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Dylan named top tradie again

Apprentice plumber Dylan Di Martino won silver at the Oceania WorldSkills competition in New Zealand last week, proving he’s one of the best in the region.

Worldskills – known as the Olympics of vocational training – showcases the talent of top apprentices and trainees nationally, regionally and internationally in about 50 categories ranging from hairdressing to welding.

The 22-year-old Hillside student earned gold last September at the biannual national titles in Perth.

He will now join the Australian team, the Skillaroos, on the world stage in August for the International Worldskills in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Dylan, who studies at VU’s Sunshine Campus, said he was surprised to earn silver in the Oceania titles during a close three-day contest.

It required competitors to install gas and water plumbing and drainage in a mock home, including underfloor hydronic heating – an uncommon feature in Australia.      

“It was a tough competition and it was a real race just to finish it,” he said.

“Unfortunately, on day three I was a minute shy of being able to fully pressure-test my project so getting silver wasn’t too bad,” he said.

Dylan’s father Paul is a long-time plumber who inspired Dylan to follow his footsteps into his business.

“I’ve been working with him since I was little and am now showing him new tools and innovations in the profession,” he said.

“The whole family is more than blown away by my success but the internationals in Brazil will be the real test.” 

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