13 February 2009

William wins one of TAFE’s top awards

William Taylor receives his award from Pilbara TAFE's Hedland Director Rob Fry.

William Taylor has come a long way since he first started tinkering with cars as a teenager at his home in Pandanus Park, near Derby in WA.

He’s now halfway through his apprenticeship in Automotive Mechanical Technology at the Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation and to top it off, he’s been recognised as one of TAFE’s top students for 2008.

Lecturer Kevin Angel explains that William wasn’t able to attend the Student Training Award ceremony in December last year so, to make sure he received the recognition he deserves, he was honoured in front of his peers and classmates at the Hedland Campus on Tuesday.

“William’s story is quite inspirational,” said Kevin.

“When he first started his apprenticeship, he had some literacy and numeracy issues but he’s never let that stop him. He’s thrived on the hands-on training and tackled each theory unit with sheer determination and hard work.”

“For someone who had a lot against him in the beginning, he’s powering through now.”

William said he had always wanted an apprenticeship and remembers working on cars with his dad as a boy.

“Ever since I was really young, I knew I wanted to be a mechanic,” he said.

“Even when I found out that I had to move away from Pandanus Park that didn’t put me off. I knew that I’d go back there with more skills and have a better chance at a job in my own town.”

“It’s good coming to TAFE and learning about cars with the other blokes and the lecturers teach you really well so, each year, I know I’m getting better on the job.”

The Pilbara TAFE Student Training Awards are held in December and recognise the achievements of outstanding students in a number of categories. Local businesses are also keen to support the awards and include Big Sky Credit, Harvey Norman, Retravision, Coventrys, BOC Gasses, Auslec, Blackwoods and Soroptimist International.

This year’s ceremony in Hedland will be held on December 9, 2009.

For more information about courses at Pilbara TAFE, contact 1300 304 244.

Media Contact: Kate Duff, Marketing & Communications
(08) 9159 6712
Kate.duff@pilbaratafe.wa.edu.au