Auto apprentices of the year announced
19 November 2010
Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge today presented the Automotive Training Board’s awards to the State’s top automotive apprentices for 2010.
Ms Judge said the eight recipients of the Automotive Training Board NSW awards had achieved individual excellence in work and study and demonstrated a commitment to their trades that would serve them well into the future.
Awards are presented in seven trade categories – Automotive Electrical, Body Building, Vehicle Painting, Panel Beating, Light and Heavy Vehicle and Motorcycle, as well as to a school-based apprentice.
This year’s winners have come from Tahmoor, Holbrook, Windsor, Bossley Park, Kings Point, Orchard Hills, Dubbo and Molong.
They include a Harley Davidson loving motorcycle mechanic apprentice who for 21 years was a highway patrol officer with the NSW police.
The NSW Government provides the Automotive Training Board with $60,000 annually for ongoing training and development, through Fair Trading’s Motor Vehicle Industry Grants Program.
Ms Judge said the annual celebration of apprentice achievements highlighted the importance of automotive trades and trade training to the national workforce and productivity.
“Australia’s comprehensive automotive supply chain, from manufacturing to retail sales, repair and servicing, employs more than 320,000 people in 650,000 mostly small to medium sized operations,” she said.
“Automotive manufacturing annual exports of $5.82 billion of vehicles and components further reflect the key role of this industry.”
Ms Judge said the Automotive Training Board’s role in developing and maintaining training standards and rewarding excellence was critical to the health of the industry.
“Apprenticeships keep our workplaces alive with new talent and enthusiasm and the commitment of employers to providing guidance and support to apprentices is essential,” she said.
MTA NSW CEO James McCall said ensuring the available workforce had the skills and knowledge required to meet the needs of employers was a prominent issue for business and industry in the state.
“The commitment to apprenticeships by employers is essential to the NSW economy,” he said.
Apprentice Merit Awards 2010
Category |
Winner |
Residential address |
Business name and address |
| Automotive Electrical | Daniel Walsh | Tahmoor |
G & C Auto Electrics 16 Cawdor Road, Camden |
| Body Building | Michael Derewlany | Windsor |
Kuipers Engineering Pty Ltd 120 Ham Street, South Windsor |
| School Based Apprentice | Adrian Grima | Orchard Hills |
Daltrans 15 Verrell Street, Wetherill Park |
| Spray Painting | Todd Chapman | Kings Point |
Ulladulla Smash Repair Unit 10 337 Aroo Rd, Kings Point |
| Panel Beating | Stuart Stendell | Dubbo |
Brown and Wheatland Smash Repair 33 Bourke Street, Dubbo |
| Light Vehicle | Mark Montebello | Bossley Park |
MTA Apprenticeships Plus Suite 22-25 Level 1 |
| Heavy Vehicle | Grant Cottrell | Holbrook |
Roads and Traffic Authority Albury Street, Holbrook |
| Motorcycle | Craig Barham | Molong |
Capital Harley-Davidson 20 Cameron Place, Orange |
Craig Barham, winner of the Motorcycle category, with Minister Virginia Judge.
Back to Media releases
Top of page