Wednesday June 25, 2025
Volume 40 No. 22
$2 inc. GST
The Cobar Weekly Endeavor Mine delivery plan is on track Pg 2
More funding for Ward Oval upgrade Pg 3
Aurelia looking at a potential new mine Pg 3
Stevo named the Apprentice of the Year Essential Energy’s mature-age apprentice, Daniel Stephens has been named as Apprentice of the Year at the recent vocational education and training (VET) 2025 Western NSW Regional Training Awards. The awards celebrate the success of local VET learners and teachers who have made outstanding contributions to their workplaces and industries. Taking out the Apprentice of the Year category, Daniel is being celebrated for his unwavering commitment to training, exceptionally high standard of work and mentorship, all the while balancing family life. As a mature-age apprentice at Essential Energy, Daniel applies his years of experience to his role in the powerline industry, allowing him to take on significant responsibilities across a vast desert footprint. Daniel said he found the powerline industry offered a challenging work environment. “I was drawn to the vital role it plays in maintaining and restoring electricity for communities. “Vocational Education and Training was the ideal pathway for me because it provided structured, hands-on learning from industry professionals while allowing me to develop practical skills in real-world scenarios. “Essential Energy’s Registered Training Organisation delivered job-specific training with flexibility in workplace assessments, which helped me balance work, study, and family commitments,” he said. “As a mature-age apprentice with a young family, I wanted to establish financial stability before fully committing to an apprenticeship, ensuring I could dedicate myself completely Essential Energy’s mature-age apprentice, Daniel ‘Stevo” Stephens has been named as Apprentice of the Year at the recent vocational education and training (VET) 2025 to training and development.” Western NSW Regional Training Awards. Photo contributed Continued Page 2.