As the Brisbane Truck Show fast approaches, so does the ever-popular 2017 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge
Three teams have been selected to represent their regions at the 2017 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge, to be staged live at the 2017 Brisbane Truck Show.
HVIA’s National Workforce Development Manager Mark O’Kane says the competition was fierce for selection.
“We ran an online selection exam simultaneously across the country,” he says. “Many thanks to Kaz Harris-Brown and TAFE Queensland SkillsTech and the many other people across the country who helped facilitate the exam.
“The hands-on competition really is an exciting opportunity for heavy vehicle mechanical apprentices. I’ve had the pleasure of advising the successful candidates of their selection and I think we’re all pumped with the event just around the corner now.”
The teams are:
- Eastern Region (representing Queensland and New South Wales):
- Angus Thompson, 4th year apprentice, Volvo Brisbane South, Wacol
- Drew Charlesworth-Smith, 4th year apprentice, Westco Truck Sales, Rockhampton
- Southern Region(representing Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia):
- Paul Kleinberg, 4th year apprentice, Cummins South Pacific, Laverton, Victoria
- Matthew Hinge, 4th year apprentice, Cummins South Pacific, Laverton, Victoria
- North-Western Region (representing Western Australia and Northern Territory):
- Damien Camacho, 3rd year apprentice, Westrans, Welshpool, WA
- Jordan White, 4th year apprentice, Cummins South Pacific, Perth Airport, WA.
The successful apprentices will be hosted to attend the first two days of this year’s Brisbane Truck Show with all expenses covered including travel, meals and accommodation. The winners will receive prizes donated by Warby Tools.
The three regional teams work simultaneously, on identical trucks, generously supplied by Fuso Australia, to identify and rectify a series of programmed faults as the clock ticks.
The winning team is the first successfully to identify and repair all the faults, or the team that rectifies the most faults within the allowed time frame.
For visitors to the show the competition is quite a dynamic spectacle, with commentary explaining the apprentices’ moves and strategy, as their approach to addressing the challenge unfolds. Things can get tense as the teams watch their available time evaporate.
See the 2017 HVIA National Apprentice Challenge live at the Hall 3 Loading Dock from 1.00pm on Thursday, May 25 and Friday, May 26.
The Fuso Challenge will be held on Saturday, May 27.