Student receives TAFE award

By Lachlan Ellis

A local Dunnstown student has been rewarded for his hard work during his studies, being named Federation TAFE’s Apprentice of the Year

Twenty-two-year-old plumbing student Aidan Murphy received the award at the 2023 Federation TAFE Awards for Excellence at The Mining Exchange on Thursday 16 February, and said it was a surprise and an honour.

“It was pretty strange to be honest, I certainly didn’t expect it. I wasn’t thinking that I was any chance, but I got the call that I’d been nominated, did the interview, then found out I won…I was pretty shocked really,” Mr Murphy told the Moorabool News.

“I’ve got a very proud mother, that’s for sure. Got a big Facebook post from her which I don’t get often, I’ve had people from around home, the footy club, cricket, and locals in Dunnstown come up and congratulate me. At first it was pretty overwhelming to be totally honest, but it was really nice.”

Since completing his Certificate III in Plumbing, Mr Murphy has continued working for the company he did his apprenticeship with.

“Like any apprenticeship it starts pretty slow early and takes a bit to get going, but once I got to the end of my second year, start of my third year, things really picked up and got a lot more hands-on. The hands-on, problem solving aspects are what I really like about plumbing,” he said.

“I’m still with my employer I did my apprentice with, he’s kept me on as his third qualified employer. So now it’s just doing work for him. I’m not too sure what the future holds, I want to give him a few years back to repay him for having me, and maybe go out on my own one day, or do some civil plumbing.”