Airmaster ACT grows on Ngunnawal country
Left to right: Miles Corompt - Strategic Solutions Director, Wayne Bover - Group Managing Director, Uncle Warren Daley - Traditional Custodian and Elder of the Ngunnawal Peoples, Wayne van Aken - State Manager QLD / Director, Gaurav Malik - National Planning Manager Daikin Australia and Melvyn Lee - General Manager - Finance.
As part of a period of continued growth, Airmaster has relocated to new, larger premises in the ACT.
The new headquarters at 139 Canberra Avenue in Fyshwick will allow Airmaster to better accommodate its growing team, which now numbers around 50 and represents the largest HVAC technician base in the capital territory.
Airmaster’s presence in the ACT has grown considerably in the last year, increasing its maintenance business while continuing to work on some of the region’s largest infrastructure projects. These include HVAC upgrades for Defence accommodation, and the replacement of gas-fired boilers with energy efficient heat pump chillers at the Australian National University.
Located on Ngunnawal country – the land of the region’s Indigenous people and first inhabitants – the new branch was officially opened with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony conducted by Uncle Warren Daley, a Traditional Custodian and Elder of the Ngunnawal Peoples.
The Smoking Ceremony is an ancient custom that involves the burning of various native plants to produce smoke that cleanses the area, and the people present, of bad spirits while also promoting the protection and wellbeing of visitors.
“Acknowledging the Indigenous peoples and land on which our business operates is foundational to Airmaster’s Reconciliation Action Plan, and we were honoured to have Uncle Warren Daley conduct the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony at our new location,” says Beau Watts, Airmaster ACT Branch Manager.
Airmaster’s Reconciliation Action Plan was formally endorsed in 2019 and is championed by a dedicated working group led by Irene Winter, Airmaster’s Management Systems Coordinator and championed by the company’s Board of Directors.
“Our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan outlines distinct actionable items that will help Airmaster work towards reconciliation and is separated into four sections: Relationships, Respect, Opportunities and Governance,” says Wayne Bover, Airmaster Group Managing Director.
“The process has been one of education and enlightenment and brought us all together in a shared vision to build strong, meaningful and practical connections that make a real difference.”
Reflecting Airmaster’s commitment, the new ACT premises features a mural completed by Duncan Smith OAM from Canberra-based performance and cultural group, the Wiradjuri Echoes. Duncan is also the father of an Airmaster employee.
The mural, located in the board room, illustrates a Meeting Place and shows a Meeting taking place around a fire. Around the Meeting are symbols representing the Brindabella Mountains and Murrumbidgee River, and other symbols representing Airmaster customers. Footprints of both the Emu and Kangaroo also feature.
Handprints around the mural are of those staff members to have worked with Airmaster for over five years. Each year, more handprints will be added as staff members reach their five-year anniversary with the company.
Visit the Airmaster ACT office:
Ground Floor, 139 Canberra Avenue
Fyshwick ACT 2609
Phone: (02) 6126 9800
Airmaster acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Lands where we live and work. We would also like to pay our respect to Australia’s First Peoples; and to their Elders both past and present, and we extend respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples today.