Ivar Flint and Brendon Green, from Tenon Taupo, have won the top apprentice awards for 2009.
Mr Green has been working at Tenon for more than six years as a machine technician on moulders and planers and went to the company specifically for its reputation in good training.
Mr Flint has been at the company 18 months as a saw doctor, keeping the saws sharp, and started his training at Carter Holt Harvey in Kopu.
The "Waiariki Apprentice of the year" awards (Saw Doctoring and Timber Machining) have been awarded to the best trainees in a calendar year since approx. 1980.
These are awarded to the top apprentice in each field each year and are open to all students coming through the National Centre of Excellence for Forestry and Wood (whether they be modern apprentice's or adult apprentice's).
Typically the students are the top of around 10-15 Saw Doctors completing each year and up to 50 Timber Machinist's finishing each year.
It is very rare if ever that both awards would come from the same company, and this is a very special occurance for Tenon.
Winners ate selected on their practical and theory grades as well as confirmation with the employers that the student has the right stuff. Previously some intended recipients have missed out on the award through not carrying the good work through from the courses into everyday work.
The awards will be presented by our Director of School Jeremy Christmas, at the SawTech conference dinner in Rotorua on September 9th. There will be approx. 50 industry people in attendance.
|
