Today is World Plumbing Day 2022, so I’d like to take a moment to celebrate my family’s rich history in the plumbing trade.

If I took a DNA test, the results would tell me I have plumbing in my blood… I’m a proud 3rd generation Australian plumber, but it took me a while to really embrace this!

After leaving school I did a traineeship at a bank, and quickly realised it wasn’t for me.

Luckily, I decided to follow in my father’s, and grandfather’s footsteps and became a plumber. I immediately knew it was the right career for me.  Now, 32 years later, I reflect on my family’s history in this trade, and I feel nostalgic and proud of where I come from.

My grandfather and his brother George began plumbing in 1946, after returning from 5 years serving in World War II. At the time, returned servicemen were offered subsidies for learning a trade. Learning their new post-war trade set my grandfather and his brother up as plumbers for their entire careers. Great Uncle George retired in the early 1990s and my grandfather retired in 2003 at 81 years of age. Their father was also a tradesman – a qualified electrician.

My parents managed Fallon & Sons Pty Ltd from the mid-eighties. My Dad was “Fallon” and my brothers and I were the “sons”. I started an apprenticeship with Dad at Fallon & Sons in 1989, along with my brothers, while my mother ran the office. Over the years, the other ‘sons’ of Fallon & Sons branched out into their own plumbing businesses – Fallon Plumbing (owned by my uncle, Paul Fallon) and P M Fallon Plumbing (owned by my other uncle, Peter).

In 2013 I launched Ivy Street Plumbing, following in the footsteps of the great men in my family, with a strong focus on maintenance plumbing for Strata and Commercial buildings in the Sydney CBD and surrounding suburbs.  Everyday I draw on the extensive and invaluable experience of working alongside my father for more than 20 years.  I honour the values my family have always held dear -trustworthiness, honesty, and personalised customer service in the modern strata, commercial and residential management environment.

After 32 years, I still absolutely love my job!  And, becoming a business owner has taken my job satisfaction to an even higher level.

I’m often asked what I love about plumbing… well, so much of the work we do is hidden behind walls or below the ground, like when we unclog drains or replace cracked underground pipes when tree roots invade, so people often don’t see what a neat job we’ve done.  I take great pride in completing quality work, and I love plumbing jobs I have an opportunity to show the extent of the work we do – these are external jobs people can see.  I look back at the work and I feel so happy!

If you need a new strata or commercial maintenance plumber, or would like to begin your career in plumbing with a well-respected company, we are always on the lookout for the next plumber with the xfactor to join our team