EarnLearn logo white stacked version
Meet Winnie
PGD Apprentice
Rawinia Preston

Winnie is helping pave the way for more women in Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying.

Trade Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying
Employer Waterwise Wairarapa
Location Masterton
Apprentice Story

Meet Winnie

Rawinia Preston and Sarah Summer have inadvertently become the flag wavers for attracting more women into careers in plumbing.

Rawinia, or Winnie as she’s known, is about to enter her third year as an apprentice plumber, gasfitter, drainlayer with Waterwise Wairarapa, in Masterton, training through EarnLearn. Her journey to becoming a PGD apprentice started while she was in an administration role with another local plumbing company.

“I heard what the boys were doing on the job and at first I just thought if I learned a bit more about it, it would help me in my admin job,” Winnie says. “I started spending one day a week going on the tools and I just really enjoyed it.”

A chance meeting with Waterwise Wairarapa director and administration manager Sarah Summers meant Winnie was able to turn her newfound interest in becoming a PGD apprentice into action.

“One of my business goals when I met Winnie was to get a female apprentice into our business. Being a woman in the plumbing industry you realise there just aren’t a lot of women plumbers. I think Winnie is the only female plumber in the Wairarapa,”

– Sarah Summers

“I always wanted to get a female apprentice because I really strongly believe anyone can do the job. It shouldn’t be seen as a male-oriented skill. Winnie’s really shown that. She’s just picked it up so quickly. Even though she’s only in her second year I’m happy to send her on jobs on her own.

“She’s perfectly capable of thinking about what she has to do and trying to work it out if she has a problem, but she’s also never afraid to pick up the phone and talk it through with someone,” Sarah says.

Winnie is one of 12 plumbers at Waterwise Wairarapa, and aside from being able to work outside a lot, being part of a wider team of plumbers is a highlight of her job.

“The guys I work with just make the job so much more enjoyable. You are doing some nitty gritty stuff on this job so if you’ve got a good team around you, it really just makes your job so much better.

“We’re all at different levels. Some are qualified, and then we have apprentices from first year to fourth and fifth year. So everyone’s been there and doing it. There’s always someone who’s been there and done it.”

Having started her apprenticeship in her early 30s, with some life experience has made the transition a little easier, Winnie says, but adds that shouldn’t dissuade other young women from giving a PGD apprenticeship a go.

“Honestly, just give it a go. The only person that’s stopping you is yourself. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t but you  won’t know if you like it, if you’re not willing to try it.

“I’ve only met one other woman plumber so far on a block course. I’d love to see others come into the industry. Most people have come to terms with the idea of women plumbers. I love to hear about others out there interested in it.

“I also really like that my son gets to see how dirty I get on the job. He’s nearly 12 and I think it’s good that he sees his mum get out there and try to do something.”

Sarah says the staff has easily adapted to having Winnie on the team. “I have noticed that everybody’s health and safety has gotten a bit better! Winnie’s not necessarily as strong when it comes to things like trench digging or moving heavy wheelbarrows, but the team is just really flexible in how it approaches that. I think it helps too that Winnie has a big personality.”

Winnie says she feels really fortunate to have met Sarah when she did, and is grateful they were willing to take her on as an apprentice.

“I really feel that I lucked out with the company I’m employed with. They’ve been so supportive and took a chance on me because I really didn’t know if I was going to like it, though actually I haven’t looked back.

“If you had asked me 10 years ago if I was going to be a plumber, I would have told you you were joking. And here I am about to start my third year.

“I remember saying to a friend that one day I’m going to have a van parked in my drive with all my tools in there that are mine.Then six months into my apprenticeship I looked at the van parked in my driveway and thought ‘holy moly you did it’!”

Click here to learn about our plumbing, gasfitting & drainlaying programme →