Calling all you Tradies:

[Dogwatcher]

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR AUSTRALIA’S BEST ALL-ROUND TRADIE.



REGISTRATIONS FOR THE KING GEE JACK OF ALL TRADES CLOSE NEXT WEEK



Wednesday 1st August, 2007 - The search is on for Australia’s best all-round tradie and it’s now or never for those tradies who think they’ve got the skills on the tools to take out the title of the King Gee Jack of All Trades. Registrations close this Monday, August 6th 2007 so head to http://www.kinggeejackofalltrades.com.au now and fill out the application form online for your chance to star in a brand new TV series on Channel Nine and win over 100,000 worth of prizes including a brand new Holden VE Ute.



Winner of the 2006 King Gee Jack of All Trades, Brad Lawrence (Central Coast, NSW), is onboard this year as a technical advisor for the series, Celebrity chippy Luke van Dyck ( Nine Network) is back as the technical presenter alongside Zoo Magazine’s, Lisa Jenkins.



To all the tradies thinking of entering this year, Luke Van Dyck exclaims “I think all the tradies that participated in the Jack of All Trades got a rude shock at the difficulty of the event. This is the real deal, the days were long and the challenges were tough….. but you have the chance of taking home the trophy and all the prizes. Being recognised by the industry for trade excellence in front of the whole country, it can’t get any better than that. Lets face it the publicity will be great for business”



Van Dyck comments the King Gee Jack of All Trades is exactly what the industry needs “This really puts the spot light back on the building industry in a positive way. Once again every kid wants to be a tradesperson”.



“This is the real deal no trick cinematography here, what you see is what actually happens, remember you are not only competing against the clock, but against all the other tradies, the pressure will be on. This is truly a unique opportunity to get the message out there that we are more than just tradies, we are professional business people who like to win” says Van Dyck.



State qualifying events will be held from August through to October all around Australia, with the first heat taking place at the Brisbane Ekka on Friday August 17th 2007. Get along to catch all the action from the qualifying heats as Australia’s top tradies race each other against the clock to determine who has the best all-round trade skills and physical ability on the tools, with workmanship, safety and organizational efficiency a top priority.



The five winners of each state event, plus three carefully selected ‘Wild Card’ entries will then proceed to battle it out in an all new head-to-head contest format at the Grand Final event in Sydney. All the hot tradie action will then be turned into a thrilling 7-part TV series, The King Gee Jack of All Trades which hits the big screen in on Channel Nine, commencing December 2nd 2007 at 12noon.



The King Gee Jack of All Trades is bought to you by King Gee, Holden & Kennards Hire.





---ends---



For further information please contact Nikki Jones @ Brand New media Entertainment on 02 9431 9038 or njones@brandnewmedia.com.au





STATE QUALIFYING EVENTS

EVENT
LOCATION
DATES

BRISBANE
EKKA
Friday 17th August 2007

SYDNEY
EASTERN CREEK
Sunday 2nd September 2007

ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE ROYAL SHOW
Saturday 8th September 2007

MELBOURNE
MELBOURNE ROYAL SHOW
Sunday 30th September 2007

PERTH
PERTH ROYAL SHOW
Saturday 6th October 2007






THE FINAL

The Grand Final event will be staged indoors in a Sydney Studio, Dates TBC.



EVENT RUNDOWN

TIME
Challenge Time
CHALLENGE / DESCRIPTION





12:00pm
20mins
Design Challenge - draw out your plan for the letterbox and mark on the ply





12:30pm
20mins
Carpentry Challenge - cut and assemble the letterbox





1:00pm
10mins
Painting Challenge - paint the letterbox





1:15pm
5mins
King Gee Entertainment Challenge





1:30pm
15mins
Sculpture Challenge- carve a unique sculpture out of a single block of Hebel brick





1:45pm
5mins
Grinding Challenge - using a power grinder, grind bolts from a sheet of steel





2:00pm
10mins
Tiling Challenge - tile a section of floor, cutting tiles to shape.





2:15pm
5mins
Demolition Challenge - remove tiles and dismantle the letterbox




ENTER NOW

Applications are now open for those ready to take on the tradies’ challenge, apply online now at http://www.kinggeejackofalltrades.com.au . Registrations close Monday August 6th 2007.



COMPETITION BACKGROUND



After completing the online application, competitors will be short-listed with 8 from each state being chosen to compete in the state qualifying events at sports style arenas set up around Australia. At the qualifying state rounds, tradies will be set eight different trade challenges which will test their abilities in design, carpentry, painting, showmanship, sculpting, grinding, tiling and demolition.



They will be judged on the quality of their work, the time taken to complete each task, the adherence to safety requirements, their organisational skills, plus the creativity and innovation demonstrated in the construction. The Final will then see the five state winners plus three Wild Cards battle it out for the inaugural King Gee Jack of all Trades crown.

[smac]

If I participated, the first 3 (plan, build and paint letter box) would have me winning the 4th challenge (entertainment).

I envy anyone who has a better than average skill level with all this stuff. Dad is a builder and when we are doing stuff around my place, the most heard phrase is "give it here before you f*ck it up".

[Psyber]

I'm definitely a non-tradie - in Grade 7 I topped woodwork by getting 51% for the years practical work and 99% for the theory paper - the average of 75% put me 8% in front of the guy who came second. The teacher was in shock - I'd been the obvious dunce of the practical class all year.

We all have our talents - mine just aren't the practical ones. When I pick up a hammer my wife goes away...