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"Hero we need": Fed-up tradie disrupts Bunnings traffic

<p>A tradie at his wit's end has pulled a petty stunt to fire back at Bunnings customers who “use the trade entry as easy access” and held him up.</p> <p>The tradie shared his stunt to the Tradie Mayhem Facebook group alongside images of the row of parked cars at the Artarmon Bunnings, which sparked his frustrated act.</p> <p>The man said he did it for all tradespeople who have been “held up during the week at Bunnings by people that use the trade entry as easy access, taking their sweet time” after parking in the easy access area.</p> <p>“I double parked blocking them all in at Artarmon Bunnings,” he said.</p> <p>The staff announced over the speaker system that his ute needed to be moved, to which he responded, “just made me take my time and let them know that’s how we feel during the week when we’re trying to get work done and are held up by them”.</p> <p>Initial responses were positive, praising the tradie and labelling him as the “hero we need”.</p> <p>“Tradie privilege, don‘t think so,” one member commented.</p> <p>“It‘s so they can load their vehicle instead of dragging it through the car park. If you’re driving a normal car park outside and enjoying some exercise.”</p> <p>“Love this, trade yard always packed with cafe dwellers,” a third wrote.</p> <p>Some individuals shared their frustrations of having to share the space with the general public, calling for the original poster to “pester Bunnings about it”.</p> <p>“Bring back the trade only access to Bunnings before 8-9 am that they had during Covid.”</p> <p>Others were quick to point out a major flaw in the tradie's argument, saying the undercover parking is not reserved for tradies but a loading area of things that cannot be taken through checkout.</p> <p>The loading bays are for any customers who are temporarily loading timber or bulky items in the trade yard.</p> <p><em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a></em> asked Artarmon Bunnings for a comment about the stunt, and the warehouse manager said the area in question was a “load and go area”.</p> <p>“We don’t usually have too many long waits there, but there is the occasional one-off when a customer will come in and park on the side or right in the middle of the driveway,” he said.</p> <p>“We did have a little shortage of our load and go guys that usually work down there, but that is currently being fixed.”</p> <p>The manager said the fact the area was only one lane for a busy, multi-use loading area meant that there can be waits, but there was a staff member there to direct the traffic.</p> <p>“But because it is one lane obviously our main priority is our customers and getting them in and out of here as quickly as possible.</p> <p>“Unfortunately, other stores have five lanes, we only have one.</p> <p>“There are occasional customers who want to get through and load personal items because it’s easier to bring down to the car, so we are looking at getting it to be the best system possible.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Home & Garden

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5 etiquette tips for working with tradies

<p dir="ltr">Whether you’re about to start major renovations or just need a few niggly things fixed, it’s important to hire the right tradie for the job - and work with them to get the best result.</p> <p dir="ltr">To ensure the job goes smoothly and everyone walks away satisfied, here are five ground rules to follow when working with tradies.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1. Prepare the space</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Clearing the space the tradies will be working in, including moving obstacles and breakable items, will make it all the more easier for them to get stuck into the task at hand.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other ways to help your tradies out include giving them space to park if possible, keeping your pets away from the area and out of harm’s way, and even offering a lunch space where they can set up.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2. Check-In</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Though it will depend on the size of the job, checking in every couple of days to see how things are going can give you and the tradies the chance to ask any questions or clarify important information as you need to. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>3. Don’t hover</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">It’s good to check in, but there’s a fine line between that and hovering over their shoulder and getting in the way.</p> <p dir="ltr">It’s best to keep your conversations to the point and let them get on with their job.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>4. Communicate clearly</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">An important thing to establish from the beginning, clearly communicating your expectations, requirements, and wants can help you and your tradie establish a plan for how to approach the task at hand.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>5. Be reasonable</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While we can try hard to prevent mishaps and miscommunication, sometimes things can go wrong for reasons that are out of yours and your tradies’ hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">In these cases, it’s important to stay calm, work with them and rely on tips one through four.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b96e987b-7fff-e272-0e7c-a286987d40de"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Heartbroken tradie's ute stolen with mother's ashes in glovebox

<p>A man from Queensland has been left heartbroken after his ute, with his mother’s ashes in the glove box was stolen.</p><p>Carpenter Kayden Holmes had left his key in the ignition of his white Holden Colorado as he loaded tools into the boot when a thief jumped in and sped off on Sunday.</p><p>The incident was captured on a neighbour’s security camera and the footage was shared on social media. The clip shows Mr Holmes’ attempt to stop the grab and dash before he was dragged along the road in Holmview, a residential suburb of Logan.</p><p>The tradie was left with an ankle injury after his foot was run over during the scuffle. He is now desperate for the return of his mother’s ashes, which had been placed inside a piece of jewellery following her death from cancer in 2015.</p><p>It’s unlikely the alleged thief knew the precious item was inside the glove box of the ute when it was taken.</p><p>“The car is replaceable, everything in that car is replaceable, but the ashes aren’t,” he told 7NEWS on Tuesday.</p><p>“I need them back, I don’t want them, I need them.”</p><p>Mr Holmes told Sunrise that he was now offering “a reward to anyone that comes forward with information leading to the name or the arrest, even just the ashes”.</p><p>“That’s just the last thing I have of mum and it takes a lot to make me upset, and we’ve gone through a lot of humps in this road, but this one has knocked me about a bit.”</p><p>Mr Holmes said he kept the ashes in his car as he liked to have his mother near him at all times.</p><p>“I just thought that having her in the car with me, she can come everywhere I go kind of thing, just to have that kind of reassurance.”</p><p>Queensland Police are investigating the incident and urge anyone with information to contact them.</p><p><em>Image: 7 News</em></p>

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Renovating your kitchen? Help Australia’s tradies avoid silicosis by not choosing artificial stone

<p>In 2012 my wife and I renovated our house — a two-storey extension with a brand new kitchen. Inspired by various renovation-themed TV shows and magazines, we chose a sleek stone island bench as the focal point for the kitchen.</p> <p>I knew the benchtop material was some form of stone. You could choose almost any colour and it cost a lot less than marble. But I didn’t know much else and I didn’t ask any questions. As a respiratory physician who has diagnosed numerous workers with silicosis over the past four years, I regret my ignorance.</p> <p>Like <a rel="noopener" href="https://s23.q4cdn.com/225400014/files/doc_presentations/Investor-presentation-Sept-2018-Final-Version.pdf" target="_blank">many Australians</a> who have renovated or built homes since the early 2000s, the material we chose was artificial stone (also known as engineered or reconstituted stone, or quartz).</p> <p>In 2015, after the first Australian stone benchtop industry worker was reported to have <a rel="noopener" href="https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1144" target="_blank">severe silicosis</a>, I was astonished to discover artificial stone contains <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/engineered-stone-benchtops-are-killing-our-tradies-heres-why-a-bans-the-only-answer-126489" target="_blank">up to 95%</a> crystalline silica.</p> <p>Inhalation of crystalline silica dust is one of the best-known causes of lung disease, including silicosis and lung cancer. The adverse health effects of silica exposure <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-silicosis-and-why-is-this-old-lung-disease-making-a-comeback-80465" target="_blank">were established</a> while there was still debate about the harm of cigarettes and asbestos. But Australians’ affinity for artificial stone benchtops has seen silicosis make a major comeback in recent years.</p> <p>New research <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/silica-associated-lung-disease-health-screening-research-phase-one-final-report" target="_blank">in Victoria</a> shows the extent of silicosis among workers in the stone benchtop industry.</p> <p><strong>What is silicosis?</strong></p> <p>Silicosis is <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-silicosis-and-why-is-this-old-lung-disease-making-a-comeback-80465" target="_blank">a preventable disease</a> characterised by scarring on the lungs, called <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31989662/" target="_blank">pulmonary fibrosis</a>.</p> <p>Over time, inhalation of tiny silica dust particles triggers an inflammatory response that causes small growths called nodules to build up on the lungs. These nodules can grow and cluster together, causing the lungs to become stiffer and impeding the transfer of oxygen into the blood.</p> <p>In the early stages of the disease, a person may be well. Symptoms of silicosis can include a cough, breathlessness and tiredness. Generally, the more widespread the disease becomes in the lungs, the more trouble a person will have with breathing.</p> <p>There’s not currently a cure. In severe cases, a lung transplant may be the only option, and the disease <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-13/silicosis-victim-dies-from-disease/10895774" target="_blank">can be fatal</a>.</p> <p>Brisbane researchers, however, recently demonstrated <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-researchers-develop-world-first-treatment-for-deadly-lung-disease-silicosis-killing-tradies/2f5fc92f-d8a5-46f4-b6d3-2f0a6beb083a" target="_blank">early but promising results</a> from <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33626187/" target="_blank">a trial</a> in which they washed silica out of a small number of silicosis patients’ lungs.</p> <p><strong>The road to reform</strong></p> <p>Tradesmen in the stone benchtop industry cut slabs of stone to size and use hand-held power saws and grinders to form holes for sinks and stove tops. This generates crystalline silica dust from the stone which may be released into the air.</p> <p>Using water in this process can <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25326187/" target="_blank">suppress the generation of dust</a> significantly, but until recently dry processing of artificial stone has been ubiquitous in the industry. Almost <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/silica-associated-lung-disease-health-screening-research-phase-one-final-report" target="_blank">70% of workers</a> with silicosis in Victoria indicated they spent more than half their time at work in an environment where dry processing was occurring.</p> <p>Stone benchtop workers suffering silicosis <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/7.30/spike-in-silicosis-cases-from-dust-created-when/10361776" target="_blank">have called out</a> poor work conditions over recent years, including being made to perform dry cutting with inadequate protections such as effective ventilation and appropriate respirators.</p> <p>Queensland was the first state to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/news-and-events/alerts/workplace-health-and-safety-alerts/2018/prevent-exposure-to-silica-for-engineered-stone-benchtop-workers" target="_blank">ban dry cutting</a> in 2018. Victoria followed <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/news/2019-08/uncontrolled-dry-cutting-engineered-stone-banned" target="_blank">in 2019</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/nsw-to-ban-dry-cutting-of-stone-products-to-combat-deadly-silicosis-20200220-p542qr.html" target="_blank">New South Wales</a> in 2020.</p> <p>It’s too early to assess whether these changes have affected the prevalence of silicosis, but hopefully they will make a difference.</p> <p><strong>Our research</strong></p> <p>Around the time the Victorian government introduced the ban, it launched <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/protecting-victorian-workers-deadly-silica-dust" target="_blank">an enforcement blitz</a> in high-risk workplaces, while WorkSafe Victoria implemented a free screening program for the estimated 1,400 workers in the stone benchtop industry across the state.</p> <p>The Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health recently released <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/silica-associated-lung-disease-health-screening-research-phase-one-final-report" target="_blank">a report</a> detailing the findings from the first year of the screening program. Some 18% of initial 324 workers who completed the assessments were diagnosed with silicosis.</p> <p>We’ve seen similar results <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/claims-and-insurance/work-related-injuries/types-of-injury-or-illness/work-related-respiratory-diseases/silicosis" target="_blank">in Queensland</a>, where as of February 2021 the government had screened 1,053 stonemasons exposed to crystalline silica dust from artificial stone. Some 223 (or 21%) were diagnosed with silicosis, including 32 with the most severe form, called progressive massive fibrosis.</p> <p>The Monash report indicates workers in Victoria are diagnosed with silicosis at an average age of just 41. The average time spent working in the stone benchtop industry when diagnosed was 14 years, and the shortest was just three years, reflecting an extremely high level of silica dust exposure.</p> <p>We published some earlier results of this research project in <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33115923/" target="_blank">Occupational and Environmental Medicine</a> late last year. But this latest data hasn’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning it hasn’t been subject to the same level of scrutiny as other published research.</p> <p><strong>A broader problem</strong></p> <p>Failure to protect workers from silica exposure <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/silica-office-admin-worker-joanna-mcneill-contracts-silicosis/d64f8661-8bca-4b6f-b950-a1d64e13e421" target="_blank">goes well beyond</a> the stone benchtop industry.</p> <p>Around <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26888888/" target="_blank">3.7% of Australian workers</a> are estimated to be highly exposed to silica at work, and we see workers in other industries, such as quarry work, with silicosis too.</p> <p>Some <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.britannica.com/science/silica" target="_blank">59% of Earth’s crust</a> is silica, so in certain workplaces such as mines and quarries, eliminating silica is not feasible.</p> <p>In these circumstances, exposure must be identified and tightly controlled with measures to prevent dust generation, isolation of workers from the dust, and effective ventilation. If silica cannot be eliminated from a workplace, constant vigilance and evaluation of control strategies are essential.</p> <p>But when it comes to the choice of material for your kitchen benchtop, it’s hard to argue elimination of high-silica artificial stone isn’t feasible. There are many other materials suitable for benchtops that contain little or no silica, such as wood, laminate, steel or marble.</p> <p>Compared with other countries, Australian consumers have developed a particular fondness for artificial stone, which accounts for <a rel="noopener" href="https://s23.q4cdn.com/225400014/files/doc_presentations/Investor-presentation-Sept-2018-Final-Version.pdf" target="_blank">45% of the benchtop market here</a>, but just 14% in the United States.</p> <p>Workers’ lung health may seem like a strange thing to contemplate when designing a kitchen. But increased awareness of this issue is crucial to drive change.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/156208/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ryan-hoy-1211851" target="_blank">Ryan Hoy</a>, Respiratory Physician. Senior Research Fellow. Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065" target="_blank">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/renovating-your-kitchen-help-australias-tradies-avoid-silicosis-by-not-choosing-artificial-stone-156208" target="_blank">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Tradie faces 36 offences after destroying 68-year-old’s home

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An unlicensed tradie has left a man’s house in ruin and drained his life savings - but he’s just one of the builder’s many victims.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tevita Ungounga has received multiple public warnings and convictions for various building offences, and has become well-known to Fair Trading and police.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ian O'Connor, one of Mr Ungounga’s victims, paid the builder $235,000 to build a seawall and renovate his house.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two years after the job commenced, the 68-year-old’s home is filled with unfinished rooms, holey walls, and still has no running water.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 396px; height: 223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845577/tradie4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/540e3d1b51e44be8b5c85991b011cce1" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr O’Connor sits in his unfinished home. Image: A Current Affair</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He’s a pig, a disgusting pig,” Mr O’Connor told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/fake-tradie-who-destroyed-mans-home-draining-him-of-life-savings-exposed/a1de65e0-e586-447f-bb60-f761a0968c64" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Current Affair</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He seemed quite nice, very friendly, but I guess you could say most conmen are.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr O’Connor lost his life savings, and has had to delay his retirement and continue working so he can rebuild his home.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Ungounga has since been accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $220,000 from homeowners for incomplete or defective work to their homes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He is currently facing these allegations in court.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, complaints about Mr Ungoungu date back to 1998, when he was jailed for 60 days after failing to declare an estimated income of $1.4 million to Hawaii’s tax department.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a civil case, Hawaii’s Regulatory Industries Complaints Office was quoted by the media saying Mr Ungounga was “just very, very good at what he does”.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 396px; height: 223px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845578/tradie3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/844a284e694e4545a429e5c8b34f21da" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Ungounga and his wife Siosiana. Image: A Current Affair</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2015, Mr Ungounga and his wife Siosiana received a combined fine of $90,000 under the company name T &amp; T Sandstone. They were fined for engaging in significant residential building work in Australia without a licence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After the incident with Mr O’Connor, Mr Ungoungu was sentenced to a 14-month intensive corrections order this year.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He has also been charged with 36 offences by NSW Police, and has been the subject of three public warnings issued by Fair Trading in the last two years.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The warnings related to his status as an unlicensed and uninsured tradie, with the organisation urging customers to do their checks before employing Mr Ungoungu.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I never take the money and go, I do the job,” Mr Ungoungu told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Current Affair</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: A Current Affair</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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Young tradie’s “embarrassing” blunder

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Melbourne tradie learned he had arrived for a job at the wrong house, after he had just finished ripping up the unknown owner’s backyard pavers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tradesman arrived at the Cranbourne West home, in Melbourne’s southeast, before his boss on Monday, May 18 and got straight to work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But little did he know, there was another house with the exact same number just three doors down the road.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He shared his “embarrassing” error on </span><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dafishaaa"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TikTok</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> the following day, writing: “When you go to prep a pour and end up going to the wrong house.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What a way to start the day,” he says in the clip that has since been watched over 165,000 times.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I get a text to say the address is 37, I word up the client that we’ll come in with the excavator, waited for Tyler, pulled up the pavers, only to find out, there’s a 37 all the way down there too,” he said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve just gone to a complete stranger’s house, got them to open up the shed, pulled out their pavers, waited for my boss, just to find out it’s the wrong house.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His boss also made a video recording the blunder.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Get a load of this,” he says in the clip before panning across to the house where the work had been done.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m running late, so he comes in and starts moving things and ripping up pavers, but what he didn’t know was that’s actually the wrong house,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And he started ripping up someone else’s pavers, ready for a job that’s not going to happen at their house.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He doesn’t know what to do. So now we have to put back the pavers and apologise to whoever it is.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The mix-up happened as both homes had planned renovations that morning and were both numbered 37 but had different street names, so the owners had let him in assuming he was their builder.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The owners were extremely understanding, with the tradie saying “they always seem to get parcels that belong to the actual 37”.</span></p>

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"Hold my beer": Tradie captured surfing huge croc

<p>A photo dubbed “the most Australian photo ever” has gone viral after a tradie decided to ride a monster crocodile.</p> <p>The tradie tied a rope around the reptile’s mouth and made a lead to get the crocodile into the shallow waters, where the photo seemed to be taken.</p> <p>The photo went viral on Reddit, with many surprised at the photo.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841243/crocs-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/49f2c7cca044439095cbcaa831aad306" /></p> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>'You know for sure that the last thing he said was "Hold my beer,"' one user said.</p> <p>'Glad he was wearing hi-vis... you know for safety,' another wrote.</p> <p>'This guy takes the Australian surfer cliche to a whole 'nother level,' another commented.</p> <p><em>Photo credits: Reddit</em></p> </div>

Family & Pets

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Tradie’s heartwarming note to little boy goes viral

<p>A tradie's note to a young boy who helped out with work on a family home has captivated over 250,000 people on social media.</p> <p>Taking to Twitter to share the touching gesture, British woman Steph Kemp took a photo of the builder’s printed “pay packet” letter for her six-year-old son.</p> <p>Blown away by his “kind” gesture, she revealed she had her patio renovated her son Harry loved helping the builder out.</p> <p>“So it made his day to receive this. What an example of kindness,” she said alongside a snap of the note.</p> <p>The completed responsibilities of the “smashing little guy” includes passing bricks, passing “little pavers”, mixing cement and loading stone.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We have just had our patio done and my 6yo has loved going out and helping the builder, so it made his day to receive this. What an example of kindness 😊 <a href="https://t.co/Wq39TU4uwL">pic.twitter.com/Wq39TU4uwL</a></p> — Steph Kemp (@steph_heathcote) <a href="https://twitter.com/steph_heathcote/status/1287688369905033217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>It also appears the little boy went above and beyond during his short stint as a tradie, “taking pictures of black birds and spiders”.</p> <p>He was rewarded a grand total of £10 ($A18) for all of his hard work, “minus tax and national insurance”, of course.</p> <p>The tweet has attracted more than 250,000 likes and been shared more than 22,000 times.</p> <p>“This is lovely – what a kind man! Keeping him in mind for future projects – the builder, not your son!” one person replied.</p> <p>“This is so special, thoughtful and empowering, I am sure that your son as he gets older will reflect on that act of respectful kindness,” wrote another.</p> <p>But, in usual internet fashion, not all replies saw the adorable side to the innocent note.</p> <p>“Yeah show him from a young age that all his hard work will be rewarded very minimally and show him he will not be adequately trained for the job,” one user responded. “This is actually bullying of a young child and it’s horrific.”</p> <p>And another: “As a builder I’d like to add the other side. Construction sites are dangerous places and I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve had to have stern words with customers that insist on letting their little darlings run around freely after already being asked nicely to stop them.”</p> <p>While others had a lighthearted reaction.</p> <p>“Love it but he shouldn’t be getting tax and national insurance deductions based on his age and income,” one person joked.</p>

Home & Garden

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How to pick a good tradie in 5 easy steps

<p>Whether you are in the market for a large-scale renovation or some smaller jobs around the house, selecting the right tradesperson can be a difficult and stressful experience.</p> <p>For every positive encounter, many people have had or know someone who has had a negative experience with a tradesperson.</p> <p>The good news is that there are a number of things you can do before you commit your job to somebody, which will ultimately help to ensure it is completed on time, on budget and to the right standard.</p> <p><strong>Step 1: Shop around before you commit</strong><br />Treat choosing a tradesperson as you would treat buying a car. It’s unlikely you would ever purchase the first car you inspected, and likewise there is no obligation to give your job to the first tradesperson you call.</p> <p>“RACV research shows that many people don’t know a good electrician or plumber as the job frequency for most households is less than once a year,” Aaron Flavell, General Manager Home Services at RACV says.</p> <p>Aaron recommends getting multiple quotes to ensure you are best equipped to make an informed decision – “but a tip is to close off your job once you have three quotes so you don’t get bombarded.”</p> <p>There are a number of websites offering instant quotes from multiple companies, but it is always best to go directly to the tradesperson. These websites typically charge tradespeople to have their services featured and pass these costs to the customers, and speaking to somebody directly will allow you to ask follow-up questions.<br /><br /><strong>Step 2: Listen to word of mouth</strong> <br />The internet age means that anybody with a smartphone has access to a myriad reviews – not just of tradespeople but of mechanics, doctors and other service providers – in their pocket. But while online review sites such as Word of Mouth Online and Product Review can be handy, they aren’t the be all and end all.</p> <p>Aaron Flavell, General Manager Home Services at RACV, says you can’t beat old-fashioned word-of-mouth.</p> <p>“If you have family members, friends or colleagues who have recently had work done around the house, ask them questions about the tradespeople they used."</p> <p>He adds, “You are more likely to get an honest answer from somebody you know rather than relying on stranger’s opinions online.”</p> <p><strong>Step 3: Check on their credentials</strong><br />Each state and territory has its own laws about licensing – for example in Victoria anybody doing residential building work worth more than $5,000 must be a registered building practitioner.</p> <p>Another good sign is if your tradesperson is a member of their peak organisation such as the Masters Building Association or Master Plumbers. By going to these peak organisations directly, you will be able to obtain a list of credentialed professionals in your local area.<br /><br /><strong>Step 4: Get a detailed quote</strong><br />It sounds simple, but Aaron Flavell, General Manager Home Services at RACV, says some people can forget crucial elements to their quote that can lead to headaches down the track.</p> <p>“It is important that you get a quote with a breakdown of the total figure – how much of the cost relates to materials and relates to labour,” he says.</p> <p>Aaron says all quotes should feature the ABN and/or license number of the tradesperson. “You should also ask questions when you receive the quote; for example does it factor in any weekend or public holiday rates that may be necessary and how have the labour costs been calculated?”</p> <p>As with any other service provider and given the fluid nature of the work, the cost of the job may increase when it’s in progress.</p> <p>Aaron says the best way to avoid ‘bill shock’ at the end of the job is to be up-front with your tradesperson throughout the process, and ask questions in advance about how they will handle and communicate any unexpected changes to the quote or the timeframe of the job.</p> <p>“Communication is key. A lot of the stress involved in hiring a tradesperson can be alleviated if you ask plenty of questions, get everything in writing and make sure your tradesperson knows you expect to be informed as soon as anything changes.”</p> <p>If you are using an online platform to request a quote, Aaron recommends attaching a picture or video of the job in question to enable more accurate quoting.<br /><br /><strong>Step 5: Be prepared if something does go wrong</strong><br />Aaron advises that while homeowners can take every precaution to ensure that the process runs smoothly, occasionally issues can arise that require action.</p> <p>Aaron adds, “Regardless of where you live, if you are unhappy with your tradesperson and want to pursue it with the relevant bodies in your state or territory, it is important you document everything. Keep time-stamped photos of the job and a diary, and retain copies of all letters and emails sent to your tradesperson. These will be vital to have if your complaint progresses to your local Civil and Administrative Tribunal."</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/how-to-pick-a-good-tradie-in-5-easy-steps.aspx"><em>Wyza.com.au.</em></a></p>

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Tradie’s hilarious note to wife about bathroom habits

<p>A tradesman from Brisbane has written a hilarious note to his wife outlining the issues and frustrations he has with her bathroom habits.</p> <p>Everything from her lack of flushing, leaving towels on the floor and her use of his deodorant is on the typed letter, and ends with “I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH – PLEASE CHANGE BATHROOM HABITS.”</p> <p>Clearly this is a man with some pent-up issues about his wife’s bathroom use, as the letter starts out in paragraphs and ends with some serious bullet points that need to be actioned.</p> <p>The man writes in good humour, including a mention of finding his wife’s “paw prints” inside his hair product, and a point about her stealing space in his single drawer instead of using the four allocated to her.</p> <p>As for the lid being left off the toothpaste, his wife is told that “If I didn’t love you quite so much I may just be tempted to sabotage the toothpaste with some foreign matter (up to your imagination) to teach you a lesson.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267484/1_499x665.jpg" alt="1 (82)" width="499" height="665" /></p> <p>Kath Rose was the wife on the receiving end of the good-natured letter and told the ABC that it had her in a fit of laughter.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">“He made a really important point about bathroom politics and marriages and how it's important to be open about it and chat … about how you share bathrooms, because it could really be a reflection of the marriage.”</p> <p>Does your partner or family member have any bathroom habits that infuriate you? We would love to hear how you deal with it in the comments below. </p>

Books

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Tradie’s hilarious note to wife about bathroom habits

<p>A tradesman from Queenland, Australia, has written a hilarious note to his wife outlining the issues and frustrations he has with her bathroom habits.</p> <p>Everything from her lack of flushing, leaving towels on the floor and her use of his deodorant is on the typed letter, and ends with “I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH – PLEASE CHANGE BATHROOM HABITS.”</p> <p>Clearly this is a man with some pent-up issues about his wife’s bathroom use, as the letter starts out in paragraphs and ends with some serious bullet points that need to be actioned.</p> <p>The man writes in good humour, including a mention of finding his wife’s “paw prints” inside his hair product, and a point about her stealing space in his single drawer instead of using the four allocated to her.</p> <p>As for the lid being left off the toothpaste, his wife is told that “If I didn’t love you quite so much I may just be tempted to sabotage the toothpaste with some foreign matter (up to your imagination) to teach you a lesson.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267484/1_499x665.jpg" alt="1 (82)"/></p> <p>Kath Rose was the wife on the receiving end of the good-natured letter and told the ABC that it had her in a fit of laughter.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">“He made a really important point about bathroom politics and marriages and how it's important to be open about it and chat … about how you share bathrooms, because it could really be a reflection of the marriage.”</p> <p>Does your partner or family member have any bathroom habits that infuriate you? We would love to hear how you deal with it in the comments below. </p>

Relationships

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Cheeky tradie takes a selfie with the royal couple

<p>A cheeky builder has become an online sensation, after he nabbed not one but two selfies with the royal family. Construction worker Sam Wayne seized the opportunity to snap a quick photo with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who laughed as they watched his antics.</p> <p>Funny enough, the snap wasn’t even Wayne’s first royal selfie! Two years ago he managed to wrangle Prince Charles for a friendly photo.</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/26922/intext_500x500.jpg" alt="Intext (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“I'm a fan of the royals and love a good old selfie, so put the two together,” Wayne told <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3768483/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-visit-Cornwall.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">MailOnline</span></strong></a>. “It's about opportunism and being a bit brave at the same time.”</p> <p>The young royals visited the construction site as part of their trip to Cornwall, where they also stopped off at the Healey’s Cornish Cider Farm for a pint, visited the Truro Cathedral and Zebs Youth Centre, met with members of the public along the way. Take a look at some of the highlights from their visit in the gallery above.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/william-and-kate-open-up-about-parenting/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>William and Kate open up about the difficulties of parenting</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/prince-williams-warning-about-dating-prince-harry/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Prince William's hilarious warning about dating Prince Harry</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/08/prince-william-admits-he-still-misses-diana-every-single-day/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Prince William admits he still misses Diana every single day</strong></em></span></a></p>

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