A Unique Pathway into the Carpentry Trade

An Interview with Jeconiah Peni

Bowens caught up with Jeconiah Peni, Bowens Brand Ambassador & Carpenter for BILTAR, to discuss his unique pathway into the carpentry trade. Originally from Papua New Guinea, Jeconiah was selected to play Aussie rules football as part of the AFLPNG Talent Pathway program. Finding a balance between kicking Sherrins and nailing timber, Jeconiah developed a successful career in the trade whilst playing local footy for Nar Nar Goon Football Club.

How did you get into the trade?

After being selected for the AFLPNG football program, I moved from Papua New Guinea to the Gold Coast to play competitive Aussie Rules Football. During that time, I sourced labour work through the footy club I was playing for. This involved working with brickies, landscapers and carpenters. I loved the hands-on work I was doing with builders, so when I moved to Melbourne, I enrolled in a Carpentry and Joinery Certificate Course. Because I was a full-time student at TAFE, my student VISA limited me to 20 hours of work a week. This was problematic as most builders want their apprentices to be full-time. During this period, I had to make do with labour work as I studied to get my cert four in Building Construction. Once I completed that, I was put in touch with Benny through a mutual friend at the football club, and I have been working for him ever since.

“I loved the hands-on work I was doing with builders, so when I moved to Melbourne, I enrolled in a Carpentry and Joinery Certificate Course.”

How did you manage being on the tools and playing footy?

 

I see footy as something that keeps me fresh. Whether it has been a long or normal day at work, I always look forward to training as it doesn’t seem like a chore. I also do a lot of CrossFit, so the one or two hours of exercise I get from training allows me to spend time with my mates and have fun. I don’t think I will be playing footy forever, so making the most of my time now is the way I perceive it.

What are some of the key lessons you have learnt from Ben (Builder/Owner of BILTAR)?

 

One of the most important things I have learned working under Ben is that there is a time and place for everything. It is important to have a joke and laugh every now and then, but when it is crunch time, you need to be prepared to put your head down and get the work done. There is a consensus in our team that it is great for morale to enjoy your time spent at work, as long as the work gets done. Another great attribute of Ben’s leadership has been his ability to instil trust in his employees. When I was approaching my fourth year in my apprenticeship, I asked Ben for more responsibility. Ben allowed me to manage a crew for framing and I learned so much from that experience. Not having Ben or someone above me hold my hand through the experience meant I was forced to think independently which grew my skillset. Sometimes the most important part of growing is doing it on your own, and when you have a boss who is willing to take the chance and place trust in you, they enable you to grow.

“One of the most important things I have learned working under Ben is that there is a time and place for everything.”

You recently attended the wedi shower & bathroom installation workshop at Hallam, how did you find it?

I was quite impressed with the ease of installation and how easy it is to fix something if you have made an error. For example, if you break the membrane on a traditional waterproofing system, you need to rip everything up and start again. Whereas if you use wedi, you can cut the same part and it goes back in the same way it came out. However, the most impressive thing is that you can install a bathroom or shower in less than a day, as opposed to the traditional method which take 3-4 days. With the time you save using the product and reducing labour costs, it is a true game-changer.

“I was quite impressed with the ease of installation and how easy it is to fix something if you have made an error.”

You have a great account manager in Ricky Holt, how would you summarise your relationship with him?

First of all, Ricky is a great bloke. Whenever we need something, he is the first to get on the phone and try to source it for us as soon as possible. He’s very proactive and that is one thing you need from your supplier. Even if something is not traditionally stocked at a store, he will drive to the nearest supplier to pick it up and drop it onsite for us. Having that level of trust and someone you can depend on means you can focus on the job, rather than stressing over getting materials. He’s also always down for a chat and a laugh too, which is great.