32 DESIGN : DEAR PLUMBERS
Plumbers , keep on plumbing !
By D . S ( Vollie ) Brink Pr . Eng . MSAICE , MPMISA
Vollie Brink is one of the industry ’ s longest-serving wet services engineers . He continues to serve on SABS committees and has been involved in the Green Building Council ’ s Green Star rating system . Brink continues to consult for various organisations while enjoying a wellearned retirement .
“ The engineers can do the paperwork but , in the end , we need the plumber with his / her practical skills , to make it a reality and to work .”
This year is going to be very busy for me . I must renew my registration as professional engineer as well as renew my driver ’ s license and I must also renew my ID – and ‘ Mr Covid ’ is still around and working !
However , the dear plumber is still around to install and service our plumbing , which keeps us healthy . This made me think how valuable the plumber is in our daily lives and how much we need them and that we cannot do without them .
There are some people who want to change the plumber , and to change what they do and how they do what they do . We can talk a lot about this , but we need the plumber – as a plumber to do the plumbing !
If you change the plumber , then we still need a plumber in his or her place . We cannot live without the plumber and we cannot change the hierarchy – which is incomplete with a plumber .
However , the plumber can move up the ladder , but it can still be in the plumbing-related environment and perhaps in management or manufacturing or as representative or training or specialising in various fields , but we still need highly competent Plumbers with tools to do the practical work .
The engineers can do the paperwork but , in the end , we need the plumber with his / her practical skills , to make it a reality and to work .
I have heard so much about the ‘ bakkie plumber ’ as if the latter is not a good plumber . But all plumbers have a ‘ bakkies , which is part and parcel of the ‘ tools ’ of any plumber .
Dear plumbers , including bakkie plumbers , have a wonderful new year and keep on plumbing , since as plumbers , we all need you !
Be proud of who you are and what you do and look after your ‘ tools ’ and ‘ bakkie ’.
Happy new year ! PA
Kind regards ,
Vollie photo created by freepik www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline January 2022 Volume 27 I Number 11