Two of the biggest names in Western Australia's building industry have shared the honours in receiving the top award from the MBA.
Two of the biggest names in Western Australia's building industry have shared the honours in receiving the top award from the MBA.
Gary Brown-Neaves and Dale Alcock, co-directors of the ABN Group, have been presented with the 2008 Robert Law Award after they both started out in the industry as bricklayers.
The award is presented to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the building industry in WA.
ABN Group, Australia's second largest home builder, is a registered charitable organisation providing $700,000 to various causes.
Full announcement below:
Industry Doyens Win Top Builders' Award
Two industry doyens have been honoured by Master Builders for their outstanding contribution to the residential construction industry and to the Western Australian community.
Gary Brown-Neaves and Dale Alcock, Co-Directors of the ABN Group, Australia's second largest home builder, were presented with the 2008 Robert Law Award at a luncheon for industry executives on 5 November. The award, named after the Association's first President in 1898, is made to an individual or organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the building industry in WA.
According to MBA President, George Allingame, both of this year's winners began their involvement in the industry as bricklayers. From this trade background, Gary established Webb & Brown-Neaves in 1979 to construct quality specialist or display homes in higher priced categories. In 1987 Dale Alcock Homes was established. More recently Gary and Dale formed the ABN Group which has built over 31,000 homes in WA. In 2008 the Group entered the Victorian housing market.
"Gary and Dale's trade background probably explains their commitment to training as they currently indenture around 300 apprentices", Mr Allingame said.
In addition to their successful business operations which employ over 900 persons directly and 2,500 sub-contractors, Mr Allingame said their willingness to give something back to the community was noteworthy.
"The ABN Foundation is a registered charitable organisation which provided $700,000 to worthy causes last year", Mr Allingame said.
Messrs Alcock and Brown-Neaves join previous Robert Law Winners such as Homeswest, Graham Kierath, Len Buckeridge, John Roberts, Plunkett Homes, Ron Scott, Graham Glick, Gervase Purich the Geraldton Building Company and Rob Torrance.
