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18 February 2008
The Rotary Club of Renmark Riverland & Mallee Vocational Awards 2007 were held at the Berri Resort Hotel on Saturday, February 16. The presentation dinner was attended by around 300 people. Through the generous support from our sponsors the Rotary Club was able to present $7000.00 in trophies and prize money to the winners.
Rachel Hameister: – Baker employed by Barmera Bakery
Rotary Club of Renmark and Business SA New Apprenticeship Scheme of the Year Runner-Up 2007
Tom Boon: – Automotive Mechanic employed by Roly’s Automotive Services
Industry Award Winners
Automotive Industry Award
Tom Boon: – Automotive Mechanic employed by Roly’s Automotive Services
Building Industry Award
Rowan Gray: – Carpenter employed by Bennett Building
Electrical Industry Award
Darran Bright: - Electrician employed by Water Engineering Technologies
Food Processing – Retail Baking Award
Rachel Hameister: – Baker employed by Barmera Bakery
Hairdressing Industry Award
Tennille Martin: - Hairdresser employed by Jarahs Hair & Beauty Salon Loxton
Horticulture Industry Award
Matthew Golding: – Horticulture Production employed by Jubilee Almonds
Hospitality Industry Award – Commercial Cookery
Sharna Clermont: – Chef employed by Loxton Hotel
Metal & Engineering Industry Award
Daniel Berlin: – Maintenance Fitter & Turner employed by Hanton & Sharrad Pinnaroo
Refrigeration Industry Award
Robby Gagliardi: – Refrigeration Electrician employed by Riverland Heating & Cooling
Trainee Award Winners
Rotary Club of Renmark & Riverland Weekly Trainee of the Year 2007
Danika Morgan: - Completing a traineeship Retail Operations employed by Leading Edge Telecoms
Rotary Club of Renmark & Riverland Weekly Trainee of the Year Runner-Up 2007
Sally Pfennig: - Completing a traineeship in Retail Operation Employed by Riverland Plaza Newsagency.
Belinda Qualmann: - Completing a traineeship Children’s Services employed with Renmark Kinder Resort.
Mark Inglis: - Completing a traineeship in Production Horticulture Certificate employed by AgriExchange
VET Student Winners
Rotary Club of Renmark & DECS Futures Connect Riverland VET Student of the Year 2007
Leah Bell: -Completing a Certificate 3 in Aged Care. Hosted by Country River Village, Renmark. Leah attended Renmark High School.
Rotary Club of Renmark & DECS Futures Connect Riverland VET Student of the Year Runner-up 2007
Luke Taylor: -Completed Certificate I Automotive Hosted by Fox’s Crash Repairs and Flight Motors. Luke attended Loxton High School.
Andrew Vowles: - apprenticed as an Automotive Mechanic employed by Schwarz Motor Repairs and
Brenton Schwarz of Schwarz Motors Repairs for commitment to Training
16 February 2008
The winner of the 2007 Riverland & Mallee Apprentice of the Year was announced tonight at the Berri Resort Hotel.
Rachel Hameister was named the 27th Riverland & Mallee Apprentice of the Year in front of almost 300 people. Rachel was apprenticed as a Baker with the Barmera Bakery.
Rachel has a real passion for her chosen trade and believes that winning award will give her an opportunity to teach and inspire other young trainees and apprentices. As recipient of this award Rachel receives in excess of $2,000 in prize money. She is the first female winner since 1989.
The 2007 Riverland & Mallee Trainee of the Year is Danika Morgan. She completed a traineeship in Retail Operations and Danika's employer, Leading Edge Telecoms, considers her to be a valuable, flexible and reliable member of their busy team. She is enthusiastic, has a positive outlook on life, a good work ethic and is driven in everything she does.
Leah Bell was named the 2007 Riverland & Mallee Vocational Education Training Student of the Year. Leah attended Renmark High School and completed a Certificate III in Aged Care at Country River Village. She will continue her training in the future after winning a rural nursing scholarship valued at $30,000.
Photos from the presentation dinner are available through Tracey Powell at Photography by Visage. Visit http://www.photosbyvisage.com.au for contact details.
10 February 2007
The presentation dinner for the 2006 Riverland & Mallee Vocational Awards was held tonight at the Berri Resort Hotel.
In excess of 250 people saw carpenter Callum Benda named the 25th Riverland & Mallee Apprentice of the Year. Callum’s employer, John Pearce of Cavalier Homes Riverland comments:
“Since commencing work for Cavalier Homes Riverland, in November 2004, Callum has thrived with every challenge put to him. The quality of the work performed is absolute first class.
He has taken a leading roll in framing and roof trusses, making sure he knows exactly how everything fits together along with following the plans and layouts.
Callum would not only be capable of building a complete home unassisted, but he would complete it to the highest standard and most efficiently.
He has a great personality and has excellent people skills – he is totally motivated and mature beyond his years.
He is undoubtedly the most talented tradesperson we have had the pleasure of working with.”
Callum Benda is clearly a worthy recipient of this award.
The Riverland & Mallee Trainee of the Year for 2006 is Hayley Smart. Hayley completed a traineeship in Business Administration with the Riverland Development Corporation and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science & Technology. The judges found Hayley to be a confident, self motivated and professional young lady. Her maturity and leadership qualities have excelled her to achieve at the highest level. She has a willingness to learn and absorb information well outside the training criteria which only enhances her professional and personal development in the office administration area.
Amy Shaw was presented with the Riverland & Mallee Vocational Education Training Student of the Year Award, following her completion of a Certificate III in Aged Care. Amy, a student of Waikerie High School, completed her vocational training at Pioneer Haven in Waikerie. Amy clearly has a passion for caring for others. She has been offered a place at university to undertake a registered nursing degree.
2 January 2007
Judging has now been completed for the Riverland & Mallee Vocational Awards for 2006.
All winners will be announced at the presentation dinner to be held at the Berri Resort Hotel on 10 February 2007.
The Rotary Club of Renmark will send invitation letters to finalists, sponsors and special guests in the coming weeks.
3 October 2006
The Rotary Club of Renmark proudly presents the 25th Annual Riverland & Mallee Vocational Awards. Give yourself the opportunity to share in $6,000 in prize money and awards.
Major awards include Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year and Vocational Education Training Student of the Year. Awards are also presented in many different industry categories, such as Hairdressing, Building and Automotive.
Nominations close Friday, 17 November 2006.
6 February 2006
The 2005 Riverland and Mallee Vocational Awards were held at the Berri Resort Hotel on Saturday evening. Bruce Mellett, from ABC Riverland 1062, hosted the awards.
Jessica Swanbury completed a Certificate III in Retail Operations with Town and
Country Photographics and was awarded the Trainee of the Year.
"It’s a really great honour. I can’t believe I’ve won it. It’s
definitely boosted my confidence and kick started my career as well. It’s
something really good to put on the resume. It’s been a great night and
I’ve really enjoyed it."
Why does Jessica like retail?
"I enjoy the whole customer service side of the retail industry, I’m a real
people person, so I’ve got into that a lot and I’m just enjoying where I am at
the moment and will see where it takes me. I’m hoping to be self employed
in the future, but we’ll just see how it goes."
Jessica say’s it great to be recognised for her efforts.
"Yes, definitely. It’s been a good reflection on the finishing of my
traineeship and because I’ve left the job I did my traineeship through, it’s
been an end of an era really."
Darren Quinn is an Automotive Technician employed by Rosenthal Brothers in Berri
and was awarded the Apprentice of the Year.
"I’m really stoked with the result tonight. There’s a lot of good guys
coming through and it’s getting into a real technical roll these days.
It’s definitely a tough environment but it’s well worth it in the end."
Darren believes the planned drag strip in Barmera will be of great benefit to
the region.
"It’s going to bring a lot of work into the Riverland and it’s going to be good
for the industry. It should generate some money around the joint, which
will be good for everyone."
Darren's real interest however is in high performance cars.
"I enjoy working with cars. It’s good the know when you’ve worked with a
car and you’ve got so much power out of it and can see a result, it brings a
certain sense of achievement to the thing."
Darren says after four years of training he is proud to be named Apprentice of
the Year.
"It’s an achievement I can put on my record, it’s also something that can
promote my industry and hopefully get some younger people in the school
interested. Unfortunately we’re lacking in a few workers in the industry
and hopefully more people will become involved because of it."