DESPITE being the “only one in a dress”, Katherine apprentice Taylor Fishlock has claimed a prestigious electrical award for her skill and dedication to her trade.
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The 22-year-old, who is currently completing the final year of her apprenticeship with M&K Electrical Services, won the 2014 National Electrical and Communications Association SA/NT Apprentice Award in the industrial category at a gala dinner earlier this month and admitted she still found the accolade hard to believe.
“They called my name and I didn’t really hear it but it was awesome,” she laughed as she showed off her award.
“I got a lot of handshakes that night and it was funny because, of all the apprentices, I was the only one in a dress.”
Miss Fishlock decided to undertake her apprenticeship locally after realising she did not see tertiary study forming part of her career path.
“I didn’t want to go to uni but I didn’t want to have nothing behind me,” she explained.
“I looked at a couple of trades, including auto electrician and diesel mechanic, but decided on becoming an electrician.”
Miss Fishlock said she believed getting into the apprenticeship without any experience - a prospect that detered many apprentices - had made life easier.
“I didn’t have anyone teaching me bad habits before I started,” she said.
M&K Electrical Services owner Matthew Lee praised Miss Fishlock’s passion for the industry and said employing a local apprentice had paid dividends for his business.
“They’ve got local knowledge of the area and know everyone in town,” he said.