Charles Williams of The Collie Print Trust, Amanda Hay, winner of Apprentice of the Year and Robert Black, director of the International Centre of Graphic Technology at the School of Design (TAFE), RMIT University.HEALESVILLE resident Amanda Hay has won the Collie Print Trust Apprentice of the Year Award for 2007, as part of the annual RMIT University Printing Industry Training Awards.
Amanda works as a Graphic Pre-Press Apprentice at Breen Printing Pty Ltd in Healesville and has had a strong interest in Creative Art since her early childhood.
She has been working in the printing and graphic arts industry for more than three years and said during her studies she had developed a greater knowledge and real passion for the industry.
“I enjoy every aspect of my job,” Amanda said.
“I’m still in shock about winning apprentice of the year. It is such a huge honour and achievement.”
Amanda said that she was looking forward to her future travels and was overwhelmed with all the possibilities, as the award comes with a $12,000 overseas travel grant.
“I hope to go over to New York and work on a magazine,” she said.
After completing her Graphic Pre-Press, Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts, Amanda has decided to continue her studies doing Certificate IV this year.
Becoming Apprentice of the Year is not Amanda’s first award for her printing and graphic arts talents.
Last year she won a gold medal in the WorldSkills Regional Competition for her work and this year was also awarded the Herb Thomas Memorial Trust Award of $1200 towards furthering her studies.
“Coming from a small country town, it was daunting in the beginning having to travel to the city for trade school but I overcame that pretty quickly,” Amanda said.
“Throughout my time at RMIT I learnt many new and relevant skills and I still want to undertake more courses and add to my skills in the future.”
Co-worker Kirsty Woodhead also received an Apprentice of the Year award three years ago, and has trained Amanda throughout her course.
“It really is great that Amanda’s hard work has been recognised,” Kirsty said.
“She really has an eye for detail and a flair for graphic design.” – Melissa Meehan
