Brick layer Trystan Sammut will be knocking up walls for Australia when he competes in an international skills competition in the Middle East in October.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ballarat bricklaying ace will be under pressure to complete three intricate walls in 22 hours over four days as part of the World Skills International Competition in Abu Dhabi.
As a young sportsman he dreamed of wearing the green and gold for Australia on the sporting field, but it is as a member of the 2017 Australian Skillaroos team that he’ll represent his country.
Until he started a bricklaying apprenticeship five years ago, Mr Sammut had never heard of the World Skills International Competition, much less thought about a tilt at a world title.
”It’s a competition for all trades and I’m going over to compete in bricklaying against about 30 bricklayers from around the world,” he said.
Mr Sammut works for Ballarat company Lawler Bricklaying and is currently working on a commercial build for the company in Melbourne.
As well as working, he’s in training for the competition to ensure he’s at his peak come October. Part of that training is at FedUni TAFE where he completed his apprenticeship.
“Trystan has done exceptionally well to become part of this national squad and we are very proud given he is the only Victorian in the national team,” said FedUni TAFE executive director Barry Wright.
“He is a very accomplished bricklayer and will represent Australia and FedUni magnificently at the international campaign.”
A few days before the competition Mr Sammut will receive plans for what he must build.
”They’ll give us plans about three or four days before the competition. The walls usually have pictures in them that we have to include.”
Mr Sammut won his way through several regional and national competitions to gain his Australian team membership.
The former St Patrick’s College student decided on a career as a bricklayer after a week of work experience in year 10 lead to an offer of an apprenticeship.