By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
The honours keep piling up for Ocean Grove cabinetmaker Kate Elstone, who will jet off to Nepal after receiving a rare invitation to the International Young Adults Furniture Making event.
Instead of being a participant Kate will heading back for World Wood Day to head up one of five collaborative design and construction teams.
The International Young Adults Furniture Making Invitational (IYAFMI) will be held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 21 March.
Kate’s role at the week-long celebrations will include guiding first time invitees through the experience of performing a trade and craft in front of thousands of onlookers.
She will have just four days to see her team’s project grow from concept to finished product.
Kate is no stranger to the challenge as she participated as a first time invitee in the event held in Turkey last year.
Kate garnered the invitation after winning a gold medal at the regional WorldSkills competition and then competing in the national event in Perth. She will compete at this year’s nationals in Melbourne as well.
“Receiving one of just five repeat invitations to World Wood Day in Kathmandu was a complete surprise,” Kate said.
“I am going to use it as an opportunity to further hone my skills and increase my capabilities to win in Melbourne.
“Hopefully I can become a Skillaroo representing Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2017 at the WorldSkills International Competition.”
Kate is employed by Fusion Cabinets in Ocean Grove and will jet off on 17 March for Nepal.
