By Luke Voogt
Leopold cabinet maker Kate Elstone and Sunshine “bird nerd” Louise Nicholas took the top honours at Gordon TAFE’s annual awards Wednesday night.
Kate, 22, was excited but “little bit overwhelmed” to win Apprentice of the Year.
“I’m just proud of what I’m capable of achieving,” she said.
Being a woman in a male-dominated industry never phased Kate and she said her workmates had welcomed her from the start.
“They like to tease a bit but I give it back just as much.”
Kate recently finished her apprenticeship and bought a house in Leopold, moving from her parents’ home in Drysdale.
“It’s amazing to be qualified,” she said.
“It makes all the work that I did over the past five years worth it.”
Kate loved the challenge seeing something on paper and building it from scratch.
“You’re proud to see something you’ve created for someone to use,” she said.
She dreams of one day being her own boss in a fine furniture business.
“My parents both have their own businesses. It’s hard but you get to make the calls and see it grow.”
Kate thanked her boss Clint Bosworth for giving her the chance to attend events like World Wood Day in Nepal.
“If I didn’t get those opportunities I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Sunshine birdwatcher Louise Nicholas turned her hobby into a dream job with a Melbourne Water “bush crew”.
Louise joined the Gordon when she lost her job in 2014 after 13 years working in an office.
The Vocational Student of the Year used her redundancy payment to study while putting her mortgage on interest only.
“It took me a while to realise I could study what I did as a hobby – without going university.”
For years Louise had watched birds at Werribee’s sewerage treatment plant – now it’s part of her job.
“I’m actually at the poo farm today,” she said.
“People would think it’s quite a stinky place to work but it’s actually very beautiful. There are lots of ponds and international migratory birds.”
Forty-seven nominees vied for 21 awards totalling $13,500 in prize money at the awards ceremony on Wednesday night.
