24 June 2024:

As a family company, we like to recognise our team members’ wider whānau. People like Luke Hickling. Nine months ago, Luke broke his neck in a cycling accident; in late June he was on a plane to Canada with New Zealand’s Under 19 rowing team.

Son of Bryan (Canterbury Bitumen Divisional Manager) and Tracy Hickling, Luke’s Fulton Hogan family scholarship will support his travel to Canada and, afterwards, to Boston’s South Eastern University where he has a four-year scholarship.

Before his crash, Luke had achieved a rare treble; rowing in the Maadi Cup-winning eight, the four and the pair at the National Schools Rowing Regatta at Lake Karapiro, representing St Bede’s College. To top it off, his eight crew broke the course record by two seconds.

After his crash in October, Luke was told he was perilously close to never walking again.

Among the many messages of support one, in particular, kept him going during the dark days after the crash.

“I got an email from Rowing New Zealand and they said: ‘Look, we’ve heard about your injury, we still think you’ll be in the running for the national team this year, so just don’t put that to rest’.”

Bryan says he and Tracy could not be prouder of Luke’s courage and humility.

“It’s been a privilege to get involved in rowing, to watch Luke grow in the sport and to see the future that it’s helping open up for him.”

At Fulton Hogan we’re all proud of you, Luke, and wish you well.

Luke is pictured rowing in the winning St Bede’s eight in the 2023 Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro.