The South West trades skills cream of the crop have returned from the WorldSkills Australia national Competition in Melbourne and have brought back to WA two bronze medals and gold.
Sarah Tassone scored bronze in hairdressing and Sallie Brittain was awarded bronze for her skills in cookery and Nicholas Johnston won gold for cabinetmaking.
The students joined over 500 men and women competing in the event.
The 18-year-old cabinetmaker said he put in hours of practice in the lead up to the competition in order to prepare for the tough competitors.
“I’d put in time after work to perfect my technique and had a lot of guidance from my boss Paul Milton and support from my family,” he said.
“I had areas I saw as weaknesses but I just kept practicing at it and it was enough to get me the gold medal.”
Mr Johnston said he was nervous going into the three day event.
“I used all of the 18 hours we had to make the piece and I was feeling very nervous, I was so relieved when it was over but I was over the moon when I won,” he said.
“My family were thrilled too.”
medalistis now have the chance to represent Australia in the International WorldSkills Competition in Abu Dhabi in 2017.
South West Regional TAFE managing director Duncan Anderson said this was an outstanding result from competitors.
“This demonstrates the calibre of our students and the training they undertake,” he said. “They have demonstrated their exceptional skills at the highest level.”
Blayde Grzelka
Journalist for the Bunbury Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Journalist for the Bunbury Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
