Media Release

8 November 2006

CHANNEL NINE AIRS SEARCH FOR AUSTRALIAS TOP TRADIE

Eight top Aussie tradies from across Australia battle for supremacy in Channel Nine’s new TV series

The battle of the Australian tradie will be the talk of the water cooler this summer when Channel Nine broadcasts the inaugural KingGee Jack of all Trades. “Pitting eight proud, passionate and feisty tradies against each other and the clock to build the best Aussie backyard shed is a sure fire formula for an entertaining series,” according to Van Dyck. “Fiercely contested down to the wire, the KingGee Jack of all Trades series promises to serve up some intense rivalry along with its fair share of drama and tradie humour. “The competition celebrates the well loved Aussie shed. This backyard icon represents the birth of DIY for the average Aussie bloke, and this summer’s title will be judged on the construction of the ultimate tradies’ Taj Mahal,” he said.

In episode one, Melbourne’s Peter Drofenik, a carpenter by trade and a builder at heart, takes on Jack larrikin, Melbourne’s Tim Dunlop whose greatest claim to fame is the building of a bikie club house with a 22 000 watt stereo system.

Episode two sees Townsville’s Andy Smith, a property developer builder who spends his spare time working with Camp Quality kids, face “Laser Level” Brad Lawrence from Wamberal on the NSW Central Coast.

The battle continues in episode three, when Perth stonesman Jeff Erceg pits his skills against Murray Bridge’s Dirk Jesussek; while episode four sees builder come model, amateur boxer and actor Brisbane’s Evert McQueen versus father of five, Adelaide’s Scott Peters - a builder whose plethora of gold chains brings the bling back into the building game.

The winner from each of the first four episodes proceeds to the final, where over four episodes the best tradie in the country will be decided. Hailing from the five mainland states, the eight contestants will become television stars as they compete for the winner’s prize pool worth $100,000 and the inaugural title of KingGee Jack of all Trades.

•Jack of all Trades TV schedule

•Episode 1: Saturday December 2 – Peter Drofenik (Vic) V Tim Dunlop (Vic)

•Episode 2: Sunday December 3 – Andy Smith (Qld) V Brad Lawrence (NSW)

•Episode 3: Saturday December 9 - Dirk Jessusek (SA) V Jeff Erceg (WA)

•Episode 4: Sunday December 10 – Evert McQueen (Qld) V Scott Peters (SA)

•Episode 5: Saturday December 16 - FINAL

•Episode 6: Sunday December 17 - FINAL

•Episode 7: Saturday December 30 - FINAL

•Episode 8: Saturday January 6 2007 – FINAL

•State Based Television Schedule

Jack of all Trades contestants

•Brad Lawrence from Wamberal, NSW Central Coast

•Jeff Erceg from Noranda, Perth, Western Australia

•Dirk Jesussek from Murray Bridge, South Australia

•Andrew Smith from Wulguru, Townsville, Queensland

• Peter Drofenik from Heathcote Junction, Melbourne, Victoria

•Tim Dunlop of Seaholme, Melbourne, Victoria

•Scott Peters of Seaton, Adelaide, South Australia

•Evert McQueen of Sandgate, Brisbane, Queensland

The KingGee Jack of all Trades finalists:

Brad Lawrence of Wamberal (Central Coast, NSW) Known to his friends as ‘Laser Level Lawrence’, Brad is a super enthusiastic builder whose work reflects his gusto. Building his first home has been his favorite project, using inventive techniques to achieve a personal touch- “I put a lot of my own ideas into the house like re-using a felled tree from the site as a dressed structural pole, and special drainage systems in the bathrooms.” Brad has a passion for sports-kite boarding and considers himself quite the dancer – (“after a few drinks anyway”). Brad is highly excited about the competition and out to win the crown… “This is my contest! BRING IT ON I want to win this”!

Jeff Erceg of Noranda (Perth, WA) He is a stonesman who is bursting with energy- “I am completely insane! Extremely intense and the life of the party.” Jeff boasts a remarkable transformation of his own home- “I renovated and remodeled a hacienda style house complete with white rendered walls and green coke bottle windows into a stylish modern home complete with the ultimate home theatre set up”. Undoubtedly his pride and joy was the home theatre although Jeff humbly admits “I have to say the rest of the place is pretty sweet as well”! With typical tradie humour Jeff says “It frustrates me that I’m so bloody good”.

Dirk Jesussek of Murray Bridge (SA) He is very particular about the work he takes on- “I take pride in all my work even if it is covered in gyprock and a roof.” Whether it is renovating a one hundred year-old homestead, laying concrete in a shed, building a pergola or building an entirely new house- “Every job I do is the best!” The competition is particularly appealing for Dirk as “a chance to be on TV and to show off my great skills”.

Andrew Smith of Wulguru (Townsville, QLD) A local property developer, one of his earliest achievements was being the first apprentice in QLD to attain his building number by the end of his apprenticeship. Andrew claims he is “always the first on the shovel, screed or to lend a hand”. With this fervour for his work, it is no wonder he hardly blinked an eyelid when given the task of building an apartment and shopping complex, 30m from the beach, on an island 8km off Townsville with the transportation of men and materials alone being a highly problematic affair. Not only is Andrew a “workhorse” but his softer side is illustrated through his involvement with charity Camp Quality. Through his work in residential and commercial construction, renovations, shop fit outs and property maintenance, Andrew may well, as he claims, “give those other tradies a run for their money”!

Peter Drofenik from Heathcote Junction (Melbourne, VIC). He is a carpenter by trade and a builder at heart. He has built a 15 metre yacht from scratch, with the interior fitted from timber. He built his family home, equipped with many environmental innovations and even made his own paint!!

Tim Dunlop of Seabrook (VIC) He is the larrikin of the Jack pack, and boasts skills that even a bikie gang from Victoria could not bear to pass up. Tim’s completion of their very own bikie club house, including a 22, 000 watt stereo system with 3 separate amplifiers left his clients ecstatic, needless to say the neighbours were not quite as thrilled. A knockabout tradie with a sharp with and an eye for detail, Tim is ready to “prove once and for all that he knows more about this entire gig than anyone else” - a claim that the Jack of All Trades competition will certainly put to the test.

Scott Peters of Seaton (Adelaide, SA) puts the “bling” into building game. Scott is a colourful personality, who doesn’t let a plethora of gold chains and jewelry get in the way of his super skills of the tools. He is a fun loving father of five who, with 15 years of industry experience, is quite the carpentry connoisseur. Scott’s creative flair is constantly being applied through his passion for buying homes and restoring them to his personal taste. However his favorite project is his own home which he converted from a two bedroom shack to a large family home. He is described as a “great dad, husband, brother and son”, but the witty carpenter is also modest… “I am irresistibly good looking with a rock hard tanned body”.

Evert McQueen from Sandgate (Brisbane, QLD) was awarded a wild card entry into the final. While now a qualified builder, Evert’s working life has included stints modeling, in amateur boxing, sales and acting. He says he is “willing to give anything a go” and his friends describe him as a “bit of a clown”. Evert’s experience includes moving an entire house from one side of Brisbane to another with the reconstruction honing his skills in re-roofing, tiling, painting, fencing and concreting. Although tradesman bear an unmistakable stereotype, Evert describes himself as “not fitting into any mould” which is evident from his extensive career changes. However it seems at 36 years of age he had found his calling in building.

For further information, please contact: Julia Everingham or Elke Sutcliffe at IRPR on telephone 02 9360 1166

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