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The 9th Biennial Golden Trowel Award, organised by the Concrete Masonry Association of Australia and TAFE NSW, was held at Bathurst in NSW on 21-22 September 2009. Winner of the 2009 Golden Trowel Award was the TAFE NSW Western Institute team from Bathurst College – apprentices Lester Tibbles and Brent Sheather, with their teacher/team leader Geoffrey Pollack. A Bathurst team won the previous 2007 Award but, of course the 2009 team was made up of different apprentices and even a different teacher. Thirteen teams competed for the prestigious award – 8 from NSW and one each from ACT, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Each team, comprising a class teacher, Stage 2 student and Stage 3 student, completed a detailed building project to a set plan with a given quantity of concrete blocks. (See list of competitors below) For onlookers, the quality of work and workmanship was astonishing. Each team seemed to approach the task in a different way, but the final projects were indistinguishable to anyone without detailed industry experience. The judges were industry professionals and trainers. The competition proved an ideal platform to showcase the features of concrete block construction and also the skills of the competing apprentices. After the competition each competing team was recognised at an industry dinner with presentations of “gold” spirit levels. Most of the teams were formed after competitions held across each state or in the case of NSW teams, across their TAFE institutes. It was an honour for each team member to be representing their state or Institute at the event. Nigel Croke was a member of the wining team in 2007 and went on to represent Australia in Brick and Block Laying at the 2009 WorldSkills Competition in Calgary, Canada in 2009 where he won a Bronze Medal. Nigel was present during the 2009 Golden Trowel Award at Bathurst, where he said that his experience in the previous competition had completely changed his attitude to his work. “It wasn’t just about laying bricks anymore, I could see much greater challenges, and different ways to approach the job” Nigel now works in Sydney, and says the majority of work he is now asked to do is more complex, often involving interesting architecture. CMAA’s Executive Director, Alan Pearson expressed confidence in the skills demonstrated at the Golden Trowel Award. Alan said “Young tradesmen like the competitors in this award are critical to the future of our industry. They are being creative developing exacting skills and are efficient in their craft.” “It is a great credit to their teachers and also their employers who play a critical role in apprenticeship training. They encourage and support their apprentices to achieve higher standards and great skills.” The CMAA NSW Committee organised the event with TAFE NSW Western Institute, Bathurst – members supplied blocks for the tasks as well as giving their time to judge the completion. CMAA NSW members are: • Adbri Masonry • Austral Masonry • Baines Masonry • Boral Masonry • Rivcrete Brick & Block 
Golden Trowel Award 2009 Competitors
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Sponsoring Members
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