General News
14 March, 2023
Locals nab TAFE success
SOUTH West TAFE graduates and outstanding students of 2022 were celebrated at the Lighthouse Theatre last Thursday night.
SOUTH West TAFE graduates and outstanding students of 2022 were celebrated at the Lighthouse Theatre last Thursday night.
More than 350 people attended the ceremony to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of 50 graduating diploma students from the areas of beauty therapy, community services, conservation and land management, nursing, remedial massage and early childhood education and care.
South West TAFE chief executive officer Mark Fidge said the awards night was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the success of students.
“This is our first group of graduating students who were heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, so it is so wonderful to see them here tonight having successfully completed their qualifications,” he said.
The night also included the presentation of the 2022 Outstanding Student Awards.
Mr Fidge said these students were nominated by their teachers and then interviewed by a panel to decide winners across five categories.
“It is such a huge accomplishment for these students who have all excelled in their studies and have all gone on to be working in their fields and doing amazing things in the community,” he said.
Award winners on the night included:
Trainee of the Year: Zalli Fisher (agriculture, Simpson);
School-Based Trainee of the Year: Jake Light (agriculture, Cobden);
Vocational Student of the Year: Gaylene Childs (Beauty, Warrnambool);
Apprentice of the Year: Todd Robinson (Carpentry, Dunkeld); and
Koorie Student of the Year: Freya Bamblett (VCE Vocational Major, Portland).
A Deakin University Pathways Award was also presented and won by nursing student Sirilak Khamchoo Boyd.
Mr Light said the award was a “good surprise”.
“I didn’t expect to get it,” he said.
“I’ve been on a farm all my life.
“I’d like to thank Eric and Natasha Wagner and Dylan Light for their support and for giving me the opportunity to do my agriculture course on their farm.”
Ms Fisher said she had no idea she had been nominated for the award and was excited to receive the accolade.
“I grew up in Geelong with my mum, but dad has always had a dairy farm in Princetown,” she said.
“I’ve just started Cert Four this year and hoping to go through to diploma.
“I’d like to thank everyone in general and my two bosses.”
