Australia's Top Apprentice Competition 2009

This year marked the second running of this competition, each year a different association will be charged with organising the event. Next year it will move back to Queensland for the second time. QMFA would like to thank Mark Cumming and his committee of the Victorian Master Farriers' Association for the fine job they did in organising the day to make it the success it was. Once again the three eastern seaboard states of Qld, NSW &Vic were represented. Whilst I was unable to attend personally I have been told the facility at North Melbourne Institute of TAFE is first rate. Our thanks go to Colin Smith the instructor at NMIT for the behind the scenes work he put in.

With the weather in the high 30's the apprentices were tested in more ways than one, battling the heat as well as the pressure of a crowd gathered around. While the sweat was flying the three boys never lost focus and gave each event their utmost. The judge for the day was former national champion Rod Craig. While no longer a full-time farrier Rod is still involved in the industry and jumped at the chance to adjudicate Australia's new breed of tradesmen.

The final result was:

1st Colten Preston (Queensland, University of Qld, Gatton Campus) Apprenticed to Mark O'Leary, Technical Instructors: Craig Jones & Wade Graham

2nd Ryan Wighton (New South Wales, Scone TAFE) Apprenticed to Johnathan Oehm, Technical Instructors: Bob Sim and Dave Adams

3rd Steve McLeod (Victoria, North Melbourne Institute of TAFE) Technical Instructor: Colin Smith

 

Australia's Top Apprentice Mail-In Shoe Competition 2009

While one apprentice from each participating state gets the chance to compete, once again all the other apprentices got their chance as well by sending in an entry to our Mail-In Shoe Competition. The scoring was very close with only a point or two between the placegetters. The results are:

1st Year

=1st Paul Jaroszek & Geoffrey Lefevre (Vic)

3rd Shaun Van Deventer (Qld) Apprenticed to Niko Van Deventer

2nd Year

1st Andy McDonald (Qld) Apprenticed to Delwyn Richardson

2nd Emma MvKavanagh (Qld) Apprenticed to Kent Wells

3rd Angus Gilmore (Qld)

4th Bryce Bottomley (Vic)

5th Jordy Johnson (Vic)

3rd Year

1st Colten Preston (Qld)

2nd Steve McLeod (Vic)

3rd Dean Beath (Vic)

4th Year

1st Tom Sedger (Qld)

2nd Steve McLeod (Vic)

3rd Glen Lefoe (Qld)

Malcolm Paine Award

The apprentices had their final day of technical training on Friday the 11th of December. The announcement that they all wait for is the Malcolm Paine Award. This perpetual trophy is awarded to the apprentice that the instructors feel has been the outstanding apprentice throughout the year. The winner this year was Colten Preston who capped off his final year of technical training by etching his name on this highly sought after award. The encouragement award was won by new kid on the block Matt Davis who has already shown he will be a force in the future with his enthusiasm and willingness to work hard. Congratulations to all the apprentices who have worked so hard during the year and we look forward to seeing what they can achieve next year.