By Bronwyn Hastings

Horsham-based bricklayer Hans Schampers is retiring after 53 years in the industry.

He has built homes across the Wimmera as an independent tradesman since the age of 18, and like a true tradesman, he has had many an opportunity to point out his handiwork while driving around the district.

“Especially when the kids were smaller, I’d drive past and say, ‘I remember that house’, and in McIntyre Street, I probably did eight houses there over a period of time,” he said.

“I did an apprenticeship with Perc Coutts, which started in 1973. We camped out a lot because he did a lot of commercial buildings, banks and schools, throughout the state. 

“I was 15 and living in a pub, which wasn’t ideal, but I got through. In the end, Dad said I should have a go by myself and that’s where it started.

“On my first job I was just shaking like a leaf.”

At the age of 18, Mr Schampers made the major purchase of a $75 wheelbarrow and traded in his fancy car for an old work ute.

“That knocked my pride in a bit, but anyway,” he said.

Working on his own, he said it took about six weeks to build a house.

“The hard task is when you come on a job and you see eight or nine thousand bricks sitting there and you know you have to deal with every one of them,” he said.

“But once you get your first wall up, then you’re away. You get paid by the brick, so the rules are fairly simple – you do bugger all, you get paid bugger all, so it’s up to you, you’ve got to put the hours in.”

Mr Schampers worked alongside Jeff Milton in the 1980s; the pair qualified about the same time, when payment was about 20 cents a brick, and will both retire after bricking is complete on their current John Street house.

Mr Schampers asked Mr Milton to help on his final project, where payment is about $2 a brick. 

“Originally, I had to do this by myself, but I had leg issues, and there’s no way I could have finished it by myself,” Mr Schampers said.

Mr Milton worked around Casterton and Coleraine before moving to Horsham where he worked for Mr Coutts and then Locks Constructions. 

“I have had one knee done, and I have just seen the surgeon to get the other one done, so I will finish up then,” Mr Milton said. Mr Schampers said he has enjoyed his career – where the only major change in technology and strategy was the purchase of a brick cutter – but it was time to finish.

“I’ve enjoyed it, but I am sick of it now,” he said.

“I couldn’t see myself sitting around the house five days a week – I’d like to work a couple of days with someone else, not brick-related. 

“It’s been good, but the time has come. Once the weather gets a bit better, we’ll be able to go fishing, and do all the things we used to do.”

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