Trainee In Dad's Tracks
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday May 29, 2001
IT was a case of like father, like son yesterday when 17-year-old Jeremy Starr became an apprentice carpenter and joiner with Maitland-based Hunter Valley Training School.
Jeremy's father, Wally, was the training company's first apprentice to graduate in 1983.
He was a carpenter and joiner.
Father and son will help the training company celebrate its 20th anniversary next month.
The school was established as a private non-profit company to find work for hundreds of part-qualified apprentices during an economic slump.
It has grown from a one-room operation to become Australia's premier training company, with 90 staff in eight NSW locations.
Most of the initial intake found employment within a year.
Since then the company has helped train at least 6500 young people in all trades and commerce positions.
It has an annual turnover of $34million.
Wally Starr said he was delighted to see his son get a start.
`Getting my trade has seen me reach my dream and now Jeremy has that same opportunity.'
© 2001 Newcastle Herald