STATE APPRENTICE AWARDS

Top row (from left) William Knight, Hayden Whitelaw, Mac Keany (Gordon) Chong Chin, Jenneke Kijlstra-Shone, Thomas Favaro, Taj Lyttle, Stephanie Craven; Bottom row (from left) Frazer Crowe, Brock Smith, Taye Cahoon, Mark Little, President, Master Builders Victoria, Jack Tassell, Mitchell Wooffindin.

Patterson Lakes carpenter named MBV State Apprentice of the Year

AMelbourne carpenter took out top honours at the 2022 Master Builders Victoria (MBV) State Apprentice of the Year Awards last month.

MBV President Mark Little presented the 2022 Master Builders Victoria State Apprentice of the Year to Taye Cahoon. Taye, from Patterson Lakes, received his award in front of 500 guests at a gala celebration at Marvel Stadium.

Employed by the Anglim Group, Taye was nominated by his training provider Murray Mallee Training Company. Acting MBV CEO Tristan Moseley congratulated Taye and all the other category winners on their well-deserved success.

“This year, a new suite of awards recognised the diversity of skills and strengths found in our nominees,” he said.

“The apprentices’ most vital attributes determined the awards presented on the night. “The panel of judges commented on how strong the field of nominees was this year, so that’s a terrific sign that Victoria’s building and construction industry is in safe hands.” With approximately 150 apprentices nominated by their training provider or employer this year, Taye was among 16 applicants to receive an award. All nominees were interviewed by an expert panel and judged on the following criteria:

• Interview preparation • Passion for work and achievements

• Career plans • Attitude towards and knowledge about the job • Individual qualities, and • Industry representation. To be selected as State Apprentice of the Year, judges chose the most outstanding apprentice from the Apprentice of the Year winners announced on the evening. Apprentice of the Year winners were selected from Regional Apprentice of the Year winners announced at the five regional events held across Victoria in March and Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year award winners.

Nominations for the 2023 Master Builders Victoria Regional and State Apprentice of the Year Awards open in September 2022.

2022 STATE APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR, TAYE CAHOON

Attends: Murray Mallee Training Company Employed By: Anglim Group Pictured: Mark Little, President, Master Builders Victoria with Taye Cahoon

Apprentices, builders and training providers seeking more information about nominations are encouraged to contact the MBV Pathways or Events team on (03) 9411 4555.

Thank you to this year’s Judges:

Stuart Allen, Ballarat Region Tim Clarke, Gippsland, North East & Metropolitan Regions Bianca Florent, Metropolitan Region Imogen Gregory, Gippsland & North East Regions Anthony Lococo, South West Region Ingrid Mountford, Ballarat, Bendigo & Metropolitan Regions Ross O’Neill, Bendigo Region Jason Plevras, Metropolitan Region David Rowe, Ballarat Region Chris Ryan, Bendigo Region Gary Watts, South West Region Corrie Williams, Metropolitan Region

The category award winners:

2022 Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year – Future Builder Award (Taye Cahoon) 2022 Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year – Developing Leader Award (William Knight) 2022 Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year – Craftsperson Award (Frazer Crowe) 2022 Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year – Structural Trades Award (Angus Ryan) 2022 Metropolitan Apprentice of the Year – Finishing Trades Award (Mitchell Wooffindin) Metropolitan Chairperson’s Award (Mac Keany (Gordon) Chong Chin) Master Builders Victoria Inspiration Award (Stephanie Craven) AIB Florence M Taylor Award (Jack Tassell) Building and Construction Foundation Award (Hayden Whitelaw) Brian Fitzmaurice Memorial Award (MBV Employer) (Kevlar Carpenters) President’s Award (Taj Lyttle) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year – Future Builder Award (Taye Cahoon) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year – Developing Leader Award (Jenneke Kijlstra-Shone) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year – Craftsperson Award (Brock Smith) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year – Structural Trades Award (Angus Ryan) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year – Finishing Trades Award (Thomas Favaro) 2022 State Apprentice of the Year (Taye Cahoon)

Thanks to our sponsors:

METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - FUTURE BUILDER AWARD, TAYE CAHOON Attends: Murray Mallee Training Company. Employed By: Anglim Group. Pictured: Michael Rennison, Sales Manager VIC/TAS, Steel Blue, with Taye Cahoon. METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - DEVELOPING LEADER AWARD, WILLIAM KNIGHT Employed by: Byde Constructions Pty Ltd Pictured: William Knight, with Alister Wright, General Manager, ELWD

METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - CRAFTSPERSON AWARD, FRAZER CROWE Attends: Holmesglen Institute Employed by: Slattery & Acquroff Holding P/L Pictured: Frazer Crowe with Adam McKenna, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Blue Power Tools, Bosch METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – STRUCTURAL TRADES AWARD, ANGUS RYAN Attends: Holmesglen Institute Employed by: Victorian Stonemason’s Cooperative Pictured: Martina Elfinsson, Brand Manager, Irwin with Angus Ryan

METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – FINISHING TRADES AWARD, MITCHELL WOOFFINDIN Attends: Holmesglen Institute Employed by: Zig Zag Painters Pictured: Mitchell Wooffindin with Graeme Barlow, Senior Coordinator, Cbus METROPOLITAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – CHAIRPERSON’S AWARD, MAC KEANY (GORDON) CHONG CHIN Attends: Skillinvest

Employed by: Vara Building Group Pictured: Mac Keany (Gordon) Chong Chin with Michelle McLean, Chief Commissioner, Victorian Building Authority

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION AWARD, HAYDEN WHITELAW

Attends: Chisholm Institute of TAFE

Employed by: Pope Constructions Pictured: Hayden Whitelaw, with Peter Picking, Chair, Master Builders Victoria Foundation BRIAN FITZMAURICE MEMORIAL AWARD, KEVLAR CARPENTERS

Pictured: Justin Kvedaras, Kevlar Carpenters

AIB FLORENCE M TAYLOR AWARD, JACK TASSELL Attends: Murray Mallee Training Company Employed by: Coy’s Constructions Pictured: Jack Tassell with Linda Tivendale, Victorian Chapter President, Australian Institute of Building MASTER BUILDERS VICTORIA INSPIRATION AWARD, STEPHANIE CRAVEN

Attends: Holmesglen Institute Employed by: Regeneration Tiles P/L Pictured: Stephanie Craven with Erik Locke, CEO, Incolink

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - FUTURE BUILDER AWARD, TAYE CAHOON

Attends: Murray Mallee Training Company Employed By: Anglim Group Pictured: Michael Rennison, Sales Manager VIC/TAS, Steel Blue, with Taye Cahoon. APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - DEVELOPING LEADER AWARD, JENNEKE KIJLSTRA-SHONE

Attends: TAFE Gippsland Employed by: Amber Creek Saw Milling Pictured: Jenneke Kijlstra-Shone with Cameron Baker, Executive Director, Apprenticeships Victoria

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - CRAFTSPERSON AWARD, BROCK SMITH

Attends: The Gordon

Employed by: Coastal Staircases Pictured: Martina Elfinsson, Brand Manager, Irwin with Brock Smith

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - STRUCTURAL TRADES AWARD, ANGUS RYAN

Attends: Holmesglen Institute Employed by: Victorian Stonemason’s Cooperative Pictured: Michelle McLean, Chief Commissioner, Victorian Building Authority with Angus Ryan

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR - FINISHING TRADES AWARD, THOMAS FAVARO

Attends: Murray Mallee Training Company Employed by: Halls Creative Tiling Pictured: Thomas Favaro with Graeme Barlow, Senior Coordinator, Cbus PRESIDENT’S AWARD, TAJ LYTTLE Attends and Employed by: AGA Apprenticeships Plus Host Employer: Coldon Homes Pictured: Taj Lyttle, with Mark Little, President, Master Builders Victoria

A selection of images from the 2022 State Apprentice of the Year Awards held at Marvel Stadium on May 12.