A PORTLAND automotive apprentice has been judged the best in the region – for the second year in a row.

Portland Service Centre technician and apprentice Zane Deicmanis was one of six apprentices of the year winners at the South West TAFE Trades Awards announced late last week, and is proud of his achievement.

It all began when the 16-year-old at the time started work at the Portland Service Centre, laboring for a couple years before taking on a three-year apprenticeship with the service centre.

Mr Deicmanis, now aged 22, will this year complete his final year of the apprenticeship and a complete a Certificate III in light vehicle mechanical technology, then making him a fully qualified mechanic.

“It's a four-year apprenticeship but because I've already got experience, at the end of this year, my third year, the boss will sign me off,” Mr Deicmanis said.

“The (TAFE) teachers always had something good to say about me, because I do have experience from before I got put on as an apprentice.

“They didn’t have to baby me too much, I have just sort of done my own thing and tried to fly through it.”

Even with six years’ experience however, he believes he is still fresh in the game and when faced with a tricky task, he see’s it as a learning curve.

For his achievement, Mr Deicmanis was rewarded with a framed certificate.

“I was actually pretty surprised because I’d already won last year, so I didn't even expect I was going to win this year and I did,” he said.

“The boss and my work mates were stoked for me and obviously my parents and grandparents were as well.”

Other local achievements on the South West TAFE Trades Awards night were Steven Mills from Portland Mechanical Services who received a Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology Second Year Apprentice Award, Cruz Victor from One Stop Carpentry who received a Certificate III in Carpentry Second Year Apprentice Award, Matthew Roberts from Portland Air Conditioning and Refrigeration who received a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Second Year Apprentice Award, James Davidson from Fechner Engineering who received a Certificate III in Engineering Mechanical Trade Second Year Apprentice Award and Jed Barclay from Lowan Steel Constructions who received a Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication Trade Second Year Apprentice Award.