Our CPB Contractors team delivering the Integrated Nepean Hospital project have completed their final concrete pour, topping out the 14-storey structure.
In recognition of the milestone, CPB Contractors held a Topping Out Ceremony, where a tree is placed on a newly completed building or helipad, and an award ceremony recognising the project team’s strong commitment to safety. As part of the event, two indigenous trainees Tahlia Blacklock and Toora Randall from western Sydney program, Diz Footprints, were recognised for the completion of their two-year traineeship at CPB Contractors’ Nepean and Campbelltown Hospital Redevelopment projects.
Congratulations to the team and all those involved. The completed structure stands just over 65m high and required more than 23,000m³ of concrete and more than 2000T of reinforcement – weighing as much as 200 jumbo jets!
Meet our CPB Contractors partner
Doug Delaney, Founder of Indigenous trainee program Diz Footprints
Director for Diz Footprints and former NRL halfback Doug Delaney works with organisations like CPB Contractors to improve the welfare, education and career opportunities for Indigenous Youth.
Through our partnership with program, as many as 20 students have gained valuable on-the-job experience on our major infrastructure projects, all while working towards completing the Certificate II in Construction Pathways.
Doug’s mother was from the Dunghutti and Ngaku people and was raised on the Burnt Bridge mission in Kempsey, while his father was a proud Kamilroi man from North West NSW and was raised on Burra Bee Dee Mission in Coonabarabran. Doug himself grew up in the Western Sydney suburb of Mt Druitt.
Before starting his career as a successful Rugby League halfback, Doug followed his mum’s advice and first went into construction: “My upbringing has been very diverse. Over the last 30 years, I have benefited from learning my trade and understanding the value of team through professional sport. Still, most importantly, I have learned about my connection to the land and the Aboriginal Culture Duty of Care philosophies (ACDC) that has been handed down from my elders and Aboriginal Practitioners,” Doug said.
“Infrastructure can connect, grow and service cities and communities, but through sharing these philosophies we have been able to protect our Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, while positively impacting social and economic change through sustainable and environmental integrity.”
“I instill these values into our young fullas when they start working with us. While they might be learning a new trade and improving their numeracy and literacy skills, my passion is also to demonstrate Aboriginal Cultural Duty of Care philosophies, share our knowledge and reconnect them with their cultural heritage and identity.”
“The Nepean Hospital Redevelopment team at CPB Contractors has done so much for the local Aboriginal community. Their commitment to reconciliation and embracing our philosophies is demonstrated in the two-tower cranes that depict the Dreamtime Serpent's story, making the Blue Mountains and the Nepean River. Designed by our trainees, this mural is Reconciliation at its best,” Doug said.
What NAIDOC 2020 means to Doug Delaney
Doug believes the NAIDOC theme for 2020, Always Was, Always Will be, highlights the resilience of the Aboriginal People.“We are one of the oldest surviving living cultures. We have overcome many unfortunate events over the last few centuries. However, the strength of our ancestors to overcome extreme difficulties is something quite extraordinary. I believe our resilience is a result of the philosophies deeply embedded in our cultural heritage. Our greatest lore is love one another, our ability is what we are capable of doing, our motivation determines what we do, and our attitude determines how well we do it.”
“Aboriginal Culture Duty of Care philosophies were taught at night to keep our laws, hopes, and dreams intact and, most of all, keep our people together regardless of what was thrown at them. This gave them a great constitution to overcome the challenges they experience in life at that time. It wasn’t an easy journey for our mob, but the dream continues with hope,” he said.