Dear WorldSkills Supporter, Welcome to the March Sponsor Update. Our competitors and their experts have been busy over the past month. We are now on the countdown with only 196 days until the Opening Ceremony in London. Global Skills Challenge – May 2011
Planning for the Global Skills Challenge which will be held in Wollongong from 4 – 8 July 2011 is well under way. This will be a major training exercise for the Skillaroos in preparation for London 2011. We are pleased to advise that the UK, New Zealand, USA, France, Singapore, Jamaica and China have been extended invitations to take on the Aussies at the Challenge and all have provisionally accepted the invitation. This will make for a truly global skills challenge.
MP visits Matthew Hall – Manufacturing Team Challenge
Dan Tehan MP and John Forrest MP in Stawell last week visiting Matthew Hall Team Australia Skillaroo – Manufacturing Team Challenge (MTC). The MP’s visited Matthew and his employer Darren Egan onsite at Stawell Engineering. From all reports the meeting went very well. Matt was able to brief the ministers on the Skillaroos, his trade and how it feels to be a Skillaroo. Darren was pleased that both MPs took so much interest in Matt, himself and the trade. Darren was delighted the MPs left wearing a Stawell Engineering cap.
Training Update - Richard May and Thomas Ramsey
Landscape Gardening The landscape gardening competitors Richard May and Thomas Ramsey will be undertaking a training session at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, 14 – 27 April 2011. Tom & Richard will be constructing a garden from Saturday 16th to Tuesday 19th of April The project is quite an elevated garden by the use of precast concrete blocks at the rear of the garden. The focal point of the garden is a pond which is located in the centre of the site. A natural stone retaining wall is constructed approx 800mm high and a fountain of water comes out of the wall recirculating into the feature pond. These skills (Use of precast stone, natural stone, and construction of water feature including plumbing) are all required for the London comp. There is a patio area of random stone paving and a path leading to the centre of the garden constructed using granite sets, which have been part of almost every competition since 2003. The timber component of the Japan project is bamboo screen (I am not too sure what timber structure will be required at London but decks, pergolas and stairs have been in past projects). It is a great opportunity for both Tom & Richard to get together and complete an International project in front of a big crowd. They have been training on different skills on their own, but a very large part of an international project is teamwork. There were some teams that did not complete the project in Japan on time, so it is essential that we have a plan and stay to that plan. The majority of marks awarded at an international event are the overall appearance of the completed project and the use of green space.
Training Update - Rhaman Donovan
Fashion Technology Rhaman has what every Fashion technology competitor dreams of – metres and metres of beautiful fabric to practice with reports Donna Drain – International Expert. We visited The Fabric Shop Sydney store on last week and Rhaman was able to make a choice from their full range of fabric. She was delighted and it was just what she needed as she is training now on full garments, focusing on tailoring and really needed the material for her to progress with her training. Her motivation is right up there with her bag full of beautiful fabric.
Training Update - Michael Ashton
Construction Steelwork Michael has been working a project similar to the one required for London, he been working back after work on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. He has built the landing section of the bridge and has almost completed the tower section, the last section with is the draw bridge he should start the week after the next. Michael been busy at his work place with so much work on in the workshop that he is working 10 hour days for his boss, then staying back on the three nights when he can to work on his project. Hopefully the work will slow down so it gives him more time to practice on his skills.
Training Update - Liam Janetzki
Refrigeration Liam Janetzki (Refrigeration) has been working hard with past Gold Medallist Matthew Kues Sales in Toowoomba training 2 times per week locally focusing on hand skills such as pipe bending and pipe installation, Liam has also been undertaking training on a fortnightly basis at Skillstech in Acacia Ridge Brisbane with Carl Balke and his fellow teaching staff focusing on various aspects of past international competitions. The feedback to date has been positive from all concerned.
Training Update - Mathew Nowell
Joinery Information in the Infrastructure List regarding the timber to be used in London prompted Steve and Mat to try and locate English Oak and English Ash, not an easy task!
Training Update - Blake Cannell
Web Design Blake on his new employer Tequila. “So far, my time at Tequila has been amazing! It’s all quite surreal that just six months ago, I was living at home, doing odd (web design) jobs out of my bedroom. Compared to now, living and working (full-time) in the city, doing what I love all day long. Here at Tequila I have professionals in all areas of Web, who I can turn to in my training for London later this year if need be. I don’t believe I could be in a better position than I am now, relative to the lead up to London, and I will use that to the best of ability to turn it in to the best possible result I can."
France Competition Report
2011 Skillaroos Lester Tibbles (Bricklaying), Alexis Scott (Ladies’/ Men’s Hairdressing), Alex Odgers (Beauty Care) and Tamika Mackrell (Floristry) competed at the 41st WorldSkills French National Finals in February. Below are reports provided by various members of the Skillaroos support/training team. Alex Odgers - Beauty Therapy Alex Odgers went into the French National WorldSkills Competition with a feeling of anticipation, a small tool box of beauty therapy implements and a limited knowledge of the beauty treatments she had to execute. For both Alex and me (Sue Collins) it was thrilling, terrifying and exciting because we didn’t have all the test project information before going to Paris. Alex performed with confidence. She threw herself into each test with a self assurance and came out at the end of Day 3 with a good result. The experience for Alex was overwhelming and she is now preparing for the London competition with a newly found eagerness. Alex will be attending the International Dermal Institute in Sydney where she will be undergoing further training during March with the Dermalogica beauty care products. Lester Tibbles, Bricklaying
Lester competed in two high level national competitions in two weeks earlier this year. These competitions were in Odense, Denmark and Paris, France. Firstly we went to Denmark and did some training at a bricklaying school in North Jutland, before competing in the national competition. The national competition was a very big event and the quality of the bricklaying competition was very high. The design of the projects was very complicated and this was good for Lester because the unusual designs have a habit of popping up in international competition. Our Danish contacts were very generous in their hospitality towards us and we could tell they appreciated us making the trip. I was very happy with Lester’s performance – his work looked very good but we also identified some areas that need to be improved. I was also very impressed by the way he adapted to the product
and how fast he was able to construct the projects – in the end he had over 2 hours to spare. Lester and I both discussed the benefits of participating in these competitions for training and we both agree there is just no substitute for engaging in rigorous, high quality competitions where possible. On the positive side we confirmed and discovered some really good attributes he possesses as a competitor. On the flipside, he made errors that he will not be making in competition and we have valuable feedback about what he needs to work on. I must say I was very impressed by Lester’s attitude and how he was able to respond to the many challenges that were thrown at him. Now it’s time to roll the sleeves up and make sure he is at his best for the big event. Alexis Scott, Ladies’/Men’s Hairdressing Alexis has returned from competing in the French National Worldskills competitions in Paris where she attained 3rd place. This is remarkable. She had trained night and day in the two weeks leading up to the competition and now believes that it is actually possible for her to win gold in London. Alexis is an extremely focused young hairdresser with the will to succeed with whatever she undertakes. Alexis will be in Sydney in June for hair Expo. This is great exposure for Alexis who will be working on the Pivot Point stand. The Hair Expo will give Alexis the chance to have exposure to an inquisitive Audience and noise which is great practice for London. Paris, wow! What an experience. From translating what the judges were saying at the briefing, to seeing all the main sites, to eating snails and crepes. On the hour every night from our beautiful and well located hotel we could watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle, to finding our way around the city on the metro and dealing with the long distance plane flight. Within less than 8 months to go and having learnt from what I have achieved in Paris, I am full of inspiration and have a renewed drive to get started on my new designs. I plan to work very hard in the coming months, and then I’ll be in peak form for representing Australia to the best of my ability. Tamika Mackrell, Floristry Tamika travelled to Paris in February with International Deputy Chief Judge Alan Randell-Smith to complete in the WorldSkills 41st French National competition. Alan Randell-Smith saw this competition as an excellent opportunity for Tamika to gain international experience prior to her competing in London in October 2011, especially as many countries chose to travel to this competition making it almost a mini international. Competitors from Denmark, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, the UK, Canada, Austria, Hungary and Germany competed and of course a large contingent from all provinces across France. Tamika approached the 4 day competition with professionalism and flare; completing all projects within the allocated time frame. When Tamika was asked how she viewed the experience she said “I had no idea how big this competition was going to be, it has been a huge learning curve, not only the experience of travelling but dealing with language difficulties, and not knowing exactly what the project was going to be, I would not have missed it for the world.” Tamika is employed by Jen’s Florist in Sale Victoria; Jen Bailey is extremely supportive of Tamika’s heavy training schedule leading up to London, we wish Tamika all the best.
Supporting Team Australia Skillaroos
We are delighted to advise that many of our Regional and National sponsors are now supporters of Team Australia Skillaroos, providing much appreciated financial sponsorships and donations for Team Australia Skillaroos as they take on the world at the 41st WorldSkills International Competition. We sincerely appreciate your support and hope that more of our industry partners will get on board. Remember for a donation of as little as $1,000.00 your organisation will become a Skillaroo supporter. We encourage you to visit our website and view the video “Medal Winners Calgary 2009” a short video highlighting Team Australia 2009 medal presentation at the 40th International Competition Calgary, Canada. Australia is currently ranked 5th in the world and we are confident that Team Australia Skillaroos 2011 will retain, if not build upon this current ranking.
Weekend Australian
Team Australia Skillaroos and Kate Croker – Restaurant Service received a great write-up in the Weekend Australian.
International Sponsorship
Please contact Catherine Huntley Sponsorship Coordinator on 03 9249 1000 or chuntley@worldskills.org.au for more information on the opportunities and benefits available for an International Sponsor.
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