What a fantastic day at the Melbourne Boat Show on Saturday, as we proudly presented the Boating Careers KGM Apprentice of the Year Awards on the Honda Marine Main Stage.
A huge congratulations to all the apprentices nominated this year — the level of talent, passion, and dedication across our industry is truly inspiring.
Special congratulations to our apprentice winners, Will Seddon and Kobe Gogoll. You should both be incredibly proud of your achievements and the professionalism you’ve already shown so early in your careers. Your hard work, skills, and attitude reflect the bright future of the Australian marine industry.
We also extend a big congratulations to Tim Ewert from Inferno Marine, winner of the Apprentice Employer of the Year Award. Tim has been an exceptional supporter of young talent, dedicating countless hours to mentoring and teaching his apprentices. His commitment to helping them grow into skilled, confident tradespeople is something he — and the entire industry — can be proud of.
A special thank you to Steve Walker, CEO of the Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV), and Merv Hughes, cricket and fishing legend, for presenting the awards and celebrating our future workforce. We’d also like to acknowledge Simon Faure from Kangan Institute for his kind words and ongoing support for marine training and apprenticeships.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the employers who dedicate their time and energy to guiding the next generation. Your mentorship and encouragement are what make this industry strong.
Finally, an enormous thank you to KGM for your continued sponsorship and support of this program — helping us celebrate excellence and inspire more young people to pursue a career in boating.
We look forward to seeing these talented apprentices continue to grow, achieve, and make a real impact on our industry.