In Loving Memory of Luke Vardon

Luke Vardon was many things to many people, a leader, a builder, a mentor, a friend. To us at Stokes Rousseau, he was a cornerstone.

Our story with Luke began in 2010. We had been awarded the restoration of the heritage-listed Trial Bay Gaol in New South Wales, but couldn’t find a local crew for the carpentry works. A tentative message was sent to Luke — who we knew through Erin, but not yet well — inviting him to help.

He agreed, on the condition that he and his apprentice, Tashi, could fly up each weekend and return by Monday for their regular jobs. For a month of weekends, they worked tirelessly — all day and often into the night. The beach was only 50 metres away, but they never touched it. From the start, Luke’s meticulous skill, quiet determination, and work ethic stood out. We knew then that we had to convince him to join the company. Thankfully, he did.

Luke became a Director at Stokes Rousseau and brought with him an unwavering commitment to excellence. He ran sites by day — toolbelt on one hip, laptop in hand — and spent his nights refining systems, developing proposals, and growing the business.

We travelled together with our small team, living and working across regional and urban Australia — from railway stations in Avoca to trestle bridges in Beech Creek and Goat Island in Sydney Harbour. Wherever we were, Luke led from the front. He was the first to start, the last to pack up, and always the one to quietly get things done — and done right.

As the company grew, so did Luke’s influence. Clients trusted him. Colleagues respected him. He found solutions to complex challenges, forecasted months ahead, and always kept projects on track. Yet, no matter how big the job, he never lost sight of the people around him. Luke had a way of making everyone feel seen. He’d walk into a room and say hello to each person, asking how they were — and meaning it.

Luke lived with clear purpose:

• He worked hard to provide for his family and create a life full of possibility for Erin, Jack, and Olivia.
• He sought balance — leading a company while still coaching Jack’s basketball team, spending time at the beach with Olivia, or walking the foreshore with Erin.
• And he dreamed of growing Stokes Rousseau into something greater than either of us — a company with a strong culture, great people, and lasting legacy.

He once told me that he hoped to drive past a site one day and only later realise it was a Stokes Rousseau project. That was his dream: to build something bigger than ourselves. Something enduring.

Luke was kind, generous, and deeply grateful. Even through illness, he remained courageous, open, and full of hope. Not for a miracle, but for meaning — in his days, in his work, and in the moments shared with loved ones.

He achieved so much. And more importantly, he made a difference.

Luke will not be forgotten. He leaves behind a beautiful family — whom we will always support — and a company that continues, shaped by his values, driven by his example, and forever carrying the imprint of his legacy.

Honouring Luke's Legacy

In memory of Luke, his family kindly asks that donations be made to Dare to Hope, a charity close to his heart.

Thank you, Luke. You built more than structures. You built something that matters.