Top Bricklayer is a Rising Star
2010 Ric New Rising Star Kyle Goff with Marylyn New (daughter of Ric New)
Kyle Goff is the winner of this year’s Ric New “Rising Star” Award.
Mr Goff (aged 23) is the Principal of Kyle Goff Bricklaying (KGB) and was nominated for the award by Bob Hodnett from Skill Hire.
After leaving school in year 12, Kyle completed his bricklaying apprenticeship with Skill Hire in 2.5 years. He received the Master Builders Apprentice of the Year Award in 2007. In the same year he won the World Skills Bricklaying Gold Medal in Sydney.
After completing his apprenticeship, Kyle worked for Tyrone Bricklaying on the MBA award-winning St Mary’s Cathedral project. He formed his own bricklaying business, KGB, in late 2007 and works in both the housing and commercial sectors. Since then he’s been “too busy to advertise for work”.
This year the Australian Brick & Blocklaying Training Foundation (ABBTF) nominated Kyle to represent WA in the Think Brick Masterclass Program – a personal development course recognising and honing the skills of young bricklayers.
Soon after establishing his business, Kyle engaged two apprentices (one from Skill Hire and the other directly).
Kyle’s mother helps him out with the financial book-work and he makes himself available out of hours to judge several bricklaying competitions around the state on a voluntary basis.
Kyle is a dedicated bricklayer who would one day like to become a builder. He recently participated in an ABBTF-funded DVD promoting bricklaying as a career to young school students.
According to MBA Director Michael McLean, “Kyle’s positive attitude and his exquisite bricklaying skills make him a valuable asset to the building industry and ensures a very bright future for his business”.
“Kyle’s achievements and passion highlight that you don’t need to go to university to be successful”.
“He is an excellent role model for other young apprentices and school leavers who are thinking about career choices and what it takes to succeed in the workforce”, Mr McLean said.
Named after the founder of Midland Brick, the Ric New ‘Rising Star’ Award is awarded to a young high achiever up to 25 years of age who has demonstrated outstanding potential, work ethic and commitment in the context of their current and future contribution to the building and construction industry in Western Australia. The selection criteria focuses on practical achievements and not academic results.
The Ric New Medal was introduced by the late Mr New’s daughter, Ms Marylyn New, to recognise the enormous talents among our younger generation and to inspire others to be successful. The winner receives a cheque for $2,000 and a uniquely designed trophy featuring one of the original Midland bricks.
The judging panel comprised of Marylyn New (Managing Director of the Esplanade Hotel Fremantle & Esplanade Swan Suites in Como), Michael McLean (MBA Director) and Robert Spadaccini (Spadaccini Homes).
The other finalist for the 2010 Rising Star Award was Jay Walter (aged 25), the General Manager of the Rural Building Company (RBC) who also has an outstanding future in the building industry.
Jay completed a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Behavioural Science from Notre Dame University.
After a short period in sales and marketing with Midland Brick and Plunkett Homes and at the age of 23, Jay was appointed General Manager of the Rural Building Company (RBC) – having responsibility for 35 staff and a $30m turnover. Despite having his doubters but strong family support. Jay has demonstrated his managerial skills by having a positive influence on the direction of his company by initiating a variety of housing designs to cater for homebuyers’ specific needs – for example, the design of pole homes on difficult sloping sites on the fringes of Perth which has reduced the cost of earthworks.
Jay’s influence has seen RBC become a more active member in local communities. He has also instigated relationships with primary schools to promote careers in the building industry.
Jay has overseen improved financial results and has earnt the respect of his staff at RBC. Jay has always liked to build things and is a strong advocate of the benefits of home ownership.
The Ric New “Rising Star” Award was presented at Master Builders annual Apprentice of the Year Awards at the Esplanade Hotel Fremantle on 22 October 2010.
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