dad. In my early teens, he’d always try to involve me in all his little projects that he had going on. Growing up, I had two older brothers and a self-proclaimed handy-man dad. If I wanted to get any attention, or have any interaction with my family, I knew I had to join them with their handy-man hobbies.

Fast forward fifteen years on, and I am in a career I love. You should see all the funny looks I get every time I visit the hardware store. The store attendants always assume I’m there for my husband. What can’t be the one who has come to buy the best ute trays? Melbourne has many women who are quite progressive, I’m sure there will only be more to join the industry in the coming years.

I’d love to encourage more young women to think about becoming ‘lady-tradies’. As gender stereotyping continues to break down, it’ll be just a matter of time until driving utes with aluminium ute canopies becomes normal for more women. Until then, I’ll keep waving the flag.

I’d like to team up with a local school to start offering women-lead metalwork classes. I’d start the classes how my dad started them with me. The girls will start off by learning how to make jewellery. As they progressive, we can then start welding more challenging projects. From a lot of reading I’ve done about gender roles in society, it takes having a role model to help more women to want to take part in what is usually a male-dominant activity.