Dux of the year embraces the Dux Hot Water spirit

Working on the Commonwealth Games Village site in Melbourne may have increased 22-year-old Jay Yau's competitive spirit, although he was still shocked to be named the 2005 Dux of the Year.

Jay has been awarded a $3000 cash prize as well as the gold-plated Dux of the Year wrench trophy.

The first-year apprentice at RMIT Melbourne left a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in psychology before realising he had the skills and aptitude to be a tradesman.

"I took a pre-apprenticeship course in plumbing and gas fitting, and really loved it!" Jay said.

Jay has been part of a large team working on constructing the Commonwealth Games Village since starting with Melbourne's Bayside Construction & Plumbing Services early this year.

"I've been getting a lot of training and experience from my company on this job," he said.

Jay's work has mainly consisted of laying drains and sewers.

"What I like most about being an apprentice plumber is that there's always something new to learn," he said.

"Every day you get to use your problem-solving skills, improvising on such a large project and working with all the other trades - sparkies, chippies, plasterers and brickies."

Jay's employer, Bayside Construction & Plumbing Services, also received a cash prize and Melbourne RMIT was awarded $1000 of Dux products.

"The competition, now in its fifth year, was created to partner the Australian plumbing industry and the TAFEs in training our apprentices," said Les Patterson, General Manager, Dux Hot Water.

"Quite literally, they are producing the plumbing industry of the future."

Dux of the Year State winners for 2005, who received a $500 cash prize, were Hamid Bin Saad (NSW/ACT), Steven Toon (Qld) and Brian Kruse (Tas). No entries of sufficient merit for an award were received from WA, SA or NT.

The judging panel, comprised of Dux Hot Water and TAFE teaching personnel, reported that the general calibre of 2005 entries was high, although judges encourage more TAFEs and apprentices to become involved next year.

"We're ecstatic for Jay," Rene Pedersen, Bayside Construction and Plumbing's General Manager, said of the win.

"I have to say, Jay's really excelled in any challenge we've given him."