The timber industry in Australia and overseas is still coming to grips with the death of Stephen Dayus, aged 53, Wesbeam’s technical manager based in Brisbane.
Stephen graduated from the University of Queensland in 1991 and previously was industry development engineer at Wesbeam for 13 years and before that was truss plant manager at Hardware Man Frame and Trusses at Nowra, NSW.
“It is with a very heavy heart and great sadness we announce the passing last Sunday of Steve Dayus shortly after his arrival in Perth for meetings this week,” Wesbeam’s CEO James Malone said.
“Steve has been a pivot of excellence for Wesbeam, a person of integrity, of high intellect and great competence.
“We wish Steve’s wife Myriam and family all the best at this very sad and tragic time.
“Vale our friend and our colleague, Stephen Dayus.”
A man respected and loved by his colleagues, Stephen gained added experience and knowledge on overseas industry missions.
In 2017, he travelled to northern USA and Canada on a Wood Solutions tour.
“The one thing I was particularly interested in seeing was how light weight timber-framed construction was incorporated into taller timber buildings,” Stephen recalled on his return.
“We saw example after example of timber stud frames and I-joists being used to build apartments and hotels between three and six storeys high. Most would incorporate a first-floor concrete transfer slab before the upper floors were constructed on site.
“The cost savings for the builder mean these solutions are accepted and commonplace.”
