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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationNatasha Eastman-Nagle named 2023 HIA Victorian Apprentice of the Year
Natasha Eastman-Nagle named 2023 HIA Victorian Apprentice of the Year
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The result was announced at the 2023 HIA-Stratco Victorian Apprentice Awards, held on Friday 6 October in Melbourne.
Natasha began her journey in trades with landscaping and maintenance work, but began to realise her true potential after meeting her current employer and making the switch to carpentry. She has since developed a broad range of skills and can turn her hand to anything on site: from detailed, intricate carpentry work, to shovelling and manual labour.
Both her employer and the HIA’s judges noted Natasha’s technical proficiency, her outstanding work ethic, and her commitment to the building industry.
“Natasha has said she wants to become a role model for other women, and to help create pathways to get more women into the building industry,” says HIA Victoria Executive Director Keith Ryan. “In a great many respects, Natasha is already that role model. She is a fantastic asset to her employer – indeed to the residential building industry as a whole – and she is an incredibly worthy winner of this award.”
On her way to being named apprentice of the year, Natasha also won the Third Year Carpentry category.
HIA warmly congratulates the other award winners on the night:
- Ersin Elmas, a third-year carpentry apprentice with Lonsdale Buildling Group, received the HIA Judges Rising Star award
- Luke Kelly of Keystone Construction & Design won the Fourth Year Carpentry award
- Natarsha Wollensack from Eric Jones Stairbuilding Group won the Second Year Joinery award
- Jayde Palmer of Ecoliv Buildings won the Second Year Carpentry award
- David Lillie from Lonsdale Building Group received the First Year Carpentry award
“The HIA Awards showcase the best of the best in the residential building industry, and the outstanding quality of work undertaken by HIA members,” says HIA Victoria Executive Director Keith Ryan. “They are also a celebration of the future of Victoria’s vitally important residential building industry.”
“The outstanding calibre of apprentices recognised at the 2023 HIA-Stratco Victorian Apprentice Awards proves that future is very bright,” concludes Mr Ryan.
The HIA Alec Fuller Victorian Apprentice of the Year award is named in honour of Alec Fuller, a past President of HIA and passionate supporter of apprentices in the residential building industry.
HIA thanks its apprentice awards partner, Stratco.
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