CS Energy apprentices Mace Bongers and Nathan Dodds won three medals between them at the WorldSkills Regional Competition in Gladstone recently.
More than 80 apprentices battled it out in competitions at the CQUniversity Rockhampton and Gladstone city campuses in the categories of Automotive Mechanical, Heavy Vehicle Mechanical, Electrical Installation, Electrical Control, Fitting, Turning and Construction Steelwork.
During the competitions the participants had to display relevant trade area skills, such as locating a series of faults in electrical panels or vehicles, making a project from steel, fitting, turning and welding skillsets.
The winners were announced at a presentation night in Gladstone on 17 October with representatives from CS Energy, NRG, Rio Tinto Yarwun, Gladstone Ports Corporation, Queensland Alumina Limited and Boyne Smelters Limited in attendance.
Mace Bongers picked up two medals – gold in the Turning event and bronze in Fitting, and Nathan Dodds won gold in the Fitting competition.
CS Energy Acting Organisational Capability Manager Rob Armstrong congratulated Nathan and Mace on their wins.
“This is a fantastic achievement for Mace and Nathan, and highlights both the depth of their skills and the quality of the training they receive at CS Energy. I don’t know who was more excited on the evening – the apprentices or their supervisors in the audience!”
Mace and Nathan both work at Callide Power Station. Rob also acknowledged Callide’s Zackary Ninness, who competed in the electrical control event.
“Zackary’s ability to problem-solve and adapt his trade skills was highly commended by the judges,” Rob said.
Above: The CS Energy competitors, judges and support crew celebrate after the event. From left: Jasmin Munroe, Rob Armstrong, Zackary Ninness, Clayton Jackson, Nathan Dodds, Craig Campbell, Mace Bongers, Cam Shaw, Joel Bauer and Dina Naumann. Absent: James Usher.
Under WorldSkills age eligibility rules, Mace will now be considered for an invitation to compete at the WorldSkills National competition in early 2020. As Nathan is not age eligible to progress to the national competition, the silver medalliast in his event will be considered for the Nationals.
WorldSkills Australia championships operate on a two-year cycle. CS Energy has plans to enter competitors from all of its sites in the 2022 competition.