Excellence awards for trade trainees

The ongoing success of skilling young people for the future needs of local business and industry was highlighted at the West Gippsland Trade Training Alliance’s young people’s excellence awards.

The awards were made in four categories with winners unable to be separated in two of them.

Vocational Education Training in Schools (VETiS), apprentices, trainees, school-based apprentices and trainees and those aged between 15 and 21 and who had undertaken training or skill development through the WGTTA during the past year were eligible.

The number of finalists was narrowed to 12 with winners announced at a function at the Baw Baw Skills Centre in Warragul.

The apprentice award went to Jessica Clark, currently studying certificate 3 in automotive at Federation Training and working with a Trafalgar business.

Choosing the top school based apprentice proved difficult for the judges that eventually settled on joint winners; Benjamin Scott, who is studying a certificate 2 in construction pathways at Apprenticeships Group Australia, and Joshua Ronalds undertaking a certificate 2 in horticulture with GOTAFE.

Miranda Knight received the traineeship award.

She is studying a certificate 3 in agriculture with Federation Training.

Another category with joint winners was in VETiS where there was also an encouragement award.

Winners were year 10 Drouin secondary college student Jessie O’Keefe (certificate 2 building and construction) and Patrick Anderson (certificate 2 in agriculture at Federation Training).

The encouragement award went to Riley Brown who is studying a certificate 2 in horticulture at Community College Gippsland.

Other finalists acknowledged at the presentation ceremony were Jeremy Cadzow, Mason Coppens, Blake Davis and Tim Ruddell.