Chisholm apprentices have taken out first and third places in the second annual National Skills Week Plumbing Skills Competition.

Ethan Cockerill scored 81.5/100 to win the competition from Swinburne’s Billy Meyland on 77, with last-minute entrant Kaidhen Veerman – also from Chisholm – in third with 73. Ethan took home a Big Dog tool bag, Rothenberger Crimp tool with heads and a shovel donated by Reece Plumbing as well as a three-piece Milwaukee drill kit donated by South East Water and a custom-made trophy from Total Tools Carrum Downs.  Runners-up Ben Carpenter (Chisholm), Spencer Shadbolt (Holmesglen), Jackson Gaillard (Holmesglen), Jake Suraka (Swinburne) and Huxley Dousset (Swinburne) each took home a prize and a framed certificate.

Chisholm hosted the August 30 competition, which saw eight apprentices from Chisholm, Holmesglen and Swinburne TAFEs competing to showcase their skills.  They had a set time in which to complete two tasks that required attention to detail and quality assembly and were mentored by Phil Dent from Holmesglen, Paul Burke from Swinburne and Kerri McDonnell from Chisholm, while judges Alan Ryder, Dom Hibbert and Wayne Ellerton examined and scored each contestant’s work.

 Competition supporters and sponsors included Energy Safe Victoria, Victorian Building Authority, Reece Doveton, South East Water, Milwaukee, Incolink, Sharkbite, Haron, Vinidex and Blackwoods.