PREMIER PLUMBING SERVICE was launched in 1951 in Sebastopol, Ballarat, by couple Neville and Vawyn Donald whose sons eventually joined to begin running the family business.
“Premier Plumbing Service has a team of 30 people, and I always describe it as a bit like organising a football team every day,” chuckled Director Grant Donald.
“You need to find out who’s going to which job and where they are located, who’s going to be in the ruck, who’s in the wing and who’s a fullback and who’s a full-forward.
“Our typical days are flat out and we can’t afford any downtime, so we always need to be well organised.”
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That’s where Grant, his brother and co-director Jim Donald as well as nephews and co-Directors, Michael Donald and Tim Donald come into the picture. It’s a full family affair at Premier Plumbing Service, with each director adopting a slightly different role and set of responsibilities to oversee the complex operation, which prides itself on doing a seamless job that’s often out of sight and out of mind.
Operating throughout the Southwest, West, and Central Victoria regions, the company has a range of commercial and industrial clients it provides plumbing services for such as schools, day-cares, office complexes and the retail sector. From installing sewer drainage, water services, civil stormwater drainage, hot and cold water systems, gas reticulation, fire services including fire pump and tank systems, fire sprinkler systems, solar hot water, and backflow prevention devices, the Premier team have just about every base covered.
GEN FOUR OF PLUMBING PRIDE
The Donalds progressively entered the industry and became licensed plumbers over the years.
“As we’ve reached the age of leaving school to do an apprenticeship, we began training as plumbers,” Grant said.
“For myself, that was in 1976 and my brother Jim was about 1970.
“We were brought up in the plumbing trade.
“We started our apprenticeships when we were around 15 or 16 years of age.”
Fortunately for the good folk of Ballarat and surrounds, the Donalds are nowhere near finished as a plumbing dynasty. Jim’s Grandson is starting his work experience with the family and eager to study for a plumber’s licence like the other role models in his family.
TRADING ON UP
With a growing diversity of work now undertaken by the Premier team, the need to expand the transport capacity within the business is as crucial as it is constant. Premier Plumbing Services recently collected an NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack back in December 2022 to ring in the new year with all the latest upgrades, including the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) – now standard across Isuzu’s light-duty range.
“There is never an issue. We get our servicing done at Ballarat Isuzu and the new six-year warranty is fantastic,” Grant said.
Powered by the Isuzu 16 valve four-cylinder 4HK1-TCN engine, the Premier Plumbing Service NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepack is a perfect fit for transporting all the equipment used in commercial plumbing in suburban and rural areas alike. With a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 4,500kg – 5,500kg and a gross combined mass (GCM) of 9,000kg, there is more than enough payload and importantly, space, for storing tools, parts and equipment for a hectic job schedule – with no fear of overloading or getting on the wrong side of compliance obligations.
On the safety front, Isuzu’s ADAS technology makes the journey even safer for the busy crew at Premier, who are operating across a range of urban and rural environments. A popular model to saåy the least, the Premier fleet now comprises of no less than eight NPR 45-155 AMT Tradepacks, along with a larger FVD 950 Tipper, and three utes.
“Our fleet of Isuzu trucks is one of the most important aspects of the business. We take a lot of pride in our vehicles as they show who we are as a business, through being efficient, clean and always presentable.
“We believe in regular servicing, repairing damage immediately, and keeping the fleet updated.
“The Isuzu reliability keeps our workforce on the road.”
“The company likes keeping the fleet modern and the kilometres low, but the real push to upgrade is based partially on aesthetics. “When Isuzu change the shape of the bullbar for example, we update,” Grant mused.
PLUMBING PLATINUM JUBILEE
After seven decades in the industry, Premier Plumbing Service is looking to the future and their avenues of expansion.
“We have been in business for 71 years this year. It’s a great achievement to have been a customer and part of the Isuzu Trucks legacy for at least 23 years of their 51-year footprint in Australia.
“We are already planning for our next Tradepack purchase,” Grant said.
“So it’s safe to say we will be continuing the Premier Plumbing Service’ relationship with Isuzu.”