Annual Apprenticeship Awards Announced

CVGT Australia’s Annual Apprenticeship awards, The Matthew Baldock Memorial Award and the John Balsillie Award, together with the 2016 Scholarship – Excellence in Automotive were presented by CVGT Australia CEO Paul Green last night at an event at Rocks in Rosalind in Bendigo.

In May 2000, Matthew Baldock, a CVGT Plumber & Gasfitting apprentice sadly passed away as a result of illness. In honour of Matthew, CVGT Australia gives special recognition to a plumbing apprentice that has displayed high levels of achievement and dedication during their apprenticeship.

The winner of the 2015 Baldock Award is Nick Murphy, a fourth-year apprentice plumber at T & M Plumbing Wangaratta. Nick has shown great commitment and passion throughout his apprenticeship. He displays excellent trade skill, leadership, a strong customer service ethic and a high level of maturity. His ambition and dedication to his trade are a credit to himself and his determination to be the best is reflected in his work.

The John Balsillie Award is an annual award to commemorate excellence in engineering. CVGT Australia acknowledges John, a retired CVGT board director, who was presented with an MBE in 1969, served as a Major in the Australia Armed services and formerly served as Mayor of Bendigo. This award is available to any CVGT engineering apprentice of any year level who displays a high level of skill, initiative and dedication to the trade.

The winner of the 2015 Balsillie Award is Sam Houlden, a second-year mechanical engineer apprentice at Bendigo Engineering. Sam has shown great commitment and pride in his work throughout his indentured time and is on target to successfully complete his trade. He consistently displays a high level of workmanship and continually meets the expectation of his host employer and trade school requirements. He is very enthusiastic and always has a willingness to learn new skills.

CVGT Australia has provided an apprenticeship scholarship since 2009. This year, the 2016 Scholarship – Excellence in Automotive is a partnership with Bendigo Kangan Institute, Phil Palma Bendigo Ford and Bendigo Dyno Tuning to offer a dual qualification – Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology and Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology for two recipients.

Scholarship recipients are employed through CVGT Australia’s Group Training program, and have access to the best support, tools, additional training and mentoring to develop and enhance the skills required to achieve excellence in their trade.

The first scholarship recipient is Peter Hodson. Peter completed year 12 at Castlemaine Secondary College this year. During this time he completed VET studies in Automotive and Engineering. He will commence his apprenticeship with Phil Palma Bendigo Ford.

The winners of the Matthew Baldock Award and John Balsillie Award will receive a $500 cheque from CVGT Australia, a prize, trophy and certificate. The scholarship recipient will receive a $500 cheque, trophy and certificate as they begin a pathway to trade excellence.