Local skills were on showcase at the Wheatbelt Training Awards held on Sunday 30th November. The Awards are the regions highest accolade for apprentices, trainees, schools and employers and the York Town Hall was a buzz with over 210 guests acknowledging the outstanding achievement of the regions training, education and employment sector.

The Awards were a special celebration of the Wheatbelt and thirty five finalists travelled to York, some coming from afar as Kulin, Newdegate, Cadoux, Dalwallinu and Katanning.

The Hon. Peter Collier MLC Minister for Energy; Training opened the day and Master of Ceremonies was the 2007 World Skills International Gold Medallist, Dale McMullen. Dale relayed his experiences as a World Skills participant and encouraged apprentices and trainees to embark on every opportunity presented to them.

Award winners included Adam Whiteside, from P and L Housecladding in Newdegate who took top honours as Wheatbelt Apprentice of the Year and Jeremy Priest from Whangagin Grains in Cuballing with Highly Commended in the same category.

Devon Gilmour represented McIntosh and Sons Katanning at the Awards and was presented with the prestigious Wheatbelt Employer of the Year for their long term contribution to training apprentices. The judges were impressed with the dedication of Steve and Maria from Kofficorna Bakery in Kulin and they were awarded Highly Commended in the Employer category.

Monica Lee from Bolgart received the Wheatbelt Trainee of the Year for her commitment to aged care at Goomalling Hospital, Highly Commended went to Shaun Kalajzic, an agricultural trainee from Cadoux.

Natalee Siddons of Main Roads Northam, was presented with Wheatbelt School Based Trainee of the Year, with Nicole McNamara from the Shire of York receiving Highly Commended. WA College of Agriculture was represented well with students Jeanette Leach (Narrogin) and Robert Lang (Cunderdin) taking out the Wheatbelt Vocational Student of the Year and Highly Commended awards respectively.

Shane Bliss from Wagin Mechanical Repairs received Wheatbelt Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year and Jayd Kennedy from the Shire of Dalwallinu received Highly Commended. The Shire of Quairading together with Quairading DHS received the School and Business Partnership of the Year for their contribution to the towns employment and training sector.

The day also acknowledged 18 students who had completed their training in 2008 and highlighted the regions skill level and diverse career paths.

An apprentice of Karni Engineering Merredin, alongside the Crooks designed the unique trophies which captured the farming landscape of the Wheatbelt. They were presented with a special award by John Scott of CY O’Connor TAFE.

Dale Alcock, of Dale Alcock Homes was the Awards inaugural patron. Dale was originally a Kellerberrin boy and supported the Awards vision to acknowledge Wheatbelt careers and services. The awards were coordinated by Directions in partnership with ApprentiCentre, CY O’Connor TAFE, Local Community Partnerships, CCI EmployFAST, Mission Australia and supported by Computing Australia, Abbott and Co Printers, Water Corporation Northam and RoadWise.

Jayd Kennedy, Highly Commended recipient from the Shire of Dalwallinu with Shayne Lucy, Group Training WA Field Officer of the Year and from Directions with Shaun Kalajzic, ApprentiCentre Ambassador

Bernice Moore, ApprentiCentre with Wheatbelt School Based Trainee of the Year Natalee Siddons of Main Roads, Northam>

Trophies designed by a Logan Guilbert, an apprentice from Karni Engineering Merredin

Hon. Peter Collier MLC opens the day

York Town Hall

Students from the Wheatbelt who completed their training in 2008 with Hon Peter Collier MLC

Devon Gilmour from McIntosh and Sons Katanning receives his Employer of the Year award from Larry Davies, CEO of Directions

Monica Lee, Wheatbelt Trainee of the Year with Shayne Lucy, Directions and GTA WA Field Officer of the Year and Adam Whiteside, Wheatbelt Apprentice of the Year at the Imperial Hotel

Shane Bliss receives his award from James Fallon, Mission Australia

Robert Lang, WA College of Agriculture Cunderdin with his Highly Commended award

Nicole McNamara, Shire of York with her Highly Commended award

Shire of Quairading and Quairading DHS with Teresa McGrechan receive their Wheatbelt School and Business Partnership Award

Kofficorna Bakery, runner up in Wheatbelt Employer of the Year

Adam Whiteside with his employer Len from P and L Housecladding – Apprentice of the Year

Jeremy Priest, Whangagin Grains, runner up in Wheatbelt Apprentice of the Year

Award Judges

Shaun Kalajzic, Highly Commended Trainee of the Year with Chrissy Pollard, CCI EmployFAST