Brady Electrical has built such a reputation in the electrical industry that it has become one of the most sought after contractors for electrical needs and lighting design.
But Christmas is not the team’s favourite time of the year.
Laura Brady, who is the company’s lighting designer and the wife of director Billy, said the preparation for the Christmas lighting program was hectic.
“It is just so busy, in fact, the last three months of the year are crazy,” she said.
“We have been working alongside the Campaspe Shire and Murray River Council with their Christmas projects, which started on November 1.
“Everyone will be looking forward to a little bit of a break before having to take them all down again on January 7.”
What started as a business with one van, an apprentice and a trailer seven years ago now has a team of 10 talented individuals with a client list the envy of the most established trade organisation.
In keeping with the expanding nature of the business its headquarters has just been updated to a modern suite opposite the company’s warehouse.
And Laura is being quite modest when she describes herself as an assistant to the office manager, Bec Dunn. It is her design work that has won over the councils of Murray River and Campaspe, to the point where the latter has designed a Christmas Trail featuring her designs in several different locations.
“We’ve had an amazing response to the reindeer with the big red bow tie in Barham and to our walk-through bauble in Moama,” she said.
The reindeer is a four-metre-tall, three-and-a-half-metre-long structure, and the bauble — alongside Moama’s soundshell — is a five-metre-tall decoration.
But the Brady company doesn’t just do Christmas; in fact, celebrating occasions and bringing attention to events has become somewhat of a speciality, with the company involved in several event lighting projects throughout Melbourne.
Since 2017 the Bradys have been designing and constructing Christmas lighting systems, while also servicing the high-end residential lighting design market in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
“This year is the biggest we have done in the Christmas space,” Laura said.
“We have 22 or 23 towns on the books.”
The Murray River Council system, which took eight weeks to design and almost a month to install, is expected to draw thousands to the path, which winds from Moama to Mathoura to Barham, Tooleybuc, Koraleigh, Moulamein, Murray Downs and Wakool.
Laura was given creative control by Billy when they won the tender for the council street lighting work based on providing an interactive community activity with an emphasis on children.
Laura said working with the likes of Sarah Ryan, Jackie Blaswick, Rachael Cresp and Beck Heyward from Murray River Council, along with Belinda Owen and Astrid O’Farrell from Campaspe Shire Council had been inspiring.
“I have a three-year-old now, daughter Harriet, so being able to provide some joy for kids who have been stuck inside for so long is a privilege,” she said.
“Working with these professional, driven women, who are so passionate about our community, is a big point of inspiration for me; having worked predominantly with men in the electrical space, it’s been an amazing experience.”
Laura and Billy’s partnership, in life and business, is well balanced.
“I push him in certain directions, but he has a fantastic eye for detail and is very passionate,” she said.
“He also has fantastic people skills, better than I do.”
Laura has a Diploma in Business and Billy completed his apprenticeship with Kyabram’s Don Morris, with whom he worked for 11 years before going out on his own.
“We’ve had the biggest couple of years with COVID,” Laura said.
“The trade industry has been very busy and we are lucky to have a strong client base here in Kyabram.”
MBM Designs and Brendan Roberts Construction are the two major builders in Kyabram that work with the company, along with a Melbourne-based builder, for whom they do a lot of specialised work.
“About 70 per cent of our work is in the Kyabram region. We have some great realationships in the town,” Laura said.
The business is among several that have played a key role, on a voluntary basis, in bringing Kyabram Fauna Park to the point where it could apply for its major refurbishment grant.
“There were several Kyabram businesses that donated to the park: Hurley’s Hotel, Empire Signs, Cantech Engineering, Brendan Roberts Construction, Salters Panel works, just to name a few off the top of my head,” Laura said.
“It’s something we are proud of.”
Christmas will bring with it a chance for Laura and Billy to take a breath and bring in the new year, as they continue to set a cracking pace in the electrical industry.
And their passion for Kyabram is obvious.
“We love the town,” Laura said.
“Creating a vision for the town and then having that become a reality is one of our goals.
“Providing activities for children in Kyabram is really a focus point for the future. If we can play a role in that it would be terrific.”
