This budding apprentice is already on a winning streak.
Victoria University plumbing student Luke Pettenon has won the George Stone pre-apprenticeship award at this year’s Master Plumbers Gold Medal and Training Awards.
The George Stone award is designed to encourage students in plumbing pre- apprenticeship training courses to continue their studies in the industry.
The 25-year-old Kealba resident, who has just completed his 13-week pre-apprenticeship course at VU’s Sunshine campus, was presented with the award last Friday at a ceremony at Federation Square.
“I was pretty happy. I was smiling from ear to ear for days after I found out I’d won,” he said. “It has sunk in, but every time I think about it I’m happy all over again.”
Mr Pettenon decided on a career in plumbing after trying out the trade with his father, who has been a plumber for 35 years.
“He’s someone I look up to and now I get to follow in his footsteps,” he said. Mr Pettenon hopes to gain his apprenticeship papers from Master Plumbers in coming weeks.
VU teacher Darren James, who nominated Mr Pettenon for the award, said he was a self-starter who had all the attributes necessary to be an excellent apprentice.
“Luke was working here at the university and he showed a lot of interest in plumbing as a career so he asked about a pre-apprenticeship,” Mr James said.
“He came into the course very well prepared, having already done some theory work at home.
“Importantly, for a young person he has a good attitude. He’s pleasant to be around and is an asset to the class in that others saw the way he behaved and looked up to him.”
