Kangan Institute celebrates Class of 2019 award winners

Students from different trades and walks of life were celebrated at Kangan Institute’s annual Industry Excellence Awards on 26 February, with a sustainable fashion designer and female automotive apprentice technician amongst the major award winners.

Attended by the Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education, the Hon. Gayle Tierney MP, the awards ceremony honoured the achievements of 56 award winners who trained at campuses in Broadmeadows, Essendon, Moonee Ponds, Richmond and Docklands.

The overall Vocational Student of the Year award was presented to fashion design and merchandising student Bethany Peele of Belgrave Heights.

“I chose to study fashion because I was really passionate about ethical and sustainable fashion, and I wanted to be able to make a difference,” said the diploma student who received a $1,000 cash prize sponsored by ANZ Bank.

“The training that I received at Kangan Institute has really changed my life. It’s provided me with the skills and knowledge to go forward into the industry and actually make a difference and do the things that I really want to do.”

Bethany said her TAFE training enabled her to win the 2019 Specsavers Young Innovator Design Competition. It also provided her opportunity to showcase designs at Kangan Institute’s sustainable runway shows held during Melbourne Fashion Week.

“That’s been a really exciting thing for me to be a part of… it’s provided me with an experience to be part of a runway show and to know how it all works,” she said.

With plans to pursue the advanced diploma at Kangan Institute this year, Bethany is working towards start her own sustainable label.

“I would love to get more involved in the industry by starting my own sustainable and ethical label and try to make a difference,” she said.

Joining the ranks of major award winners is automotive apprentice technician Ashley Beeby of Point Cook, who was named Inspirational Young Achiever of the Year and received a $500 cash prize sponsored by Rotary Club of Pascoe Vale.

The Cummins apprentice specialises in engine diagnosis and repair, and said her passion for hands-on work propelled her into a career in trades.

“Prior to TAFE I had completed Year 12 VCE with incredible results while taking a VET subject in automotive technology. Despite my academic feats, I opted for an apprenticeship with Cummins and TAFE education as I knew that I was more interested in a hands-on work environment than a university education,” she said.

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“(My TAFE training) has allowed me to really grow as an individual within the workplace and exposed me to different perspectives and understandings of the industry.
 
“I love working on my feet, diagnosing and repairing engines while constantly refining and expanding my knowledge. The work can be both mentally and physically demanding, and it really pushes me to improve as a technician.”
 
Ashley hopes her journey will motivate other females considering a career in trades. 

“Winning this award is a huge honour and I feel incredibly proud to receive it. It’s also a privilege to set an example for other females interested in the trade,” she said.

The overall Apprentice of the Year Award was presented to hairdressing apprentice Christine Daoud, of Mernda, who demonstrated unwavering commitment to training despite a car accident that left her out of work for six weeks.     

“Having this time off really made me think about how much I loved being at work. And with the support of my educators I was able to get back on my feet really fast and get back to work,” said the Mernda resident who received a cash prize of $1,000 sponsored by Apprenticeship Employment Network.

Currently working at Joey Scandizzo Salon, Christine said her TAFE journey began due to a love for creative, hands-on learning and has since led her on an award-winning path.

“I’m fortunate enough to be given many opportunities where I work, whether it be competitions such as HBIA (Hair & Beauty Industry Association), photo shoots, and events such as the Brownlow or working at the Melbourne Cup. This year I was fortunate enough to win HBIA Apprentice of the Year, which I’m really happy about,” she said.

Kangan Institute CEO Sally Curtain congratulated all award winners and highlighted the roles played by educators, the Victorian Government and industry in the students’ success.

“Congratulations to all our award winners. The awards are recognition of our students’ hard work and commitment to education, and provide a platform for them to achieve bigger and brighter futures from here on,” she said.

“I’d like to highlight the role of Kangan Institute’s teachers and staff who’ve supported our award winners to arrive at this milestone.  

“I also acknowledge the role of the Victorian Government and our industry partners. Their support enables Kangan Institute to focus on providing high quality training that is aligned to industry, economy and community needs.”

Full list of award winners:

• Automotive Pre-Apprentice of the Year Award – Nathan Bowden
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: School Based – Riley Cook
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Agricultural – Joey Bowtell
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle – Jeremiah Sheehan

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• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle (Bus) – Brett Holland
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Outdoor Power Equipment – Nathan Cocks
• A.R. (Dick) Jackson  Award – Brody Jones
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Motorcycle – Travis Bond
• Automotive Electrical Achievement Award – Patrick Simpson
• Automotive Student of the Year: Motorsport – Jamie Kuhn
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Electrical – Evie Taylor
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Refinishing Technology – Layne Siekman
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Parts Interpreting – Joshua Dilworth
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Heavy Vehicle (Key Client) – Ramon Gnanamuttu
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Light Vehicle (Key Client) – Jack Chaplin
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Body Repair (Key Client - Sheen Group) – Zach Hoyle
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Refinishing Technology (Key Client - Sheen Group) – Rosario Lucisano
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Automotive Body Repair – Sean Garvey
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Marine Technology – Matthew St Jack
• Automotive Apprentice of the Year: Light Vehicle – Ian Gunn
• Automotive Inspirational Student of the Year – Matthew St Jack
• The Lindsay Fox Heavy Vehicle Technician Excellence Award – Frances Russ
• Sir Henry Royce Foundation Award for Excellence – Bradley Reynolds
• Outstanding Diploma of Beauty Therapy – Jade Crabtree
• Outstanding Certificate III in Barbering – Sheldon Mathieson
• C&I Pre-Apprentice of the Year – Mason Wilkie
• Outstanding Work Place Based Student – Rowan Jones
• Outstanding Certificate IV in Construction Student – Ali Zahiri Araghi
• Outstanding Apprentice: Brick Laying/Block Laying – Dean Felini
• Outstanding Apprentice: Wall and Ceiling Lining – Aaron Walmsley
• Outstanding Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing – Keegan Anderson
• Guide Dogs Victoria Inclusivity and Accessibility Award – Berat Kaya
• School-based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year – Kevin Tregoning
• Runner Up Trainee of the Year (non-trade) – Hari Acharya
• Trainee of the Year (non-trade) – Maddison Rowe
• Runner Up Inspirational Young Achiever of the Year – Brittany Grieg
• Runner Up Inspirational Young Achiever of the Year – Aaron Train
• Inspirational Young Achiever of the Year – Ashley Beeby
• Apprentice of the Year: Construction –Kieran Sproule-Carroll
• Apprentice of the Year: Engineering – Mitchell Ryan
• Apprentice of the Year: Electrical – Stefan Moskaljuk
• Apprentice of the Year: Landscape Construction – Jye Welsh
• Apprentice of the Year: Parks and Gardens –Bryce Waddington
• Apprentice/Student of the Year: Commercial Cookery – Skye Culpan
• Apprentice of the Year: Bakery – Kym Raphael
• Apprentice of the Year: Hairdressing – Christine Daoud
• Apprentice of the Year: Automotive / Lionel Gell School of Instruction Award in Automotive – Mehmet Topalhasan
• Apprentice of the Year – Christine Daoud

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• Gold Medallion: Automotive – Nathan Bowden
• Gold Medallion: Construction & Industrial – Mason Wilkie
• Gold Medallion: Health & Community – Jasenka Kalenik
• Gold Medallion: Food & Fibre – Alisa Webb
• Gold Medallion: Professional & Creative – Bethany Peele
• Gold Medallion: Foundations & Pathways – Zakirullah Haqiqzai
• Uncle Norm Hunter Gold Medallion in Indigenous Education – Ashlee Marston
• Student of the Year Award – Bethany Peele

About Kangan Institute

Kangan Institute is a division of Bendigo Kangan Institute, one of Australia’s largest TAFE providers. Through campuses in Broadmeadows, Docklands, Richmond, Moonee Ponds and Essendon, Kangan Institute provides training services to students, industries and businesses throughout metropolitan Melbourne and beyond.