WARRNAMBOOL real estate agent Bruce Ludeman has won the equivalent of his industry’s Brownlow Medal, with a prestigious president’s award recognising his long career.
He is believed to be the south-west’s first recipient of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria honour in decades.
Mr Ludeman has been in the industry about 40 years and an REIV member 30 years.
As the institute’s Otway division chairman he has been representing the region at members’ council meetings in Melbourne for about 20 years.
“It is an honour and a great surprise to receive the award,” he told The Standard this week.
“I wasn’t planning on attending the awards for excellence presentation night at Crown Casino, but they rang and said I should be there. Then in front of 1100 people my name was called and I had to go on stage and later do a TV interview.
“I believe in the institute and what it stands for as the industry body with a code of ethics.”
Mr Ludeman said sometimes real estate agents were rated at the lower end of the scale, “but we’re not all out to beat the system and sell, sell, sell at any cost”.
“I’ve always had a passion for the industry, cutting my teeth on the hard yards working seven days a week,” he said. “It’s not rocket science, but you need to satisfy the vendor and purchaser.
“I’ve had good family support and my wife Lorraine has been involved in the business for many years.”
The award was presented by outgoing REIV president Trevor Booth, of Ballarat, who said Mr Ludeman had displayed a long commitment to helping country members.
“It’s the support and input from people like Bruce that the REIV has a good image and good relationship with government.”
