TRADIES from the Hamilton and surrounds were well represented amongst the winners at South West TAFE’s annual Trades Awards last Thursday night, with Hamilton’s Todd Robinson not only named winner of the Certificate III in Carpentry Third Year Apprentice Award, but also overall Apprentice of the Year.

Each trade has an Apprentice of the Year category, then those winners are interviewed by a panel at South West TAFE and from there an overall winner is selected.

Todd was selected by the panel because of his outstanding enthusiasm, dedication, and passion for his trade.

Todd has been employed by Alan and Kerri Jones at the Dunkeld building firm, AA & KA Jones, for just over three years.

The Jones’ have been running their building company for many years and were thrilled to be present at the ceremony to see Todd win the top award.

“We’re stoked,” Mr Jones said.

“Absolutely over the moon.

“We went because Todd had been nominated - we knew he was going to pick up the carpentry award, but then blew us away when he won the overall Apprentice of the Year.”

Previously, Todd had worked in banking and insurance but then felt he needed a change; he started as a labourer with AA & KA Jones then went on to get an apprenticeship.

Three years later, Todd said he was surprised to be selected as overall winner.

“I feel privileged to win because the winners from the other respective trades were all deserving as well,” he said.

“But I do feel grateful that I was chosen.”

Todd said there are a great variety of tasks that are involved in his day-to-day work.

“I do everything to do with building, earth moving, slab preparation, framing, fit-outs, cladding, basically everything from start to finish in residential home building.

“I love the satisfaction you get from getting together with the boys and putting in a big day’s work, looking back and reflecting on what you’ve done for the day - it’s very satisfying and fulfilling.”

South West TAFE’s carpentry teacher, Mark Jenkins, congratulated Todd and said that he’d always been very consistent with his training.

“Todd’s always asking questions and wants to know everything about building,” he said.

Hamilton apprentice, Riley Dark, 20, at Moose Engineering won South West TAFE’s Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade, Third Year Apprentice Award.

Riley travels regularly to the South West TAFE’s campus in Portland for three-day blocks of trade school and was thrilled to be nominated and then further selected as winner from among his peers.

“I think there’s 18 of us in the class,” he said.

“It’s a really great trade - once I’m finished, I’ll be a qualified fabricator.”

Employer, Brett McCallum, said Riley had come along “really well” as an apprentice since he began working for him over three years ago and was glad to be present at the ceremony when Riley was awarded.

“I spoke to one of Riley’s teachers at the event and what really impressed them at South West TAFE was his keenness to help other students when they needed it,” he said.

“That’s some of the reason he got the award, but it seems everything he’s learned - it’s all really coming together for him now.”

Andrew Huf Building Contractor apprentice carpenter, Austin Cloete from Hamilton, was runner up in the Certificate III in Carpentry, Third Year Apprentice Award.

Andrew Huf said Austin had shown a lot of ability right from the start.

“But he’s really taken off to another level in the last 18 months - very impressive,” he said.

“He’s always looking to do things to the best of his ability - a terrific employee.

“We’re very pleased to have Austin.”

Austin said he was happy that his boss was so happy about him getting the recognition.

“We went down (to Warrnambool) together, and I think Huffy was happier than I was,” he said.

“It was a good win for the team.

“It’s great to be recognised and I’m just pleased I didn’t have to go up on stage.”

A couple of lads from Finchett’s Plumbing also did well with Archie Buck from Baimbridge College, employed through Westvic Staffing Solutions, named as winner of the school-based Plumbing Apprentice High Achieving Student Award, and Sam Ness winning an Energy Safe Victoria Certificate IV in Plumbing Scholarship.

More than 220 people attended the awards night to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of students across automotive, carpentry, cabinet making, electrical, engineering, and plumbing trades.

South West TAFE chief executive, Mark Fidge, said it was so important to recognise the skills of these students in the region.

He made special note of the overall Apprentice of the Year from Hamilton, Todd Robinson, and his employer AA & KA Jones from Dunkeld.

“It was so pleasing to see so many award-winners from across the region and to have 11 major winners from the Hamilton region is great for their community,” he said.

“It was such a great night to recognise the success and hard work of all of our trade students and their employers over the past year.”

Other local winners and place getters were:

Sam Austin, employed by Nuland Contracting, was also runner-up in Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade, Third Year Apprentice Award.

Jed Barclay, employed by Lowan Steel Constructions, was named winner of the Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade, Second Year Apprentice Award.

Luke Purcell, employed by Tim Wilken Plumbing, won the Certificate III in Plumbing, Second Year Apprentice Award.

Angus Lambert, employed by Hamilton Automotive - winner Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, First Year Apprentice Award.

Jack Cotterill, employed by Westvic Staffing Solutions and DSB Quality Homes, was runner up for the Certificate III in Carpentry First Year Apprentice Award.

Clancy Willder from Monivae College, employed by Westvic Staffing Solutions and MNA Moto Supplies - winner School-based Automotive Apprentice, High Achieving Student Award.

Jacob Canning from Monivae College, employed by Westvic Staffing Solutions and Henry’s Hydraulic Services, also won a School-based Engineering Apprentice, High Achieving Student Award.