Siblings Rated Among Region’s Top Apprentices

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Siblings Rated Among Region’s Top Apprentices

Originally from Waipukurau and now flatting in Hastings, brother and sister Robert and Hilary Wroe double-dipped when they each won a category in the region’s apprentice awards.

The achievements of Hawke’s Bay’s top automotive, building, electrical, engineering, culinary, hospitality and hairdressing apprentices were celebrated at the Greenmeadows Rotary and EIT Hawke’s Bay Apprentice Award Evening held at the Taradale Town Hall on 15 May.

The event recognised 26 top achievers from tertiary courses. Rob won the Blackwoods Protector Safety Most Improved Student in the EIT Certificate in Engineering Trades programme while Hilary was named the Top Diploma in Professional Chef Practice Student.

The pair say their parents, Joanne and Warwick Wroe of Waipukurau, were “stoked” when they learned of their children’s success.

When he left Central Hawke’s Bay College, Rob worked as a bone handler but after several years he felt he had gone as far as he could at the meat works for someone of his age.

At school, he had done well in engineering so he enrolled for EIT Hawke’s Bay’s Certificate in Applied Practical Skills – Trades Skills.

He was offered an apprenticeship at McLaren Stainless Steel Ltd after undertaking work experience at the Hastings company as part of the 17-week programme.

“I like the variety,” Rob says of his job. “I can be working one day on a conveyor and another on a wine tank.”

A year or two after finishing his apprenticeship, he may look at travel.

“I’ve been told that I should be doing that while I’m young and haven’t got too many commitments or ties.”

Earlier this year, Hilary graduated from EIT with a Diploma in Professional Chef Practice.

“I’ve wanted to be a chef since I was young,” she says. “I always enjoyed baking with my grandmother and watching cooking programmes on TV.”

Hilary is employed at Vidal’s restaurant in Hastings, preparing mains and working in patisserie. It’s a challenging job, she says, but hard work triggers a surge of adrenalin which she finds gets her through her busy working day.

While she loves working as a chef, she also fancies the role of food critic.

Neither sibling has been out of New Zealand, and Hilary’s plan is to join friends for future travel in Europe.

“I’m looking forward to learning about different kinds of foods overseas,” she says.

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