A hive of welding activity is underway and the competition stakes are rising at Hanlon Industries as the apprentices prepare to win.
Don’t worry there won’t be a battle of power tools as such, but the apprentices are busily preparing their entries for the 2024 Apprentice Competition.
The competition (now in its second year in Queensland) serves as a platform to showcase the talent and craftsmanship of the apprentices, with this year’s theme native Australian wildlife. At their Narangba base, Hanlon Industries is home to a team of 12 apprentices, two of whom are female, two are school-based apprentices and three are adult apprentices.
For Kayla, who was crowned last year’s winner just a couple of months into her apprenticeship, the pressure is on to produce another masterpiece.
“Last year, the theme was transportation and I made a caravan and a ute, which turned out really cool,” Kayla said. “This year I have some ideas, but it’s stumped me a bit. I’ve been thinking about an echidna, but I don’t know if it’s going to work the way I want it to.
“It’s forming it and moulding it to make it not look like a Minecraft, in other words. I’m going to just go with what I hope looks good and see what happens.”
Josh is seven months into his apprenticeship and loving the opportunity to get creative with his work. His competition project of a crocodile is already taking shape. Given the nature of the work involved, it’s taken Josh back in time a little, to when he dabbled in the art world.
“When I was younger I used to love drawing a lot,” he said. “So, I don’t mind getting back into that sort of thing, having to think about it and getting the details in the right place. You see a photo and then you think, ‘How do I make that come to life?’ It’s a bit tricky and kind of like artistry.”
Working at Hanlon Industries
Both Josh and Kayla are thriving in their apprenticeships and couldn’t speak more highly of working for the team at Hanlon Industries.
“It’s been an amazing place to work,” Kayla said. “It’s a great environment, the team in the office are really nice and they’re all understanding of life outside of work as well.
“I think it’s also the fact that we’re (the apprentices) all chipping in together and all help each other that works as well.”
“They do their best to support you and everything like that,” Josh added. “I’m really honoured to work at a place like this. We all get along well and everyone is supportive, which I find is important in a role like this.”
To find out more about Hanlon Industries, visit their website.
Hanlon Industries 2024 Apprentice Competition
- Tuesday, 2 July
- Voting opens 11.30am, award presentation from 12.30pm
- Hanlon Industries
- 2-8 Helium Street, Narangba.
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