If I Were A Carpenter

5 November 2008

First-year apprentice of the year Ben Gazzola - Parkview Constructions

Ben Gazzola had a hard decision to make when he finished year 10 two years ago. Should he heed his parents' advice and continue at school or should he start an apprenticeship in carpentry?

By studying at a new trade school in western Sydney, Ben was able to do both.

The Australian Technical College, established last year near Blacktown, is tailor-made for students such as Ben. With 18 classmates (only one girl), Ben's senior school years were divided into alternating five-week blocks where he gripped either a nail gun or a pen.

During his school stints, his classes were held over double periods, allowing him to race through the curriculum before returning to the construction site. During the building stints at Parkview Constructions, which had an added sweetness of an hourly rate, he learned practical carpentry skills, from building formwork to constructing driveways.

He says he helped wherever he could and enjoyed seeing "what [he'd] built". He also created toolboxes and sawhorses at TAFE, which he attended once a week.

A panel of judges sifted through about 20 first-year apprentice nominees for this award, describing Ben as a "positive, friendly, honest apprentice".

"His own personal drive, motivation and energy ensures he manages his school work and works very hard on site," the judges says.

Ben's boss, Robert Kokanovic, says the apprentice is enthusiastic and punctual. "He's picked up a lot of things very quickly. We do trial him out with some hard tasks that are a bit out of his depth ... and he really attacks them very well," Kokanovic says.

Having just sat his HSC exams, Ben is about to start the second year of his apprenticeship. When he is fully qualified he would like to start his own business.

Reflecting on the past two years, Ben says he is glad he went to the trade school.

"I think this school is a good idea because some kids finish in year 10 and they don't do anything," he says.

"It's great fun. You meet a lot of good people. It's good for giving you an idea of what working life is like."


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