Member for Orange Philip Donato MP awards Parkes apprentice carpenter Holly McColl with the Berth Evans Scholarship last week. More than 1,000 applications were received for the scholarship.
A Parkes apprentice carpenter Holly McColl has received a scholarhip worth $15,000 to support her education and training.
Holly is one of 100 students to receive the Bert Evans Scholarship out of more than 1,000 applicants from across NSW.
Holly is currently in her second year of her apprenticeship and is completing a Certificate III in Carpentry with local family business, Barnes Better Building.
“I was thrilled and so grateful to receive this scholarship to assist me in my journey of becoming a qualified carpenter. Being a female in a non-traditional trade has certainly come with its challenges, but I have a great passion for the trade industry and through the support of Skillset, TAFE NSW and Barnes Better Building I have developed more confidence to chase a career that I love,” said Holly.
Member for Orange Philip Donato MP awarded the scholarship to Holly last week saying: “It’s great to see young people embracing and maximising opportunities. It’s fantastic to see a young woman in a building tradecraft, whom other women can look to for inspiration.
“As a former apprentice pastry chef myself, and as a father of four children who are and have been apprenticed in trades, I understand the financial limitations and challenges in life while learning a tradecraft.
Rodney Barnes, owner of Barnes Better Building in Parkes and Holly’s host employer said: “We are extremely proud of Holly. She started a year ago, and in this time has shown great commitment to her trade – both in her practical and theoretical work.”
The Bert Evans Scholarship is funded by the NSW Government. Holly will receive $5,000 per year totalling $15,000 to help support her vocational education and training.