Painter wins gold medal
A Benalla-based vehicle painter has won a gold medal at the Regional World Skills Competition.
Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE automotive student Kyle Little will be presented with a medal and Certificate of Achievement after winning gold at the Regional World Skills Competition.
Mr Little is employed by Chris Lowen Smash Repairs, Benalla, and took out the Vehicle Painting section of the World Skills Competition.
Mr Little said he had the opportunity to enter the competition as part of his course at GOTAFE and it was a great honour to win.
‘‘I was over the moon, I wasn’t expecting to win,’’ Mr Little said.
‘‘(The competition) involved colour matching, so I was given a colour and had to add to it, to match a panel I was given.
‘‘I’ve been working at Chris Lowen Smash Repairs for nearly three years.
‘‘I get an opportunity to do a lot there, I get a chance to work in different areas of the company, so that helped give me the knowledge I needed for the competition.’’
Mr Little plans to be part of the National competition in Sydney next year and said he would give it his best shot.
If all goes well he hopes to make the world finals after that.
GOTAFE WorldSkills Project Officer Callum Ross said the level of skill showcased by all the students that competed was high and this year there was a record number of competitions held for the Central Victorian Region.
‘‘There was a total of 13 competitions held by GOTAFE for our region, the most ever,’’ Mr Ross said.
‘‘The competition is very demanding on the students, it’s stressful and fast paced and requires them to work on a variety of techniques within a specified timeframe, usually around six hours.
‘‘The competitions saw students compete against their classmates and the clock in their chosen trade.’’
From July to October the Regional World Skills Competitions were held at GOTAFE’s Shepparton and Wangaratta Campuses across a variety of fields including building, automotive, plumbing, retail baking bread, retail baking pastry, dressing and beauty therapy.
The winners from the Regional Competitions will be eligible for the selection process to attend the National Competition in Sydney next year.
Winners from last year’s National Competition are competing in the World Competition held in Abu Dhabi in October.
GOTAFE has had strong success at the World Skills Competition.
In 2016, two GOTAFE students represented the region at the National WorldSkills Competition in Melbourne.
Automotive apprentice Crystal McLaren from Wodonga placed third in the Paint and Panel category, while hairdressing apprentice Eloise McCormick from Beechworth placed ninth.
Their success has sparked interest from trainers and apprentices alike, with six departments involved in this year’s Regional Competition. hair-