2012 Australia Day Honours

Paul Funnell best known for his Estimating for Plumbers courses was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia, for services to the plumbing industry.

Paul commenced his career as an apprentice in Camden, NSW, forty-eight years ago and relocated to Queensland in 1971 after graduating as a plumber and drainer from Liverpool TAFE.  In those days Brisbane was just a large regional town, ready to become a serious capital city.  He recognised Queensland was about to experience a massive building boom and he wanted to be part of it, in particular he wanted to play a prominent role in the plumbing industry and to make a difference.

He furthered his studies in business management and advanced plumbing courses. Over the years he progressed through the industry making a valuable contribution in the post apprenticeship education for contractors wanting to run a successful trade business. 

Paul is the author of Estimating for Plumbers first published in1992.  In 2005 he published his second technical book Pipe Sizing for Building Services both are used in the Diploma of Engineering (Hydraulics) course.  Whilst his autobiography, In Spite of My Eyes was published in 2006.

His spare time passion was for education, giving thousands of hours teaching plumbers the skills of estimating large building projects and mentoring young contractors in setting up their own business. He was instrumental in guiding the direction of the Diploma of Engineering (Hydraulics) course for the plumbing industry.  

Paul said he was humbled but extremely honoured to receive the award. 'It is wonderful to know that my industry peers believe I am worthy of such recognition.  I never set out to gain an award, only to make a difference and help improve a small section of the building and construction industry'. 

'As I reflect on my teenage years, I am grateful to a high school teacher who told me in less than a calm tone, ‘That I could achieve whatever I wanted, and that she didn’t understand why I was tossing away my life’. Hopefully, this award demonstrates that I did listen. I also hope young tradespeople will realise their contribution can count and will be appreciated by others'.

Paul has made important contributions to the Plumbing Industry in the areas of By-Laws, rules and regulations. He has served as a referee on the Queensland Building Disputes Tribunal. Designed plumbing systems for many landmark buildings from the Gold Coast to Cairns, which included tourist resorts in the Whitsundays. 

He has been a keynote speaker at a number of international plumbing conferences. In 2000 and 2001, he won the Asia Pacific Award for Excellence for his design of software for the plumbing industry.  In 2003 he was awarded life membership of the Australian Hydraulic Services Consultants Association for his services to the industry and in 2011, Paul was awarded the Queensland Master Plumbers Industry Leadership award, for his role in education and mentoring young contractors.

Paul is a member of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials based in the USA. He currently serves on the AS 3500 review committee.

For a person who set out just to make a difference, a Medal of the Order of Australia is recognition for a lifetime of dedication and achievements.

About Paul Funnell