The Limestone Coast’s next generation of workers and business leaders have been recognised at Group Training Employment’s (GTE) annual Apprentice and Trainee of the Year Awards.


This year’s event recognised apprentices and trainees employed by GTE during 2024, and also the many host employers who support them through their employment and training.


In the popular Trainee of the Year category, two young business trainees were jointly named winners – Coco Mackereth, hosted by Mount Gambier City Council and Evie Sealey, hosted by Grant District Council.


The winner of CITB’s Building Trades Award was apprentice Aaron Zerk, hosted by Sam McPherson Construction, while Michelle Oehlert from Boneham Aged Care was awarded the Ian Giles Memorial Award of the Year.


Meanwhile, Mount Gambier’s Hancock Family Law was recognised as Host Employer of the Year. Around 70 people attended the event at GTE’s Mount Gambier office, including Construction


Industry Training Board (CITB) Stakeholder Engagement Officer Samantha Bennett and Apprentice Employment Network SA Executive Officer Matt Lowe.


GTE General Manager Greg Megaw said it was nice to see the young award recipients get recognition in their chosen trade or skills base.


“It’s a real group effort from parents, RTOs and host employers, so it’s great to see these apprentices and trainees get the opportunity to be acknowledged for the important work they do,” he said.


“All the recipients should be proud and hold their heads high because they all did a wonderful job of their speeches, and we also had a lot of hosts want to come up and speak about the great work their apprentices and trainees do.


“Our GTE Board Chair Ray Herbert put it best when he described tonight’s award recipients as ‘the next generation of contributors to society’ and they truly are.”


“Well done to everyone.”


Winners in all categories


First Year Apprentice of The Year – Keenan Dwyer. Host Employer – Steve Scheidl Constructions. Award sponsored by GT Industrial Sales.


Second Year Apprentice of The Year – Cooper Millard. Host Employer – Stihl Shop Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by Mount Gambier Safety Supplies.


Third Year Apprentice of The Year – Liam Hajek. Host Employer – Mount Gambier Locksmiths. Award sponsored by People’s Choice Credit Union.


Fourth-Year Apprentice of The Year – Will Crook. Host Employer – O’Briens Electrical Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by K&B Mitre 10.


Building Trades Apprentice of The Year – Aaron Zerk. Host Employer – Sam McPherson Constructions. Award sponsored by CITB.


Trainee of The Year – Joint Winners, including Coco Mackereth. Host Employer – City of Mount Gambier. Award sponsored by SYC. Second winner: Evie Sealey. Host Employer – Grant District Council. Award sponsored by ANZ.


Ian Giles Memorial Award – Michelle Oehlert. Host Employer – Boneham Aged Care. Award sponsored by GTE.


Engineering Excellence Award – Brandon Horrigan. Host Employer – MetalWorx. Award sponsored by BOC Gas & Gear.


Women in Trades Award – Portia Holdman. Host Employer – OG Roberts & Co. Award sponsored by MAS National.


Employer of the Year Award – Hancock Law. Award sponsored by Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast.