20 Questions With James Stampfli Jimenii Gardens
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What’s Your Trade?
Horticulture.
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How Long Have You Been In The Game?
23 years.
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Why Did You Choose Horticulture?
I always enjoyed working outdoors.
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Did You Cop Any First-Year Apprentice Initiations?
Yes, someone rubbed a super-hot chilli around the top of my drink bottle once… that hurt.
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What Was The Toughest Part Of Your Apprenticeship?
Doing all the worst jobs on site.
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Was It A Relief When Your Time Was Up?
Only from the money side of things; the one day at TAFE per week was fun.
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What Role Did You Jump Into Once It Was Done?1.
I went travelling OS for a few years and worked for a gardening company in Switzerland.
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Did You Feel Like You Got A Little More Respect Around The Site When You Got Your Trade?
Yes.
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What Site Are You On Now?
Many different sites.
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What Kind Of Site Do You Mostly Work On? Commercial, Resi?
Residential.
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How Big A Part Does Having The Right Tools For The Job Play For You?
The job cannot be done without them.
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Where Do You Want To Take Your Role From Here?
I currently run my own business with six staff. That’s big enough for me.
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Do You Work Long Hours?
Yes.
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Do You Get To Travel Much With Your Job?
No.
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What’s The Funniest Thing You’ve Seen On Site?
One of my clients got caught in her lift once and I had to rescue her, which took hours.
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What’s The Scariest Thing You’ve Seen On Site?
A cross-dressing 80-year-old man.
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If You Could Have Picked Any Other Trade, What Would It Have Been?
Plumber, but only because they get paid better.
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What Do You Do For Fun Off The Site?
Mountain biking, surfing and good times with family and friends.
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What Are Your Long-Term Plans Work-Wise?
Keep working until I’ve had enough.
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If You Had To Start Your Time Again, What Would You Have Done Different?
Nothing!