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CQ TAFE helps bricklayer Todd prepare for Worldskills
Thursday, 12 July 2012 3:12PM - Mackay Campus
News in brief:
Apprentice bricklayer Todd Richards is preparing to take on the nation's best head-to-head and brick-to-brick at the upcoming Worldskills Australia National competition.
News in detail:
The Central Queensland Institute of TAFE (CQ TAFE) trained apprentice is the first apprentice from Central Queensland to make it to the nationals in 17 years.
Todd said he had travelled to Rockhampton from Mackay to hone his skills with CQ TAFE bricklaying teacher Peter Carr.
"My boss at Sommerfeld & Sons Bricklayers arranged for me to come down and get some practice in before the big day," Todd said.
Todd won the regional finals of the Worldskills Australia bricklaying competition last year in Central Queensland and will now compete at the National finals in Sydney at the end of August.
"It will be a three day competition at Olympic Park and whoever wins may have the opportunity to join the Australian team, which will get to go overseas for the International competition in 2013," he said.
"At the competition in Sydney we're given three separate bricklaying projects to complete, and we have the opportunity to practice one project prior to the actual competition - the recreation in brickwork of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Towers.
"I'm pretty confident I'll do well at the competition - I got pretty good scores at the regionals."
Austral Bricks Mackay and Lyndons Supplies arranged for delivery and donation of the bricks that Todd used during the training in Rockhampton. The Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation will also be supporting Todd's attendance at the Sydney event.
Training Business Manager Morris Maker from the Faculty of Trade Skills Education and Training Services at CQ TAFE said Todd was the second apprentice bricklayer from Central Queensland to make it to the Nationals.
"The last one was in 1994," he said.
"Of course we wish him all the best at the competition, but I also think he needs to enjoy the experience because it only comes along once in a lifetime."
Bricklaying teacher Peter Carr said that there was no doubt that Todd had both the ability and the composure required to do extremely well at the national level.
"Having such great support and encouragement from Todd's employer Col Sommerfeld also makes the journey to the nationals that much easier," he said.
For more information on CQ TAFE's bricklaying courses and programs, contact the Institute on 1300 CQ TAFE (1300 27 8233) or visit www.cq.tafe.qld.gov.au
Submitted By:Greg Chapman
