Boilermaker apprentices forge new experiences at WorldSkills competitions

By Greg Chapman

Central Queensland’s top apprentice boilermakers and steel crafters have battled it out at the recent WorldSkills Welding and Steel Construction competitions in Gladstone.

Of the 16 competitors who registered, five apprentices from local firm Xtreme Engineering took out all six medals across the two events, which were held at CQU’s Gladstone Marina campus.

In both competitions, apprentices had to demonstrate their MIG and TIG welding skills in various tasks in a three-hour timeframe.

Fourth-year apprentice Billy Vale came out on top and was awarded the gold medal in the welding event.

“It feels pretty good to have won – I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” he said.

“Although I am welding all the time in my job, it was different having to do it to a time.”

Duan Kriel took out the silver medal.

“I am happy I placed second in the competition and very grateful for the experience. It was fun but also challenging at the same time and it definitely put my skills to the test,” he said.

The bronze went to Jed Treloar who saw it as valuable learning experience.

“It was really good. It was busy but I also got a good learning curve from it,” he said.

Mattison Boon received the gold medal in the steel construction competition, which he said was an “awesome experience”.

“I am absolutely stoked with the outcome. Not only am I proud of myself but I believe I have made the company and my mentors proud also which is a great feeling,” he said.

Billy Vale also received silver in the steel construction competition, while the bronze went to fourth-year apprentice Sean Keetch.

“It was the first time I’ve done a WorldSkills. It was pretty difficult, but I am pretty stoked to have placed third,” Sean said.

Xtreme Engineering Managing Director Scott Harrington said: 

"I am very proud to see these apprentices perform so well in the WorldSkills competition and the outcome was a great reward for everyone," he said.

"Gladstone is the industrial hub of Queensland and the exposure that our apprentices gain across the various industries is second to none. We have invested a lot of time into our apprentice program with 22 full-time apprentices in the business.  

"We have gone back to the old tradition of having an apprentice master in the workshop who is looking after our young up and coming tradespersons. Clint Ward works on the areas they may be lacking along with all the basic trade skills required - these results show that this is working.  

"Xtreme Engineering is a local family business and prides itself on the time it has invested into training our future tradespersons. These apprentices are part of our business family. 

"A special mention must be made to the CQUniversity metal work teachers for the effort they also put into these apprentices. They are some of the best tradesmen and the apprentices are very lucky to have this knowledge and experience to draw from. We have a state-of-the-art facility and teachers who are dedicated in training so there is always going to be a positive end result.

"I look forward to these Apprentices taking their careers to the next level."

Mattison and Billy will go onto compete in the WorldSkills national competitions in 2025, if they meet all of the required WorldSkills eligibility criteria.

WORLDSKILLS WELDING COMPETITION PHOTOS

For more information visit https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/tafe/world-skills-central-queensland-regional-competition.