25th Conference in Queenstown - RANZ Silver Anniversary
As the roofing clans descended on Queenstown for the Silver Jubilee of the Association’s annual conference, the strength and depth and longevity of the industry was evident, with many faces arriving that had attended the very first conference, held in Auckland 25 years ago.
There was a genuine atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie – none more so than on the eve of the event, when the delegates filled the house bar and the hubbub rose up through the hotel’s atrium.
Early the next morning, a fleet of buses was kept busy ferrying us all up to the foot of the gondola for our ascent, four at a time, to the conference venue – the aptly named Skyline Queenstown – high above the township. The view was outstanding; the first of us to arrive glimpsing the sunrise up over Queenstown Hill on the other side of the valley.
Our MC for the day, Mr Phil Gifford went on to entertain us with his reminisces and anecdotes from his encyclopaedic brain, bolstered by his many years as a sport and radio jock. Priceless stuff. More serious, but no less entertaining was the next speaker, economist, author and media commentator, Shamubeel Eaqub, who, in simple and straightforward language gave us an insight into where he thought the economy was heading and how it may, or may not affect the roofing industry – his underlying concerns centred around the unpredictability of the economy, primarily fuelled by Interest rates, Trump, Brexit and China. We are in uncharted territory, he warned, and money from banks will become harder and harder to obtain.
After a full day of speakers, the last item on the day’s formal agenda was the presentation of the RANZ Roofing Excellence Awards. In reverse order, runnersup were, Adam Baxter from Roofing Hub Ltd (About Roofing Wanaka) and Michael (Lockie) Lochhead from TH Commercial Roofing Ltd Tauranga, and the winner is… drum roll… Richie Powell from Project Unite for the Manukau Bus Interchange and his contribution to the roofing industry.
After a quick brush up down at the hotel, it was back up the gondola to Skyline for dinner. good times, and a fantastic guest speaker in Paralympian, Liam Malone, who had us all in stitches telling us his incredible story from being a drunken student to becoming a gold-medal-winning sprinter at the Rio Olympic Games. His is a gutsy story, with a clear message – set yourself a goal, don’t give up and realise your dreams.
The next morning was the breakfast launch event of New Zealand Women in Roofing (NZWiR) and then the Roofing Games Finals got underway. Competitors had come from around the country, representing their company and their region, and all under the watchful eye of event organiser Max Brough and fellow judges Mark Bishop (RANZ President) and Rod Newbold (NZMRM Life Member). As the competitors began the complex and methodical task ahead, the Trade Show opened its doors and the delegates and members started to drift in, and in not time the place was humming.
As the numbers slowly fell off, with delegates leaving Queenstown to get back home for the beginning of another working week, the afternoon’s activities drew to a close, and it was time for the final prize giving for the Roofing Games and sponsor presentations. And that was a wrap for another year.
Trade Expo booth winner 2019: ARDEX
Roofing Games Results:
1st NZ
Brenton Cook – Attention to Detail Roofing, Cromwell
$7500 travel, courtesy NZ Steel
2nd NZ
Nathan Leslie – Allens Longrun, Dunedin
$2500 Milwaukee Tools, courtesy KONNECT
3rd NZ
Shane Ratcliff – Roofrite, Taupo
$1000 voucher, courtesy Ampelite
Placings:
Eifion (AVY) Roberts, Hamilton
$500 voucher, courtesy Fribesco Tools
Dave Chesterton, New Plymouth
$500 value, courtesy RANZ
Courtney McDowell, Cromwell
$500 voucher, courtesy Bremick
Jan Fowler, Wellington
$500 voucher, courtesy Edging Systems
Hamish Carey, Dunedin
$500 voucher, courtesy Alsynite One