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Tom Williams
The Great Outdoors ::: 7 |
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Tom Williams, a qualified residential construction builder, never travels far without a hammer, power saw and chisel. As a builder on Room for Improvement he is constantly called upon to come up with room makeover ideas and put his skills to the test.
"The time factor in the show is a huge pressure for a builder - you are racing against the clock and the job has to be finished. It's not as if you can come back the next day if you're held up with something; it's 48 hours and that's all," he said.
Tom's first taste of the building industry came when as a 20-years-old he landed a job as a labourer.
In between stacking bricks and shifting sand, Tom modelled for magazines and advertisements.
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He spent two years working in the advertising industry and then decided to travel the world.
With the travel bug well and truly under his tool belt he set off and worked in the snowfields of Canada, as a bar manager.
He returned a year later to lay the foundations for his future career in the building industry.
A love of travelling certainly has held Tom in good stead as he is a reporter on Seven's The Great Outdoors and travels the globe to find the best holiday destinations and deals.
His first role in the media came when he called up Merrick and Rosso, then at Triple J, to have a chat.
The funny men of Australian radio liked "Tom the Chippie from Manly" and asked him to be a regular guest on their morning show.
Shortly after, Tom's name was given to the producers of Room for Improvement as they were searching for a presenter with building experience and a good sense of humour.
Tom is an active member of the Surf Life Saving Association and was a finalist at the 2000 World and Australian titles for the Open Men's Surf Boat competition.
Tom joined The Great Outdoors in July 2001 and has spent the past two years on assignments from Coffs Harbour to Canada.
Tom made his entrance into the media world with a spot on Triple J's Drive program with Merrick and Rosso and when his two new friends moved across to Sydney station Nova 969, Tom followed.
Not long after, the builder/carpenter was asked to put his carpentry talents to use on Seven's DIY program Room For Improvement.
Tom was an instant hit with his easy-going charm and cheeky sense of humour and when he was offered a screen test for The Great Outdoors, he jumped at the opportunity.
Tom is now an experienced traveler but he still gets excited by the challenges ahead and the chance to see more of Australia and the world.
'I'm an outdoors guy,' he says. 'I'll do anything. I live in the water in summer, I snowboard, I'm a good traveler and I'm pretty easy to get along with... I think I'm really suited for it.' And some people reckon he's got a great sense of humour!
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