High achievers make the finals of the Victorian Training Awards
17 August 2005
Finalist in the Apprentice of the Year Category, Rebecca Tapscott
L to R - Retail trainer Maria Filis, Cecille Weiss, finalist in the Trainee of the Year Category, and Manager of Fashion and Retail, Jude Hollings
Two of Kangan Batman TAFE’s brightest students, Rebecca Tapscott and Cecille Weiss, were finalists in the Apprentice and Trainee categories in this year’s Victorian Training Awards.
Both women were presented with a certificate and a $500 cheque in front of 850 guests and dignitaries at the gala dinner at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on Monday 15 August.
The Victorian Training Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of students as well as teachers, training organisations and businesses.
It was a great accomplishment for aero skills apprentice Rebecca and retail manager Cecille, as they were only one of four finalists in their respective categories.
Both finalists had to pass three rigorous selection stages, the last of which was a panel interview that included industry representatives and sponsors.
Earlier this year, Rebecca and Cecille were recognised for their achievements in the Kangan Batman TAFE Graduation and Awards Ceremony.
Qantas employee and Certificate IV in Aeroskills student Rebecca, from Ardeer, had never flown in a plane or been inside one when she started her apprenticeship with Kangan Batman TAFE in 2002.
‘Quite honestly, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into!’ she said.
But now Rebecca is passionate about her trade, and said ‘along with the skills and knowledge I obtained in my training and work experience, I gained two valuable attributes – an eye for quality and a passion for aircraft’.
She is elated about becoming a finalist in the Victorian Training Awards, and hopes to go onto pursue another passion – to work with composites.
‘Composites are everywhere, from the bumper bar on your car to the components in furniture,’ said Rebecca.
Rebecca was awarded the Apprentice of the Year and Gold Medallion Award in Industrial Technologies in the Kangan Batman TAFE Graduation and Awards Ceremony earlier this year.
After Rebecca becomes a fully qualified tradesperson in six months time, she plans to complete an advanced diploma to be able to undertake a degree in engineering and aviation.
She has already been sought out by industry to give talks to young women who are considering entering traditional made dominated trades.
Cecille, from Woodend, works at one of Australia’s largest jewellers, and completed the Certificate IV in Retail Management at Kangan Batman TAFE in 2004.
She took out the Trainee of the Year Award, the Retail Silver Medallion and the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Kangan Batman TAFE Graduation and Awards Ceremony.
‘My husband Bill taught me that to achieve you have simply have to believe,’ said Cecille.
That has been Cecille’s mantra all throughout her life, especially during the difficult and lonely childhood she had.
She had dreamed of going to university, but her family discouraged her, due to their belief that a ‘woman’s place is in the home’. Cecille married young, bowing to pressure from her family.
After 10 years, Cecille returned to the workforce and to study, and is now happy in her second marriage with two teenage children.
She had studied for her course after hours, working full-time as a manager in the state’s top performing jewellery stores.
‘For my children to see me on stage set a good example – it showed that through persistence and perseverance, excellence can be achieved,’ Cecille said.
