2014 Ern MacDonald Fellowship

The 2014 Ern MacDonald Fellowship Presentation Ceremony was held on Friday the 11^th of April at the Mercure Hotel in Sydney where selected guests gathered to celebrate the 2014 finalists.

This year, the finalists included five former WorldSkills Australia competitors:

• Brett Cahill, 2013 Cabinetmaking Skillaroo
• Jarred Denning, 2012 National Plastering Gold medallist and BBM Skilled Futures Program recipient
• Jaycob Hargreaves, 2012 National Cabinetmaking Silver medallist
• Justin Halliday, 2012 National Painting and Decorating Gold medallist and BBM Skilled Futures Program recipient
• Mitchell Croke, 2012 National Signage Gold medallist and BBM Skilled Futures Program recipient

A panel of three judges which consisted of Ern MacDonald’s daughter, Kate MacDonald, Grant Stewart former Plumbing Chief Expert and Geoff Ball former International Manufacturing Team Challenge Expert, were given the difficult task of selecting the winner out of a pool of very talented, ambitious and inspirational young men.

Young painter, Justin Halliday was announced the 2014 winner, taking home a total of $10,000 which will help him to implement his project plan. “I intend to use the Fellowship grant for my business plan, which is to create an innovative, sustainable, eco-friendly business with the biggest emphasis on using only chemical free paints and materials,” says Justin.

Runners up, Mitchell Croke and Jarred Denning each took home $2,500 which will assist them with their future ventures. Mitchell hopes to further his career prospects within his industry by working his way towards becoming a teacher in the VET sector while Jarred hopes to gain greater knowledge of building design with the future goal of one day becoming an architect.

The Ern MacDonald Fellowship aims to launch the careers of talented young tradespeople working in the building and construction industry through the provision of financial support. The scholarship was established in Ern MacDonald’s honour by WorldSkills Australia, the Dusseldorp Forum and the MacDonald family and has been in operation since 2006.

The fellowship has assisted past recipients to start their own businesses, travel overseas, invest in further study and implement innovative and sustainable projects that have assisted their broader community.

WorldSkills Australia would like to congratulate the 2014 Ern MacDonald Fellowship finalists and wish them the best of luck with their future endeavours.