Victoria University (VU) student David Ashworth is one of four finalists vying for the lofty title of Victorian Apprentice of the Year, which is part of the 2009 Victorian Training Awards. Should he win, he would receive $10,000 prize money.
David, who works at Ashworth Maritime Services in Paynesville, Victoria, is studying for a Certificate III in Marine Craft Construction at the University's Newport Campus.
His new accolade follows on from him being named VU's Outstanding Apprentice of the Year last month.
David has been interested in boats from a young age. His father is a shipwright and, when he was younger, David enjoyed going to work with his dad whenever he could. When an opportunity came along to join the family business, he jumped at the chance.
Victoria University is the only training facility in the state that caters for boatbuilding apprentices, which David says made his experience at VU all the more rewarding. He relished having like-minded apprentices from all over the state converge in the one place to swap experiences and ideas.
Being a boat-building apprentice also gave David an opportunity to travel to Italy and compete in the Atlantic Challenge, an event that brings together boat crews from all over the world to compete against each other by rowing and sailing traditional timber boats. David and another apprentice represented Australia.
The 2009 Victorian Training Awards Winners will be announced on Thursday, 20 August 2009. The Victorian Training Awards reward outstanding achievements and innovations in vocational education and training. Winners are recognised as the best in the state and are able to better position themselves within the vocational education and training sector.
VU congratulates David on his outstanding achievement and wishes him fair winds and following seas as he races to the finish line.
