Assistance for apprentices

THE Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club is proud to partner with GTE Apprenticeships | Traineeships yet again, to offer a $5000 apprentice scholarship for 2026.

The aim of the Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club GTE Apprentice Scholarship is to assist traditional trade apprentices from the South East Region of South Australia who have demonstrated hardship in their personal circumstances and aptitude in vocational education and training, to achieve their potential by successfully completing their trade training.

Lakes Rotary Club president Andrew Mattheson said they were delighted to partner with GTE in providing financial support for apprentices within our region who are in need.

“The development and training of apprentices is essential for the future of our local workforce, and we understand that with the current cost of living, working for four years under apprentice wages can be tough,” Mr Matheson said. “Lakes Rotary are constantly looking for ways that we can give back to the community, and this scholarship is a great opportunity for that.”

The scholarship is open to any apprentice who is employed with any of GTE’s Host Employers and is undertaking either the first, second, third or fourth year of their apprenticeship in 2026.

The financial support the scholarship provides is intended to be used by the recipient to reduce the burden of costs associated with undertaking their trade, such as travel for work and/or training, tools, maintaining reliable transport, living away from home expenses, etc.

At a time when the cost of living is on the rise, the introduction of this scholarship has great relevance to the current situation facing many of our community’s young workers.

GTE general manager Greg Megaw said at GTE they understood very well the struggles that can be faced by anyone in the undertaking of an apprenticeship.

“Our goal is to provide opportunities for employment and training of Apprentices and Trainees to meet skills and labour needs in the South East of South Australia,” Mr Megaw said. “Having our apprentices safely complete their apprenticeship and gain their qualification is our highest priority.

“For individuals this isn’t always easy and as a company we provide a lot of support to our workers, giving them the best chance of getting through successfully.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to do this and the support our workers receive may not normally be available if they were employed elsewhere.

“We pride ourselves on the role we play within our community and to have the Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club offer this scholarship will make a significant difference to someone who may one day be training our next generation of apprentices.”

Greg is only the fourth general manger in GTE’s 40-plus years of operation.

The first general manager was the late Rob James from 1985 – 1990.

Rob also later served as Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club president.

His widow and current Lakes Rotary Club member Colleen said Rob would be really chuffed that this was happening and that Lakes Rotary was contributing, both as being past general manager of GTE and a president of Lakes Rotary.

“I know he would be very impressed with seeing the change and growth in GTE and the organisation that it has become,” Colleen said. “It is just wonderful that we can join together and offer this opportunity to make a positive difference to a young person in our community.”

The Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club GTE Apprentice Scholarship is an addition to many of the club’s other community offerings such as sports scholarships for local residents and science and engineering-based programs for primary and secondary school students, also the Australia Day Breakfast and Blue Lake Fun Run of which all money raised stays in the local community.

Rotary are also involved in numerous charities on a global level.

If this has inspired you to think about what you could do to help your community, you may want to consider joining the Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club as a member.

For more information, please email: [email protected]

For more information on the Mount Gambier Lakes Rotary Club GTE Apprentice Scholarship, including eligibility criteria and nomination forms, contact GTE operations manager Kyle Gleed by phone (08)8721 2345 or email [email protected]. Scholarship nominations will close Friday, November 14.