General News
30 March, 2022
Sophie Molan makes history with excellence
TERANG’S Sophie Molan has been recognised for her excellence after trading in a career in hairdressing to drive 50 tonnes of earth moving machinery.
TERANG’S Sophie Molan has been recognised for her excellence after trading in a career in hairdressing to drive 50 tonnes of earth moving machinery.
Ms Molan was recently awarded The Gordon Building and Construction Excellence Award 2021 after completing her Certificate III in Civil Construction (Plant Operations) through The Gordon TAFE in Geelong.
“I feel really good to have won the award,” she said.
“There were three finalists from across construction and building backgrounds, and one of the finalists was in the same industry as me.
“We were all nominated by our teachers, and from there we were shortlisted and went through an online interview, due to COVID-19, with a panel of four people.
“From there, they chose the person they felt was best for the award.”
Ms Molan had been nominated by her teacher Brad Humphreys, who cited the ease in which she had adapted to the challenges of online learning and the punctuality with which she approached the theoretical aspects of study.
Ms Molan completed her certificate, which can take as long as three years, in just 18 months during a lockdown-impacted 2020-2021 period.
She said living in a regional area helped to avoid some of the greater restrictions in metropolitan areas.
“It was easier as we were still working the whole time, but some of it was hard because we had to learn online,” she said.
“But our teacher made his way out every six weeks to see us, so he made sure he made the time for us.”
Ms Molan has since become the first woman employed by W.A Molan and Sons, her family’s business, to work in the quarries in the 91-year history of the company.
“I was the first girl which we’ve hired to go out and do all this kind of stuff,” she said.
“It feels like a win because I can show them that I can do it too.
“At the same time, there should not be any difference between males and females working in the industry.
“There should just be the same outlookfor everyone.”
Despite the connection to her proud family business and always having a level of interest in the industry, Sophie acknowledged she had originally seen a different path for herself.
“I sort of had it in the back of my mind but at 17 I went to TAFE to do hairdressing and worked in a salon one day per week,” she said.
“Then I left school and decided I needed to get a job, so I asked if I could get a job at Molan’s and I’ve loved it ever since.
“I was scared at first to drive the machines because they’re just so much bigger, but once I learnt it was so easy.”
Ms Molan said as the fifth generation to work for the family business, she hopes to work towards one day becoming part of the Molan’s ownership structure.