Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm The Wandering Chippy, and I've been in the construction industry for 18 years. I'm a carpenter and builder, so I've spent a fair chunk of my life covered in sawdust, carrying tools around and wondering where I left my tape measure.
Outside of work, I like to keep moving. I'm into jiu-jitsu, surfing, skateboarding, football and snowboarding, as well as spending plenty of time hanging out with the kids.
Basically, I'm up for anything that gets me outside, keeps me active and, most importantly, reminds me that I'm not at work.
How'd you end up in your trade?
Not many people know this, but I actually started my career as a bricklayer.
I couldn't get an apprenticeship in carpentry, but I knew I wanted to become a builder, so I figured I'd find another way in. I took a job as a brickie's apprentice and spent three years learning the trade.
By the end of my apprenticeship, I was working under a builder, which gave me the opportunity to start seeing the bigger picture of construction and realise that building was definitely where I wanted to go.
As soon as I finished my apprenticeship, I jumped straight into my Cert IV in Building and Construction and spent the next couple of years working under a builder, learning everything I could.
Once I got my builder's licence, I took the leap and went out on my own.
You're known for having a laugh online, but you don't shy away from getting real either. Why's it important to you to show up like that?
If you asked any of my close mates, family or anyone who really knows me, they'd tell you that what you see on social media is pretty much exactly what you get in real life.
I don't sugarcoat things, and I don't really change who I am depending on who's watching. I was brought up being taught not to lie and to be honest about who you are, and I guess that's just stuck with me.
I'm not going to jump on social media and pretend to be someone I'm not just because I think it'll get more likes or make me look better. That's not me, and I don't think it's relatable anyway.
At the end of the day, love me or hate me, you get me. I'd rather be genuine, have a laugh, say what I think and cop whatever comes with it.
That's pretty much my approach to life, and social media is no different. I'm just being myself, sometimes probably a little too much, but that's the Wandering Chippy.
Has being open online changed the way people interact with you?
Yeah, definitely. In a way, social media has changed how people interact with me.
A lot of my older content was very much centred around the humour side of things. So when people saw me on a job site, I think they sometimes expected me to be the funny guy 24/7, which, to be fair, I probably am a fair bit of the time!
But there's another side to me that people don't always see. I'm a builder, I run a business and, at the end of the day, I've still got a job to do. I can have a laugh and muck around, but when it comes to the work, I take a lot of pride in what I do and there's a serious side to me as well.
Over time, I've also had a heap of messages and genuine conversations with people who have connected with parts of my story. Some of those conversations have really stuck with me. Putting that side of myself out there has allowed people to relate to me on a different level, and I've met some bloody great people because of it.
I think that's probably one of the best parts of social media for me. It started with having a laugh, but it's turned into a lot more than that.
What's been the biggest challenge for you in the industry so far?
One of the biggest challenges I've faced in the industry has definitely been running a business. Anyone who's done it will tell you, it's bloody hard.
COVID was probably one of the biggest tests I've ever been through. I was trying to juggle the business, the crew on the tools, keeping jobs moving, dealing with a shitload of money going out the door, and on top of all that, my personal life was falling apart as well.
It was one of those periods where everything seemed to hit at once. You're trying to be the boss, look after your employees, keep the clients happy and keep the business alive, while also trying to keep your own shit together.
I learnt a hell of a lot from that period, probably more than I would have liked to at the time.
Running a business isn't just about knowing your trade. You can be a bloody good carpenter or builder, but that doesn't automatically mean you know how to run a successful business.
It's tough, it tests you, and there are definitely days where you question what the hell you're doing.
How has all that shaped the tradie you are today?
Looking back, all the experiences and all the shit I've been through have ultimately done nothing but positive things for me.
At the time, some of those experiences were bloody hard, and I definitely wouldn't have chosen to go through all of them. But they've shaped me into the person I am today, and I'm genuinely a better person because of them.
I'm pretty sure the people who were around me through all of it, the ones who stuck by me when things weren't exactly smooth sailing, would tell you the same thing.
You learn a lot about yourself when things go wrong. You learn who you are, who your real people are, and what actually matters.
I've come out the other side bigger, better and with a hell of a lot more perspective.
Sometimes the shit you go through is exactly what builds you into the person you were meant to become.
If someone's going through something similar right now, what would you say to them?
Reach out to someone. It's the best thing I ever did, it saved my life.
Business wise, a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. You've got to dig deep. Really bloody deep.
If you genuinely want to make things work, you can. It might take longer than you want, and it might test you more than you ever expected, but you'll get through it.
Tradies have that "just get on with it" culture. Do you think that's shifting, and what would you like to see more of?
Yeah, look, as tradies, we definitely have that culture of just get on with it. You get told to toughen up, crack on and keep working, and I think that attitude has played a big part in the stigma around people not talking about what's going on.
That can have a massive impact on mental health, and it's something we really need to keep talking about.
The good thing is, I've seen a huge change from when I started 18 years ago. Even in the last five years, I've noticed more and more people coming forward, having a chat and being comfortable enough to say, "Yeah, I'm actually not doing that well."
And honestly, I just want to see more of it. More people across the whole industry, whoever you are, feeling comfortable enough to talk when things aren't going well.
You don't have to bottle everything up and pretend you're bulletproof. There should be a space where you can have a conversation without judgement and know that someone's got your back.
Because at the end of the day, we're all in the same boat. None of us have got it all figured out, and we're a hell of a lot better off getting through the tough stuff together than trying to do it alone.
What do you love most about being a tradie?
What I love most about being a tradie is actually the simple stuff.
It's that feeling at the end of a job when you can finally stand back and look at something you've poured your heart and soul into, whether that's been a week, a month or even a year of work, and just take it all in.
You've watched it go from an idea on a plan to something you've physically built with your own hands.
And there's something pretty bloody satisfying about standing there, looking at it and thinking: fuck yeah, I built that.
If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the industry at the moment, it would be the attitude towards quality.
There are too many people who simply don't care enough about the work they're putting out. They're happy to do the bare minimum, tick the box and move on to the next job.
And I think that attitude has a massive flow-on effect. It brings the overall quality of the industry down, damages the reputation of good tradies and, eventually, opens up the whole conversation about why we're not getting paid enough.
What does "looking after your mates" actually mean to you?
Looking after your mates to me means we all rise together.
If one of your mates is struggling, you don't leave them behind. You check in, you have the conversation and you remind them that they've got people in their corner.
Sometimes, just knowing someone gives a shit can make a bloody big difference.
Last one, what would you say to other tradies reading this?
To all the tradies reading this: measure twice, cut once, and if you've already fucked it up, measure three times and blame the apprentice.
But seriously, take pride in what you do. Give a shit about your work, look after your mates, teach the young ones coming through and don't be afraid to ask questions.
Chippy out.
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