There is no shortage of talented apprentice farriers at The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Gatton Vocational Education Centre (G-VEC), with fourth-year apprentices, Emma McKavanagh and Andrew McDonald, showing off their winning skills at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka).
Currently completing a Certificate III in Farriery at UQ’s Vocational Education Centre, the only Registered Training Office (RTO) for Farriery qualifications in Queensland, Mr McDonald and Ms McKavanagh were a standout at the Ekka taking out places in four categories in the novice events of the Farrier and Blacksmith competition.
Ms McKavanagh, the only female apprentice competitor who is undertaking her apprenticeship in Beaudesert placed in the Novice Blacksmithing, Novice Shoeing, Novice Forging and Novice Eagle Eye. All events test the skills of shoeing a horse, fastest times, shaping and making of shoes and blacksmith tools.
"It was great to attend and be a part of the competition. Farriery work can be very lonely so it is good to attend events with like-minded people and be able to talk about our passion and learn from others," Ms McKavanagh said.
"After working on a horse stud and developing a passion for shoeing horses, it then became a challenge for me to complete an apprenticeship as there are not many females in this line of work."
Taking out first place in three categories and the overall Highpoint Award, Mr McDonald led the pack of novice farriers and will be hard to beat at the National Apprenticeship Awards coming up in November.
"It was great to compete at the Ekka and with young farriers coming from as far away as New Zealand. It was a great competition with an excellent quality of work being performed," Mr McDonald said.
"I am looking forward to the National Apprentice of the Year Competition which will be held at UQ Gatton in November."
The apprenticeship through the Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science (NRAVS) RTO, G-VEC located within the University requires completion of 20 units of competency for students to acquire a Certificate III in Farriery.
For more information about vocational education and training offered at UQ visit: www.uq.edu.au/gatton/gvec.
Media: Karli Kollegger (telephone (07) 5460 1279 or 0488 780 229).
