Mason Salvestro’s bar is ready for NRL grand final night. Photo: Supplied.
While most 18-year-olds might be wondering which bar they’ll attend to watch Sunday’s NRL grand final, Mason Salvestro has built one himself and will host a party at his place.
The Marian Catholic College Year 12 student is the talk of the town after constructing a 4.5-metre-long bar complete with stools, an inbuilt fridge, kegerator, beer taps and drawers as an assignment for his design technology class.
“Our major assignment was transforming an idea and design into a working and viable product,” he said.
“I had a theme, which was farmers’ mental health. Green is the colour for mental health. I incorporated different elements, such as the resin. I created a big bar, which would be an area where farmers could come together and have a drink while discussing how they feel and take some stress off their workload.
“I used red gum I sourced from Coolamon and transferred them into tables.”
The project took him eight months to complete.
“I did the designing, sketching and the 80-page folio by myself and then my Dad, teachers and local cabinetmakers helped me and gave me advice on building it and how to work with the resin,” he said.
“The last four months were flat out – I’d come home from school, I’d work on it from 3:40 pm to 9 pm; the last few nights I was up until 1 am. I knew my expectations and my limits; I was constantly stressing but I knew I could do it and I’m glad it came through.”
Mason’s bar includes everything you’d need. Photo: Supplied.
While he’s been heaped with praise on social media, Mason says it was a team effort.
“I want to shout out to Howard’s Joinery who helped me all the way. One of their workers Benny Mac was constantly messaging me and giving me advice; he didn’t need to do that, but it ultimately helped me build a successful bar,” he said.
“The maintenance men at the school also helped tremendously with completing the bar and using the machinery, even if they were busy.
“My dad Wayne has a full-time job farming, but always made time to help and my mum Lea assisted a lot too.”
Mason has paid tribute to the support of his parents, Lea and Wayne. Photo: Supplied.
He’s now transported the bar from his school to home and says he’s got it done at the right time of year.
“I plan to have a function at my place for the NRL grand final. I sourced a kegerator from a Man and his Cave, a place in Sydney. I drilled through the benchtops and attached the taps to it … I might get Carlton Dry and some Hard Solo to cater for everyone. I’m a Parramatta fan but hope Penrith win on Sunday; I love Nathan Cleary.”
The 18-year-old still hasn’t been graded for his assignment but has only one goal in mind.
“I’m hoping to get higher than my sister Lexi. She got 94 for the same subject. I’ll be disappointed if I don’t beat her,” he said.
Mason is planning to take a gap year in 2025 and work in a bar (not the one he made). He also excels at basketball and will try his hand at representative teams.
Over the next year, he’ll decide whether he’ll pursue a career in agriculture or construction.
In the meantime, he’s continuing to put his new-found skills to good use.
“I’m going to start doing up my kitchen at home and fixing drawers; I’m finding ways to kill time. My parents are very happy with that as it’s so hard to find tradesmen these days,” he said.
Loading ...
