L-R: BMD Communications Graduate Ethan Malt with three junior players, BMD Executive General Manager of Constructions Jeff Gallus, Wynnum Manly Juniors Coaching Director Mick Haggarty and Wynnum Manly Juniors Coach Danny Eaton. Photo: Supplied.
Family-owned civil contractor BMD has mobilised its young graduate workforce to build four new player dugouts for the Wynnum Manly Junior Rugby League Football Club, enhancing the club’s facilities for its under 6’s through to under 10’s teams.
The new dugouts – designed to provide players with a space to rest, recover and strategise during games – will greatly improve the young footballers’ overall experience, particularly as they play over the warmer months.
The new dugouts came to fruition through the support of BMD’s Foundations Graduate Program, where as part of a learning module, the cohort of 47 graduates were split into four teams and tasked to build a dugout each.
With a tight timeframe of just 36 hours, the four teams successfully delivered the four dugouts, utilising over 800 metres of timber, 2800 screws and bolts, and 60 bags of rapid-set concrete.
The graduates were given mock roles within their teams that corresponded to real jobs in the civil construction sector and had to follow BMD’s HSEQ Excellence safety processes as part of the exercise.
To ensure the Juniors received top-quality structures and everyone stayed safe, the business supported the initiative by operating under BMD Group business JMac Constructions’ builders’ licence, utilising its skilled tradespeople.
BMD’s Executive General Manager of Constructions Jeff Gallus said through this year’s program, BMD is preparing for the future growth of its site teams as well as the growth of the Wynnum Juniors club.
“BMD believes collaboration and the sharing of knowledge is vital to the construction industry and we instil this in the next generation of our workforce from early on in their careers,” Mr Gallus said.
“Exposing our graduates to an immersive experience where they are on the tools and overcoming real-life challenges is vital to them adopting a collaborative mindset and being able to problem-solve and yield great outcomes for our future projects.”
BMD Communications Graduate and Wynnum Manly Seagulls HostPlus Cup Forward Ethan Malt said it was a special initiative for him to take part in given his connection to BMD and the Seagulls.
“Having played for the Seagulls since I was seven, it was extremely rewarding to give back to a community that has provided me with so much throughout my footballing journey,” Mr Malt said.
BMD’s Foundations Graduate program provides structured workplace learning and development to help graduates bridge the gap between formal education and the workforce. Held over 18 months, it provides graduates with accelerated success and a clear pathway for their future.
Despite being Australia’s largest privately owned civil contractor, BMD was founded by long-term resident of Wynnum Manly Mick Power AM, and the business remains deeply entrenched in the region.
