Locals win apprentice of year
Nathan Meggetto has his sights firmly set on a career in project management, and recent accolades would indicate that he is well on his way towards achieving his goals.
An apprentice at family business Meggetto Asphalting and Civil Constructions, Nathan followed his civil construction first year apprentice of the year award with taking out the third-year apprentice of the year award this year.
It comes during a good time for the local area, which has also produced the first-year apprentice of the year winner, being Sam Ford of Sure Constructions.
Nathan said his awards followed a decision to start a trade with the family business.
“It was a huge surprise,” he said of taking out the third year award for an apprentice undertaking a certificate III in civil construction.
“Coming off last year where I was nominated but didn’t win at all, it came out of nowhere.”
Nathan said he hoped to move to certificate IV in civil construction with a view to branching into project management at a larger company.
“Dad said to me ‘don’t follow my lead, do what you want to do’,” he said.
“My future plan is to move to the city, there’s always roadworks or something going on so that’s my plan.”
Private driveways, works in new housing estates and laying four kilometres of pipeline as part of the Princes Highway duplication project are among recent work completed by Nathan.
Business owner Allan Meggetto said Nathan’s award win was thoroughly deserved.
“He plans the gear on the weekend in his own time and works late, he does everything,” he said. “He’ll go places.” For Darnum’s Sam Ford, the decision to have a go at an apprenticeship advertised in the local newspaper is starting to pay off.
“I finished year 12 and had a gap year at home, working on a dairy farm,” he said.
“I saw a job advertised in the paper, Sure Constructions were looking for an apprentice and I thought I would give it a go.” Sam said he had been enjoying his work. “I’ve liked doing hands on things all my life, so it’s nothing different to what I’ve been used to but I’m learning things every day,” he said.
Sam’s first project was stage five development of Mitchell Grove in Moe, a project which lasted about seven months. Sam completed a variety of tasks during the project, from laying conduit to top soiling.
Sam said he would focus on completing the three-year certificate III course before seeing which direction the company would like him to take.