Finances are always a struggle for young rural regional students taking on study and heading into the workforce, and even more so on an apprentice's wage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Callum Furner, an apprentice bricklayer studying his Certificate III at TAFE, regularly needs to travel almost two and a half hours to Bathurst, the closest TAFE offering bricklaying for block study.
He also needs to purchase his own set of bricklaying tools, which don't come cheap.
That's where the Country Education Foundation (CEF) comes in.
READ ALSO
Through a Snow Foundation scholarship with CEF, Callum can keep building his dreams.
"I love my apprenticeship and wouldn't be doing anything else," said Callum.
"I love that at the end of the day I can see the result of the hard work I've put in.
"Seeing what I've built throughout the day gives me a great sense of job satisfaction."
Callum also loves the team dynamic of bricklaying and that he has a skilled mentor teaching him the craft at Tibbles Bricklaying in Goulburn.
Considered a 'master of his apprentices' Lester Tibbles is one of the best.
A member of the Australian "Skillaroos" who won the bronze medal at the 2011 International Worldskills Competition in London, he also won a gold medal at the 2010 competition in Brisbane and the 2009 Gold trowel award.
Lester and his wife Renea are passionate about training high quality apprentices. They not only provide employment but also important mentorship and support.
It was Lester and Renea that encouraged Callum to he apply for a CEF grant to assist with his costs.
"A team is only as strong as its weakest link and we are very fortunate to have a team of hard working and highly skilled young men under the guidance of my husband, Lester," said Renea.
"An apprenticeship is a long commitment and if we want to continue to produce the best bricklayers through our apprenticeships we need to support them throughout the process.
"We really appreciate the Country Education Foundation and the Snow Foundation supporting our talented apprentices like Callum to complete their training and stay in the industry."
Lester can't speak highly enough of Callum.
"Callum works as hard as he possibly can every day," said Lester.
"I respect his determination and dedication. He applies himself both onsite and at TAFE, has a great attitude and I have no doubt that he will be a highly skilled bricklayer by the end of his apprenticeship."
Like many rural apprentices, Callum believed that he was not eligible for support from the CEF, thinking the support was just for university students.
But CEF knows there is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to study and wants students with all types of dreams and ambitions to apply for support.
Callum wants regional students who know that if university is not the right thing for them, they should seriously consider an apprenticeship.
"Starting my apprenticeship is the best thing I have ever done, I wish I had started earlier," he said.
- To find out more or donate to CEF click here.
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up below.
