By Dongyun Kwon
Yarra Valley Racing apprentice Jack Howie’s four-year hard work got recognition through the 2024 Casey Apprentice and Trainee Awards.
The awards ceremony was held at Chirnside Park Country Club on 7 August, focusing on highlighting the talents, skills and value of apprentices and trainees.
The award winner said he didn’t expect to win the award.
“It was a great honour and I’m very happy,” Howie said.
“I’d like to thank everyone at the race course, they’ve been really good to me, very patient and taught me well.
“I’d like to thank Aaron Violi and everyone involved in the awards as well. It’s good to recognise young apprentices, it’s a great concept. ”
Howie is completing Cert 3 in Sports Turf Management with Yarra Valley Racing and was recognised for demonstrating a remarkable attitude and strong determination for best practices in his industry.
Howie said he had started as a casual worker at the Yarra Valley Racing during the racing season.
“The following year, I got offered an apprenticeship here, and I took it because it’s a great place to work with a great team,” he said.
“I left high school early and started here when I was about 17.
“As an apprentice, I look after the race track, all the grounds and all the gardening.”
Howie, who is nearly 21 years old, has been taking an apprenticeship for about four years and is still enjoying it.
The Yarra Valley Racing team nominated Howie for the awards for his strong work ethic, eagerness to learn and positive attitude.
Yarra Valley Racing chief executive officer Brett Shambrook said the experience with Howie has been terrific for the club.
“When Jack worked for us casually, we liked what we saw, so we offered him an apprenticeship,” he said.
“He’s in his final stage of finishing his apprenticeship, so he’d be a fully qualified tradesperson for us.
“It’s the first time we’ve had an apprentice, and the experience has been very rewarding for the club, and we’ve put a second apprentice in the same field.”
Mr Shambrook and his team had an intuition that Howie was fit for the award as soon as they saw the criteria of it.
Mr Shambrook said Howie covered off everything the award criteria wanted.
“His attitude is outstanding. He’s a very easy person to get along with,” he said.
“He listens, applies himself 100 per cent. No task is beyond him.
“He’s always willing to roll up his sleeves and have a go, which is what we want.”
Eight finalists including Howie were chosen for their contribution to their trade from electrical to print machining, signwriting to sports turf management.
The runner-up award went to Hayden Paterson from RYCOR Landscapes for demonstrating exceptional dedication and growth.
Paterson was nominated for his leadership, hard work, reliability and genuine character.
His contribution to RYCOR Landscapes recent project on the upcoming series of The Block will be aired in October.
Federal Casey MP Aaron Violi said the number of nominations this year shows just how rewarding a career in trades can be.
“Trades are the backbone of our small businesses and local economy here in Casey. I’m proud of the fact we have the highest number of tradies in building and construction in the nation,” he said.
“There is so much that can be achieved in a trade-based career and that was demonstrated by the stories shared on the night.
“It was an honour to recognise the contribution of local apprentices and trainees and send a positive message to students that university is not the only pathway to success.”
