Rheem’s Aussie Plumbers’ Hidden Talent crowns winners in spectacular finale

From bullseye to brushes to beats, three local plumbers swap their tools for talent to  win a share of $10,000.

Sydney, Australia, 15 September 2025 – From battling cancer to hitting bullseyes, Canberra apprentice plumber, Alec Tompkins from Contemporary Plumbing, has proven that resilience is his greatest asset. The 20-year-old pistol shooter has been crowned the winner of Rheem’s eighth annual Aussie Plumbers’ Hidden Talent competition, clinching the top prize for his elite performance.

Starting in 2018 and hosted by comedian Shane Jacobson of Kenny fame, the competition uncovers the surprising passions of Australia’s tradespeople, with winners taking a share of $10,000. The program is designed to shine a spotlight on the breadth of skills of the plumbing community beyond the tools, and challenge outdated stereotypes.

Alec’s journey is one of extraordinary comeback. Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2024, he endured four months of chemotherapy and 15 rounds of radiotherapy before returning to his plumbing apprenticeship and sport.

As a third-generation International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) pistol shooter, this year Alec bounced back to win two national titles and three second places at the ISSF Nationals - and now Rheem’s Aussie Plumbers’ Hidden Talents. According to the judging panel, Alec demonstrated a flawless series of shots ending in a near-perfect score.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity, all the other entrants were amazing too. I started shooting following in my dad’s footsteps, he’s been my mentor since I started in 2020. My goal now is to make the Australian team, and, if that goes to plan, the Olympics is the dream,” Alec said.

“Plumbers have more skills beyond the pipes, and Alec’s story is a powerful reminder of why Rheem created this platform. His journey from battling cancer to winning this competition is a testament to the character and resilience we see in plumbers every day. All of this year’s finalists are proof that plumbing is a career full of diverse skills and opportunities. It makes us proud to celebrate this community,” John Collignon, Rheem Australia Marketing Director said.

For host Shane Jacobson, the competition has become an annual highlight. “This year showed stellar talent; just when you think you’ve seen it all, along comes another cracking and unusual submission. Rheem has really made a commitment to supporting the arts and fostering creativity in Australia’s plumbing community, and I love being part of it.”

Celebrating the finalists: From live painters to rock star plumbers

McKenzie Wilson, age 21, Live Painting (WA)

Apprentice plumber McKenzie spends her weekdays learning the trade at Maxey Plumbing, while on weekends she transforms wedding moments into live paintings. Running her own business, McKenzie The Wedding Painter, she sets up her easel at receptions and captures the couple’s big day on canvas.

McKenzie stunned the judges by completing a live painting in real time, showcasing her creativity and calm under pressure, the same skills she uses on the worksite. Her paintings have already been featured in The West Australian, but this competition gave her the chance to share her talent with the broader plumbing community.

“I started my painting business when I was 18 after seeing a video that inspired me to give it a go. I’ve loved art my whole life, but really got into oil painting back in Year 11 and during A-Level art. I’m self-taught, it took a lot of YouTube, a lot of practice, and a lot of patience. I didn’t want to make art my full-time career, which is why I also chose plumbing, but the two balance each other perfectly,” McKenzie said.

Jake & Clay Teiffel, age 25 & 23 Roxferry Music (NSW)
Brothers Jake and Clay run Jake Teiffel Plumbing by day, whilst pursuing their musical passion after hours. Together they formed the band ‘Roxferry’, writing and recording original songs that have earned them a fan base of more than 130,000 followers on Instagram, 50,000 on TikTok, and nearly eight million views on YouTube.

Jake, a contract plumber, employs his brother Clay to help balance the plumbing work with the band’s growing momentum. The duo showed why fans can’t get enough of them and embody the competition’s spirit of creativity beyond the trade.

“It feels really good to be a winner as we were up against some serious talent! We started the band when I was about six years old, pretty much my whole life. Our dad’s a plumber and we got into the trade to help support the music. Now, the plan is to do state and national tours around Australia, then hopefully head over to Europe,” Jake said.