Wayne completed his Textile Canvas Making Apprenticeship at Pickers Vinyl & Canvas with the original George Pickers in 1980. Wayne left Cairns for Sydney in early 1982 and upon his return to Cairns, Wayne went back to work for Pickers again, this time with Mark’s Dad and Uncle, Robert & Peter Leitner.
Wayne was previously an installer and quoter, however you’ll mostly find Wayne today inside the Pickers Vinyl & Canvas manufacturing plant as Foreman, overseeing the factory & quality control of all shade sails for commercial and residential.
Tobruk Memorial Pool was a standout project for Wayne, across the 6 x weeks of manufacture, Wayne said ‘there was many hours spent cutting the Monotec 370 series shade cloth” an overall 6-week project inside the factory. Installation was fast and efficient, with the Tobruk Memorial Pool being completely emptied for the install, we had an array of cherry pickers in the pool for the sails to go up, during this down time Tobruk refurbished their pool tiling.
Tracey Whalan started working at Pickers Vinyl & Canvas when she was 21 years old with Mark’s Dad and Uncle, Robert & Peter in 1985. Tracey’s husband, Wayne Whalan, was the one that got her the job where she was predominately cleaning shelves. To this day, as Director of the company, Tracey still assists the team members in cleaning shelves and managing the Administration of Accounts and Human Resources.
Portofino was an award-winning project in 2018 for Best Tension Structure under 250sqm and is a standout project Tracey remembers vividly. The timeframe was quite difficult as the client was adamant that the job be completed in time for the Christmas and New Year period, but after a lot of hard work this project was successfully completed in time. We all worked long hours at night, all day Saturday & Sunday and Tracey even assisted in welding this big cover so it could be installed by the due date. Above & beyond, to come out with an award win, was well deserved!
• Qualified in Textile Fabrication
• Tradesperson in Canvas Making
• Elevated Platform ticket holder
• Forklift Licence holder
Mark is one of the Directors at Pickers Vinyl & Canvas of 17 years and the son and nephew of the previous owners, Robert, and Peter. It’s the only job Mark has ever known, skilled in design, shade sails and waterproof covers. “I consider myself an all-rounder and I can do any part of the job, but I especially enjoy seeking the ‘outside the box solutions’ and find I’m best suited to the design and project team for most of my time” says Mark.
The most exciting job Mark completed was The Habitat in Port Douglas due to the complexities in design, manufacture and installation based on the sheer size of the cover, where it took a semi-trailer to deliver from our Mulgrave Road workshop.
• Quality customer service
• Shade sail quoting
• Team training on latest products
Travas has a wealth of knowledge in his field of retail expertise, being in the industry for over 25 years. Travas has strong roots within the business and has been an integral part of the Pickers family for decades. Travas has extensive managerial and people skills and takes pride in his work. Responsible for the upkeep of the retail showroom and is an artisan of visual merchandising. Travas, loves a challenge and will strive to make any of your ideas a reality. Well versed in any product from swags to boat covers, nothing is impossible for Travas and looks forward to hearing from you.
• Qualified in Textile Fabrication
• Experience in Drafting
• Forklift Licence holder
Rikki is a qualified Draftsperson at Pickers Vinyl & Canvas, working alongside Mark in Textile Fabrication. Rikki is the talent behind custom draw covers, which are designed after a measure in a 3D layout so the team can accurately install post design and manufacture.
• Qualified in Fashion Design
• Qualified in Textiles
• Qualified in Pattern Making
Kym has been providing her expertise for over five years with Pickers Vinyl & Canvas as a Machinist, with many logistical challenges in her role of scheduling jobs, based on their time and size. Kym is an expert at consulting with clients on how to make things and sew them together.
• Working Safely at Heights
• White Card
• Elevated Platforms
• First Aid/ CPR
• Loves a coldie and a round of golf
In my role, I primarily focus on sail installations, which involves digging holes for posts and installing roof and wall fittings as required. Once the posts and fittings are securely in place, I take precise measurements to provide the plotting team, ensuring that the sails can be accurately fabricated. Additionally, I am responsible for installing outdoor blinds and their supporting steel structures.
Originally from Britain, I come equipped with a sexy British accent that occasionally leaves locals wondering if I’m auditioning for a rom com! Since making my way to Cairns, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the friendly faces and the endless activities this tropical paradise has to offer. Between soaking up the sun and exploring all the sights, I often find myself charming the locals with my accent while trying to convince them that “tea time” is a legitimate activity!
While installing a shade sail at a property, I encountered a little dog who seemed less than thrilled with my presence. Now, I'm a dog lover, but it appeared my British accent was not winning any points with this pup! He made it very clear he wasn't a fan at first—barking at me like I had just stolen his favourite toy. However, by the end of the day, we had turned things around, and we became best friends. I guess all it took was a few pats and a promise that I wasn’t there to take his human away!
• Working Safely at Heights
• Elevated Platforms
• First Aid/ CPR
• Forklift Operator
• Excavator Ticket
• Enjoys fishing & skiing
As a Lead Installer working with the company for over 6 years now, Rory’s primary responsibility is to train and mentor new team members to ensure that all installations are completed to the highest standard. While our core focus is on shade sails, we also specialize in the installation of outdoor blinds and barrel vault structures, providing a diverse range of solutions for our clients.
As a proud local, I truly appreciate the unique Cairns lifestyle. Installing sails under the tropical sun can be challenging, but it’s rewarding work. One of the highlights of my day is wrapping up and enjoying a well-deserved beer while taking in the beautiful views that Cairns has to offer.
One of the more challenging projects I have worked on was the installation of a custom waterproof awning at Brothers in Cairns. The job required meticulous coordination with other trades and had to be completed within a tight timeframe. Before we could even begin installing the awning, extensive steelwork had to be fabricated and put in place. Despite the complexity of the project, I found it highly rewarding to see the final product come together successfully.
• Former Installer
• Working Safely at heights
• Licenced for High-Risk Work
• Loves Fishing & Caravaning
Marco carries out a range of site visits for both residential and commercial applications, having been with the Pickers team for over 17 years now and offers 25 years’ experience in the industry. Working with each customer on the design and shade solutions, this is reported back to our office where our draftsperson can work with the design requirements requested by the climate, as well as taking into consideration the environmental factors and planning we do with every job and our otherwise harsh FNQ weather conditions, including long summer months, the wet season and of course, cylones!
• Working Safely at Heights
• First Aid/ CPR
• Apprenticeship Training
• Martial Arts
As an apprentice at Pickers Vinyl & Canvas, I am actively training in textile manufacturing and developing a diverse skill set. My responsibilities include operating a high-frequency welder to apply reinforced patches, finalizing projects by inserting wire into sail perimeters, and installing eyelets as required. I also provide support throughout the workshop and contribute to the fitting team, assisting with the installation of shade sails and preparing sites by digging post holes.
I have a strong appreciation for the vibrant community and tropical climate of Cairns. My time living and working in the region has allowed me to connect with a diverse range of people, each with unique and fascinating backgrounds. While installing a shade sail one day, I managed to drop my brand-new drill, which promptly slid off the roof and took a perfect dive straight into the pool. After some quick fishing and a good laugh, I dried it off—and to my surprise, it’s still going strong! That drill has been through more than some of my coworkers and still shows up for work every day.
I enjoy challenging myself at the gym by lifting heavy weights and participate in mixed martial arts to stay active and sharpen my skills.
Bernie is one of our qualified Trades with over 16 years’ experience in the industry of Canvas Textiles and Shade Sails. Bernie really excels at assisting our DIY customers with ideas and working alongside our team in Marine Hooding as well as sewing. Customers appreciate the knowledge Bernie can share with them in relation to custom-made covers for your vehicle or boat, as well as any of our smaller products such as box covers, gun bags, marine upholstery and much more.
