Whittens

Whittens supports the Cooma Rugby Union Football Club because the values of teamwork, resilience, mateship and looking after one another mirror the culture we build on our projects every day.

So, we were proud to attend the club’s annual Old Boys Day last weekend, hear from hilarious guest speaker and former Wallaby Justin Harrison, and watch the Red Devils deliver a dominant 48-12 win over the Yass Rams.

Regional clubs like the Red Devils are the backbone of country communities - bringing people together, building connection and creating a strong sense of pride on and off the field.

We’re proud to stand alongside the club and back the people who keep regional rugby thriving.

Footy 📷 courtesy The Monaro Post

We’re shining a light on safety in every tunnel, every task and every shift.

In complex underground environments, safe systems of work are just the starting point.

At Whittens, “Keeping Our Mates Safe” means looking out for each other, speaking up when something’s not right, staying alert to workplace hazards and making sure everyone goes home safely.

From planning and preparation to the quality delivery of works onsite, our teams continue to lead with accountability, teamwork and care for their mates.

Meet Craig Fabar! From commercial concreting in Newcastle to now leading crews on one of Australia’s most iconic infrastructure projects, Craig Fabar takes every step of the career journey in his stride.

A long-term Whittens employee and keen runner, Craig has built his skills and experience across a range of projects and now as a Construction Foreman, he coordinates day-to-day works for the concrete crew. From planning pours with supervisors and engineers, liaising with the batching plant, and working closely with engineers and client QA teams, Craig works hard to ensure every pour meets the highest standards.

He says the real challenge working with concrete is that things don’t always go to plan, and it’s problem-solving under pressure that keeps the job interesting.

Why does he enjoy working with Whittens? “The culture is second to none. The mateship onsite is awesome - everyone helps each other out to make projects a success. I’ve made lifelong friends here.”

The Whittens value that resonates most with Craig is Passion - the shared drive, from top to bottom, to deliver quality work and have fun doing it.

Craig’s progression from concreter to foreman is a testament to the opportunities available at Whittens for those willing to learn, grow and bring passion to the job.

Meet Jason Hodnett!

Jason joined Whittens in 2017 as a formwork carpenter and didn’t stop there. With the opportunity to progress and develop his skills, he’s stepped up into leadership roles as a Leading Hand, Foreman, and most recently Supervisor on major infrastructure projects in WA’s Pilbara and regional NSW.

In 2023, he proudly completed his Diploma in Training and Assessing, further strengthening his career.

Says Jason: “I love working for Whittens - I work with really good people. I definitely feel part of the furniture here and am always supported and encouraged.”

Originally from Carrigtwohill in Cork, Jason lives in Baldivis in Perth and is a man of many interests. Whether it’s playing golf, DJ-ing, a game of darts (he once played the legendary world champion Phil "The Power" Taylor in an exhibition match!), or enjoying a good Guinness or two, he knows how to make the most of life.

We’re pleased to have Jason on our team - a great example of growth, mateship, and dedication at Whittens!

🚧 If you're a talented, qualified pumpy looking for a FIFO role in the NSW Snowy Mountains, please get in contact! To apply, send your resume to [email protected] 🚧

Meet Tom Wallace!
From starting out as a Steelfixer to becoming a Senior Supervisor, Tom Wallace’s journey with Whittens is a story of commitment, hard work, growth, and living our values every day.

Now leading the planning and ex*****on of reinforcement tunnel works, Tom’s role covers everything from tooling, deliveries and site inspections, to safety, pre-starts, and daily checks.

What drives him? The teamwork. “I enjoy the different challenges each project brings and how our team adapts to get the best outcome possible,” says Tom. “We back and encourage each other, and that makes all the difference.”

For Tom, Whittens’ values aren’t just words on a wall: “From the directors down, everyone stands by them. It’s very important knowing we’re all on the same page.”

His career has taken him across Australia, and in his downtime, Tom’s passion projects keep him just as busy. He’s restoring an old XY Falcon, enjoys riding his Harley, and following rugby league. He’s travelled the world with his wife – from walking the Great Wall of China and visiting Mt Fuji, to setting foot in the White House and even Alcatraz prison (as a visitor!).

Thanks for bringing your leadership, loyalty, and mateship to every project Tom.

Today, Whittens was proud to host a Cooma Women in Business lunch, bringing together 60 women shaping business, community and industry across the Snowy Monaro.

Guests connected, shared experiences and were inspired by Kate Christie - writer, speaker and best-selling author of The Life List - who delivered an engaging, interactive workshop: How To Change Your Life in 90 Seconds.

Hosted by CEO Louise Whitten, the event reinforced the importance of supporting the communities in which we live and work.

Louise said: “Much of our work takes place in regional and remote communities, and wherever we go, it’s important to us that we contribute positively. Today is about giving back to the businesswomen who help this region thrive.”
Alpine Hotel

Today is World Day for Safety and Health at Work - a reminder of the importance of protecting people from workplace injury and illness.

At Whittens, safety isn’t just a priority for a day, it’s a commitment we live every day. We work hard to safeguard the health, safety, and wellbeing of every person across our sites.

From our Keeping Our Mates Safe framework, to the strong connections we build across our teams, to working with MATES in Construction. Here are some of the ways we’ve worked to protect our people over the last year.
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Whittens was built on the same principles that underpin great football teams – discipline, hard work, accountability and having your mates’ backs.

Whittens still thrives on these values today, so it was only fitting that NRL great and passionate safety advocate, Shane Webcke, joined us onsite to speak with our teams.

Across an outstanding career, Shane played 254 games for the Brisbane Broncos, represented Queensland in 24 State of Origin matches, earned 26 caps for Australia, and appeared in six NRL Grand Finals - winning premierships in 1998, 2000 and 2006.

But it is his message off the field that has left a lasting impact. Shane shared a powerful and deeply personal story, challenging us to think differently about safety and our responsibility to keep ourselves and our mates safe every day.

Shane, thank you for delivering one of the most impactful talks our teams have experienced.

Meet Brett Hagenbach!

Having started his career as a concreter, Whittens Construction Manager Brett Hagenbach is a fantastic example of the growth and development opportunities we provide for our people.

Since joining Whittens in 2016, Queenslander Brett has worked on major projects across Australia - and today leads our tunnel concreting team on a major infrastructure project in the NSW Snowy Mountains.

Brett says his role is all about people management, team culture, and client relations, as well as overseeing the delivery of major structures on site. He gains real satisfaction in helping young people grow their careers, identifying those with talent and supporting them to develop over the long term.

“Recognising people’s strengths and giving them opportunities to learn and progress is something Whittens does really well,” Brett says. “It’s why I’ve been here so long - you know you’re working with the best, most professional people in the industry. You build great mateship with them.”

He’s passionate about seeing Whittens expand, while maintaining sustainable, high-quality project outcomes across complex scopes and stakeholder groups.

The company values that resonate most with Brett are Professionalism, Loyalty and Hard Work - qualities he believes define both the Whittens culture and his personal approach.

Thanks for your leadership, loyalty, and mateship, Brett - and for helping shape the next generation of Whittens talent.