Gold medals for students in national skills competition
18 June 2004
Two Kangan Batman TAFE students have won Gold medals in the recent World Skills Australia competition and one student has won a Bronze medal.
WorldSkills Australia is an organisation that conducts skill competitions in over 52 trade and skill areas. Competitions are held in areas including bricklaying, garment production, commercial cookery, heavy vehicle mechanics, electrical installation and IT support.
Competitions are held in 30 regional areas first with winners progressing onto the national competition. Winners at the national level go on to compete in the international competition. Kangan Batman TAFE has produced medal winners at regional, national and international level in the past.
Bundoora resident, Anthony Quaresima, won a gold medal in the PC Support category of the competition. Anthony is studying the Diploma of Information Technology (Networking) at the Broadmeadows campus and is ecstatic about the win.
"It was a real challenge as everyone competing at that level is very good. But I didn't get distracted and was very focussed on the task," said Anthony.
Anthony had been well-prepared for the competition by WorldSkills champion and former Kangan Batman Information Technology student, Troy Pretty, who came sixth in a previous international stage of the competition. Troy has been mentoring Anthony for the competition and will continue to help him prepare for the international WorldSkills in Helsinki, Finland in 2005.
Michael Segrave, a teacher from the Information Technology department, echoes the thoughts of all Anthony's teachers when he commented that Anthony "has a passion for IT work and will go far in the field."
"Anthony is very much engaged in learning new skills and acquiring knowledge. He takes on challenges in different areas and gets a real buzz out of learning. In the classroom he goes over and above what it required, you know that if you give him a problem to solve he will draw on his skill base and use initiative to solve it," said Michael.
Whittlesea student, Ryan Goodwin, won a gold medal in the VET in Schools category of the competition for Horticulture. Ryan is a student of Whittlesea Secondary College and the training for the horticulture course is delivered by Kangan Batman TAFE at the Broadmeadows campus.
Ryan has always been interested in Horticulture and with his dad having a gardening business, has had plenty of opportunity to find out about the field. Ryan believes the win gives him greater opportunities in the workplace and has already been offered a horticulture apprenticeship.
Ryan said the competition was difficult but enabled him to showcase his skills in brick edging, paving and planting and team work and was a great experience.
Keilor carpentry apprentice Kelvin French, won a bronze medal in the Carpentry section of the awards. Kelvin is also the 2003 winner of Kangan Batman TAFE's Outstanding Student in VET in Schools Award and is currently completing a pre-apprenticeship in Building and Construction.
Kelvin's teacher, Gary Brittle says Kelvin is a natural born carpenter and has a "passion and understanding towards carpentry not often seen, even in students with real aptitude."
"Kelvin is an outstanding student who works well on his own but also as a team member. He sets himself a very high standard and this is reflected in the work he produces," said Gary.
Kelvin is not leaving anything to chance with his career and is already considering further study in business management and accountancy in preparation for starting his own business.
The Kangan Batman TAFE carpentry department also produced the fourth place-getter in the competition. Chris Benson, from Whittlesea Secondary College came fourth in the VET in Schools section.
