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E L E CT R I C AL CONNE CT I ON
AUTUMN 2 01 5
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Female sparky lights up the boys
T
he 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,”
Taylor says.
While being the award’s 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. She was 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 give 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 lost for words.”
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. 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.
“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,” she says.
“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. 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 job 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 a while 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.
For the first time ever, a girl has
won the NECA Apprentice of
the Year award in the Industrial
category.
Zach Broadhurst
reports.
Taylor Fishlock accepting the Industrial Apprentice of the Year award at the National
Electrical and Communications Association excellence awards.