The Swan Hill campus courtyard was transformed last night for the annual SuniTAFE Trades Night.  

Bringing students, teachers, and industry together, SuniTAFE's Trades Night events are designed to celebrate and champion skills excellence within vital industries in the Mallee region.  

The 2025 event was attended by close to 150 people, making it the biggest Swan Hill Trades Night yet.  

During the evening, 20 students were awarded a prestigious Trades Award, recognising their hard work, dedication, and high skill level in their trade.  

SuniTAFE’s overall Apprentices of the Year were also awarded during the night, crowning the highest achievers across each year level.  

The night’s biggest winner was apprentice Georgia Baxter who won both the Outstanding Third Year Heavy Automotive award and was named Swan Hill’s overall Apprentice of the Year.  

Engineering Fabrication apprentice Dylan Maher and Heavy Automotive apprentice Sol Kelly also took home Apprentice of the Year accolades in first and second year respectively.  

For SuniTAFE CEO Brett Millington, the annual Trades Nights are an opportunity to celebrate the industries that are vital to the future of the Mallee region.  

“It was fantastic to see so many of our apprentices being awarded for their hard work and skills excellence in front of their families, teachers, and employers,” he said. 

“Each award winner has shown continued dedication to their training and is highly deserving of this recognition.  

“Trades Night is also a great way for us to congratulate the hard work of our talented trades teachers and industry partners who are working together to train our next generation of tradespeople.  

“Events like these are an example of our SuniTAFE Vision in practice, which is to inspire growth and belief through learning.”  

 

 

Full list of award winners

Apprentice of the Year (1st Year) | Sponsored by CareerWise 
Dylan Maher 

Apprentice of the Year (2nd Year) | Sponsored by CareerWise  
Sol Kelly 

Apprentice of the Year (3rd Year) | Sponsored by CareerWise  
Georgia Baxter 

Outstanding 1st Year Automotive Electrical Technology Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise 
Cale Clearwater 

Outstanding 2nd Year Automotive Electrical Technology Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise 
James Papworth 

Outstanding 3rd Year Automotive Electrical Technology Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise 
Connor Davis 

Outstanding 1st Year Carpentry Apprentice | Sponsored by GMG Financial Group  
Ella Streader  

Outstanding 1st Year Electrical Apprentice | Sponsored by Energy Safe Victoria 
Jakobie Salmon 

Outstanding 2nd Year Electrical Apprentice | Sponsored by Energy Safe Victoria  
Brad Dunstone  

Outstanding 3rd Year Electrical Apprentice | Sponsored by Energy Safe Victoria  
Harry McGregor  

Outstanding 1st Year Engineering Fabrication Apprentice | Sponsored by BOC Bendigo  
Dylan Maher  

Outstanding 2nd Year Engineering Fabrication Apprentice | Sponsored by BOC Bendigo  
Logean Mckenzie Ives  

Outstanding 3rd Year Engineering Fabrication Apprentice | Sponsored by BOC Bendigo  
Brodie McKenzie  

Outstanding 1st Year Heavy Automotive Apprentice | Sponsored by Cummins South Pacific 
Alister Willie 

Outstanding 2nd Year Heavy Automotive Apprentice | Sponsored by Cummins South Pacific 
Sol Kelly 

Outstanding 3rd Year Heavy Automotive Apprentice | Sponsored by Cummins South Pacific 
Georgia Baxter 

Outstanding 1st Year Plastering Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise 
Adan Wisby  

Outstanding 2nd Year Plastering Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise 
Braydan Corkill 

Outstanding 3rd Year Plastering Apprentice | Sponsored by CareerWise
Will Anders  

Outstanding 1st Year Plumbing Apprentice | Sponsored by Energy Safe Victoria 
Jayden Smith 

Outstanding 2nd Year Plumbing Apprentice | Sponsored by Energy Safe Victoria 
Lincoln Benfield  

David Beames Memorial Encouragement Award 
Darren Button 

Garry Thompson Memorial Achievement Award  
Ashley Lacey