Grady Finnegan and Darcy Russell came home with an award from a recent SuniTAFE event.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
A local apprentice has won an award at a recent SuniTAFE celebration in Swan Hill.
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Grady Finnegan of Russell Mechanical Services in Moama took home the Garry Thompson Memorial Achievement Award at the inaugural Swan Hill Trades Night.
The award is presented to an automotive apprentice that has displayed exceptional commitment to their studies and is a role model to fellow students.
Around 200 people attended the night, with many possible candidates eligible for the awards on offer.
Grady Finnegan pictured outside Russell Mechanical Services with his award.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Mr Finnegan said he was surprised to receive the honour, which SuniTAFE selected him for, but was happy to accept it.
“You just think you’re doing an apprenticeship: four years is over and that’s it, you sign off. It was another achievement in itself, so it felt really good,” he said.
Like many others, Mr Finnegan began his apprenticeship in high school as a way to earn money while receiving a qualification.
Having just finished his studies at SuniTAFE’s Swan Hill campus, Mr Finnegan said he was still keen to increase his skills and knowledge in heavy machinery moving forward.
Business owner Darcy Russell said he felt a sense of accomplishment seeing his apprentice take home the award.
“I felt like I’d done the right thing by Grady, taught him what he needed to know, and he did the rest of the work,” Mr Russell said.
Mr Russell’s business is a heavy diesel mechanic service, looking after truck and trail transport equipment in the workshop and on call-outs.
Apprentices are vital to the business and industry, with students both learning from and teaching their employers.
“If we don’t have apprentices, then we don’t keep going,” Mr Russell said.
“That’s our new skills coming through. School’s changed a lot ... in the time from when I was at school to when Grady was at school. All the technology is different.”
Finding apprentices is difficult, partly because the initial wages are low, and many people aren’t willing to make the initial financial sacrifice, Mr Russell said.
“You end up better off in the long run, but a lot of people don’t see that,” he said.
“Now there’s a shortage of skills around the place, so we’ve just started investing in our own workers and training them up to be whatever we need.”
Mr Russell has two other apprentices, and tries to hire one per year to manage students and workers as they become qualified.
“If no more apprentices come, in 10 years’ time, when everyone decides they want to get out of the trade, move industries, or whatever they want to do, there’s not going to be anyone here,” he said.
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