THE Limestone Coast\u2019s next generation of workers and business leaders have been recognised at Group Training Employment\u2019s (GTE) annual Apprentice and Trainee of the Year Awards.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s event, held on April 19, recognised Apprentices and Trainees employed by GTE during 2024, and also the many Host Employers who support them through their employment and training.<\/p>\n
In the popular Trainee of the Year category, two young business trainees were jointly named winners – Coco Mackereth, hosted by City of Mount Gambier and Evie Sealey, hosted by District Council of Grant.<\/p>\n
The winner of CITB\u2019s Building Trades Award was apprentice Aaron Zerk, hosted by Sam McPherson Construction, while Michelle Oehlert from Boneham Aged Care was awarded the Ian Giles Memorial Award of the Year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Mount Gambier\u2019s Hancock Family Law was recognised as Host Employer of the Year.<\/p>\n
Around 70 people attended the event at GTE\u2019s Mount Gambier office, including Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Stakeholder Engagement Officer Samantha Bennett and Apprentice Employment Network SA Executive Officer Matt Lowe.<\/p>\n
GTE General Manager Greg Megaw said it was nice to see the young award recipients get recognition in their chosen trade or skills base.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real group effort from parents, RTOs and Host Employers, so it\u2019s great to see these apprentices and trainees get the opportunity to be acknowledged for the important work they do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the recipients should be proud and hold their heads high because they all did a wonderful job of their speeches, and we also had a lot of hosts want to come up and speak about the great work their apprentices and trainees do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur GTE Board Chair Ray Herbert put it best when he described tonight\u2019s award recipients as \u201cthe next generation of contributors to society\u201d and they truly are. Well done to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winners in all categories:<\/p>\n
\u2022 First Year Apprentice of The Year \u2013 Keenan Dwyer. Host Employer \u2013 Steve Scheidl Constructions. Award sponsored by GT Industrial Sales;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Second Year Apprentice of The Year \u2013 Cooper Millard. Host Employer \u2013 Stihl Shop Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by Mount Gambier Safety Supplies;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Third Year Apprentice of The Year \u2013 Liam Hajek. Host Employer \u2013 Mount Gambier Locksmiths. Award sponsored by Peoples Choice Credit Union;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fourth-Year Apprentice of The Year \u2013 Will Crook. Host Employer \u2013 O\u2019Briens Electrical Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by K&B Mitre 10;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Building Trades Apprentice of The Year \u2013 Aaron Zerk. Host Employer – Sam McPherson Constructions. Award sponsored by CITB;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Trainee of The Year \u2013 Joint Winners, including Coco Mackereth. Host Employer \u2013 City of Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by SYC. Second winner: Evie Sealey. Host Employer \u2013 District Council of Grant. Award sponsored by ANZ;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ian Giles Memorial Award \u2013 Michelle Oehlert. Host Employer \u2013 Boneham Aged Care. Award sponsored by GTE;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Engineering Excellence Award \u2013 Brandon Horrigan. Host Employer – MetalWorx. Award sponsored by BOC Gas & Gear;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Women in Trades Award \u2013 Portia Holdman. Host Employer \u2013 OG Roberts & Co. Award sponsored by MAS National;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Employer of the Year Award \u2013 Hancock Law. Award sponsored by Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast<\/p>\n
PHOTO COURTESY OF KATE HILL<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Limestone Coast\u2019s next generation of workers and business leaders have been recognised at Group Training Employment\u2019s (GTE) annual Apprentice and Trainee of the Year Awards. This year\u2019s event, held on April 19, recognised Apprentices and Trainees employed by GTE during 2024, and also the many Host Employers who support them through their employment and […]<\/p>\n