A TRADIE from Jimboomba has won the prestigious Apprenticeships Queensland Senior Construction Apprentice of the Year Award.
Fourth year apprentice Mitchell Ryan is joiner at the Woodworkers Company at Marooka claimed the trophy, along with a number of certificates and a $250 Bunnings voucher at a ceremony held at the North Ipswich Reserve Function Centre on Friday night.
Mr Ryan, who specialises in timber doors and windows, was overwhelmed but elated to have won the award, saying it marks the culmination of a lot of hard work.
“I’m stoked,” he said
The 21-year-old said he loves his job and wouldn’t dream of doing anything else for a living.
“I like being able to do it by hand, and seeing the end result and a happy customer,” Mr Ryan said.
“It’s important to love your job because it’s what you do most of the time.”
Mr Ryan earned his start at the Woodworkers Company after completing work experience with the firm during the school holidays while studying grade 12.
“After year 12 finished, they gave me a three month trial and liked what I was doing, so they gave me an apprenticeship,” he said.
The skilled craftsman recommends other young people build their future on a trade and thanked his manual arts teachers from Beaudesert High for providing him with the foundational knowledge to launch his career.
“They taught me the basics to ensure you get a good job at the end – duty of care, working safe, correct techniques and marking out,” Mr Ryan said.
In the future, he hopes to continue to improve and advance his position within the Woodworkers Company.
