Cassilis’ Tarnisha Winsor and Morpeth’s Lucy Allen went to the Australian Training awards, where the latter was a finalist for Australian School-based Apprentice of the Year, and the former finished runner-up in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year category. 

The ceremony, which took place at the International Convention Centre in Sydney, included one finalist from each state, with both girls having been identified as New South Wales’ finest at a previous competition.

Lucy said she was extremely pleased to be a part of the awards, regardless of the result.

“I didn’t win but I was just happy to be there as a finalist, and the girl who won was amazing so it was just a good experience,” she said.

“I didn’t think I was going to get to the regional awards let alone the Australian ones, and no one from my community has ever made it this far… so I’m really proud and honoured to achieve what I have.”

Tarnisha continued that sentiment and said they had a sense of local pride throughout the entire process. 

“Lucy and I are the first people from the Hunter region to have gone this far, so it’s just an amazing thing to be able to represent the Hunter region,” the 18-year-old said.

“And, to know that even small communities like ours can go so far in the industries we train in.”

She was excited to have been invited to the event and incredibly appreciative to have come second in the entire nation.

“It was an absolutely amazing experience, I was so happy to be a finalist let alone take out runner up,” she said.

They were keen to thank everyone who have helped them along the way, and said the awards were really dedicated to them.

“I think that we made it this far because of the massive support we’ve had behind us, from our communities and our families and our training organisations,” said Tarnisha.

They also spoke of the importance of alternate routes for schooling, and said these sort of events are crucial in promoting further learning.

“A lot of people don’t consider vocational education as a valid pathway, so I think getting to this point definitely highlighted that vocational education gets you places, it’s not just a second option and that you can get something out of it,” said Lucy.

They certainly are an inspiration for others, and have displayed the very best of what the Hunter has to offer on a national platform.