By Tony Smith
IN 2009, I initiated the Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards to recognise, reward and encourage careers in local trades and small business.
I am excited to announce that nominations have now opened for this year’s awards, and we are searching for Casey’s best apprentice or trainee.
I have long believed that we should be doing all we can to encourage and value excellence in our apprentices and trainees, so it is important we recognise their achievements where possible.
The apprentices and trainees of today will help form the backbone of our small business and local economy into the future.
There were more than 1700 apprentices in training in the electorate of Casey in 2014.
There are hundreds more trainees gaining crucial work experience in a broad range of areas such as hospitality, construction, automotive, manufacturing and agriculture.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of prominent local business leaders, chaired by Phil Munday of Phil Munday’s Panel Works.
I was pleased to host more than 100 people for last year’s awards.
It was the biggest awards ceremony to date.
We had an outstanding group of young apprentices and trainees from a broad range of specialties.
Following weeks of deliberation, Mikayla Paulet, a hairdressing apprentice at Natural Chique Hair and Make-up in Mount Evelyn, was selected by the judges as the winner of the 2014 Casey Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards.
She was given the award for her professionalism, passion, dedication, and her can-do attitude.
It is a true testament to the high calibre of entrants last year that we had two runners-up for the award.
Cameron Bisschop, an automotive apprentice at Rock Hard Motors in Silvan, and Natacha De Barba, an apprentice chef at TarraWarra Estate in Yarra Glen, were both awarded as runners-up for their hard work.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate last year’s winner, runners-up, finalists, and entrants once again.
I would also like to thank their nominators and employers, because without them these awards would be very difficult to run.
Nominations for this year’s Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Awards close on 21 August.
I encourage you to nominate an outstanding local apprentice or trainee.
Forms are available on my website at www.tonysmithmp.com
Alternatively, you can call my office on 9727 0799 and we can send you a hard copy.
