Sparks flew and guillotines chopped away as metal fabrication and welding apprentices competed in the WorldSkills Regional Competition.
At Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, the event officially kicked off yesterday with judges carefully watching on as the apprentices were set the task of completing an oil wagon in seven hours.
The competition will be on across term three, with the institute to run events in construction steel work, automotive, hairdressing, baking, carpentry and plumbing.
Third-year metal fabrication and welding apprentice Hayley Johnson, from North Star Engineering in Nathalia, said it was the first time she had entered a competition such as this.
‘‘I got asked (to enter) by my TAFE teachers and I thought it would be a good idea to advance my skills and get a bit more confident in what I’m doing,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m competing against myself, I just want to make sure I get it done and right.’’
Fellow competitor and fourth-year metal fabrication and welding apprentice Nick Woods, from JN&R Engineering in Kyabram, said the competition was good, though stressful.
Read more: Our tradies’ Olympics