The NECA Industrial Apprentice of the Year award is a coveted honour around the country. For winner Taylor Fishlock it was an exciting achievement, but she has given little thought to the fact she was the awards first winner to accept the accolade in a dress.

“I didn’t really think about being the first female, I was just pretty stoked I’d won at all. A pretty proud moment I suppose,” says Taylor.

While being the awards first ever female recipient is a great honour the girl from Katherine, in Australia’s Northern Territory, doesn’t see herself as any different from the previous winners – far more concerned with having to give a speech at the time.

“I was caught pretty off guard, I was like, ‘Oh god I’ve got to do a speech’. I’m not a very good public speaker,” Taylor laughs.

“I’m not sure what it all means really, all the hard work is paying off I guess and I’m pretty happy about that and I’m excited for this trip too.”

Along with $1,000, part of her prize is a trip to Europe where she will attend the Hannover Messe, one of the world’s major trade fairs for industrial technology in Germany.

“I can’t wait. I just spoke to Rod Edwards from NHP the other day and he was telling me that the trip isn’t just to Germany, it’s everywhere in Europe. I was pretty lost for words about it to be honest,” says Taylor.

Deciding to enter the electrical industry after high school, Taylor felt an apprenticeship could benefit her more than continuing to study at a university. Growing up surrounded by boys had also left her with few nerves about joining what is a predominantly male industry.

“I didn’t want to go to Uni, but I didn’t want to have nothing behind me and I figured a trade was a pretty good option. I like to keep thinking and this industry certainly does that and it seemed like a pretty good fit at the time,” says Taylor.

“I grew up on a cattle station with only brothers and the only other woman I ever had around in my life was my mum, so I’m pretty used to being surround by guys.”

Growing up on a cattle station has also taught Taylor how remote the Northern Territory can be, having to remember to pack much more than her lunch each time she heads to a job.

“I’m actually out at Ngukurr at the moment, which is about 350km away from home,” says Taylor.

“We are out for the week and there is no wholesaler around, so if you forget something you’re buggered. There is a lot of planning involved – the organisation skills are tested. If you forget something you’re not going to do the 700km round trip for the wholesaler.”

For Taylor, this is all just part of the challenge of a job that always keeps you guessing, forcing you to learn all the time.

“This job just constantly keeps me on my toes,” she says.

“I’ve been pretty lucky, I haven’t been stuck at the same old work every day, it’s always different and that variety keeps me thinking all the time. I don’t think there is a week that has gone by where I haven’t learnt something new and that keeps me interested.”

With her apprenticeship coming to an end early next year, Taylor has a few things she’d love to do, but her award and the constant workload has left her with little time to think too far ahead.

“I want to do a bit of travelling at some point, but I think I’ll stick with the company I’m at for awhile until I save up some money. My partner has his own electrical business, so I’ll help him out with that, but I’ve got too much going on at the moment to even make plans,” she laughs.