WHILE still a year 11 student at Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s (GSSC) Wanganui Campus, the week for Callum Howden involves working as a school-based apprentice with SW Refrigeration of Bunbartha, where his workday can take him from fixing a drink machine to installing cool room refrigeration at an orchard.
Callum, 17, has recently been named as one of finalists in the School-Based Apprentice of the Year category of the prestigious Victorian Training Awards.
It started when Callum did two weeks work experience with SW Refrigeration in year 10. That so impressed the family business owners, Shayne and Kim Wilson, they were delighted to take him on as a school-based apprentice last December.
“He has an excellent work ethic and a real willingness to learn,” Kim said.
“We specialise in industrial refrigeration and it can be dirty, physical work. Callum’s technical ability, attitude and values will take him far.”
For Callum’s part, he said, “I love the work. I tried a lot of trades and it’s been industrial refrigeration and air-conditioning that has interested me the most.”
Callum said he is grateful to GSSC for the flexibility they’ve given him while he pursues a career path, one he hopes will lead to one day running his own business.
Finalists in the Victorian Training Awards will feature in online video presentations in coming weeks, with the winner of the School-Based Apprentice of the Year announced on Friday, October 30.
Now in their 66th year, the awards celebrate training excellence and fosters connections between students, teachers, employers and industry.
