Dear WorldSkills Supporter, Welcome to the May Sponsor Update. Competitors are now ramping up their training in preparation for the Global Skills Challenge, to be held in Wollongong, NSW in July. Previously known as the Simulated International Competition, the GSC is a major training exercise for the Skillaroos and an opportunity for competitors to get together with their fellow team mates. The GSC will attempt to replicate the International Competition in the following ways: - Competition will be held over 4 days The Global Skills Challenge will be held at the TAFE NSW Illawarra Institute – Wollongong 5 – 8 July 2011. In order for the challenge to be truly global, WorldSkills Australia extended invitations to countries across selected categories. Confirmed countries who will participate in the GSC include New Zealand, UK, USA, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, Macau and Jamaica. Look out for the full report on the GSC in our July edition. Ben Houghton and Michael Theobold joint winners Dubbo Campus Apprentice of the Year
Congratulations to Team Australia Skillaroos Ben Houghton and Micheal Theobald who are joint winners of the Dubbo Campus Apprentice of the Year. Ben is competing in the category of Electrical Installations and Michael is competing in the Manufacturing Team Challenge at the WorldSkills International Competition, London, UK. Well done!
Ben Cooper – Cabinetmaking
Cabinetmaking Skillaroo Ben Cooper and family hosted a trivia night on Saturday 9th April at the Mitchell High School Hall – Blacktown to help in the fundraising efforts for Ben to attend the 41st WorldSkills International Competition later this year. The night was attended by over 200 of Ben’s family and friends all taking part in the trivia, coin toss, raffle’s, heads & tails and auctions. Ben received the support of many local businesses who donated prizes for the night. It was a fun filled evening and we applaud the Cooper family on their initiative and the delivery of this great night.
Training Update - Tamika Mackrell (Floristry)
Since returning from the Paris National competition Tamika has been training very hard. Alan and I took a floral designer who is an expert in hand held designs (Mary Lansley) to Sale (Tamika's home town) for the weekend to work with her on this particular aspect. The next week Tamika came to Melbourne and spent a further 3 days working with Mary. Alan was able to get her a position for 2 days with Interflora setting up their display for the Melbourne International Flower Show, she worked with the renowned designers and the feedback on her work was very encouraging. Tamika entered the Marjorie Milner College competition at the show and won - very exciting. This next week she will travel to Sydney and spend 2 full days working with David Berger before entering the Interflora Florist of the Future competition on Sunday, her marks won’t be counted as she is not eligible to enter this competition but Alan was keen to see how she faired against senior designers with far more competition experience than she currently has. Alan has been able to secure 3 more top designers to work with Tamika on particular design aspects. This section of her training will involve 3 day live in workshop with each designer at Alan's farm, a total of 9 days. Tamika's attitude is really in the right place and she absorbs it all, Alan & I are very pleased with her progress and we are very fortunate to have such well credentialed designers given their time so freely to train Tamika and Alan & I sincerely thank them. Tamika's employer Jen Bailey is very supportive and has is given her as much time off as she needs to train, Jen is also actively approaching local trades people, council and politicians in their area for sponsorship, Jen is going to do up the window of her shop with the logos of all the people that have financially supported Tamika. Alan as a Board member of Interflora was able to secure a $5,000 donation, fantastic for a small industry and we are very grateful to Interflora for their continued support.
Training Update - Michael Ashton (Construction Steelwork)
Michael has been working well on his project so far, his workplace has been busy with a large amount of jobs wanted by various companies. So Michael has been working back on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights for about 3 hours every night, so he can get some valuable practice in on his project, he has working on his skills, so they will be ready for the Global Skill challenge in July against the English competitor. Michael and Guy our welding competitors have been training together on the same nights, because they work at the same company K and R Fabrications, both Michael and Guy have found training together to be of great assistance to one another.
Training Update - Richard May and Thomas Ramsey (Landscaping)
Landscape Gardening ‘Skillaroos’ Richard May and Thomas Ramsey under took a four day training exercise at the 2011 Sydney Royal Easter Show. Under the guidance of trainers of Ben Meade (Landscape Construction - International Expert) and Kris Cadogan (Northern Sydney Institute) the Richard and Thomas recreated the 2007 International Competition project from Japan. The display garden remained for the duration of the show with plenty of interest and enquiries from the public on how they could have their own piece of ‘paradise’.
Media Coverage
Matthew Hall – Manufacturing Team Challenge - Gearing up to take on London Nick Sharp – Graphic Design - Heading to London We hope that you are finding our newsletter interesting as we follow the Skillaroos progress to London 2011. Please feel free to send us your comments on what you think of the Sponsor Newsletter and what type of information you would like to see included each month. 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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