GEMMA HARTWIG MAY
notably be one
of a growing number of young women
drawn to resource industry apprenticeships,
but what really continues to impress her
employer Ostwald Bros is her technical
abilities and passion for the trade.
The apprentice diesel fitter took out
the ‘School-based Apprentice of the Year’
award at the 2014 Queensland Training
Awards State finals and will compete in the
National Training Awards later this year.
“When I applied for the school-based
apprenticeship with Ostwald Bros it
seemed to me that they didn’t think twice
about me being female,” says Hartwig,
who works with the integrated services
company’s mechanical maintenance team.
“I enjoy the fact that I’m breaking out
of stereotypical gender roles and tackling
something different.
“I’m really happy that I’ve won. I want to
EAST COAST: GEMMA BEATS
the boys to apprentice award
excel; I want to be an advocate for women
working in this field.”
Hartwig is completing a Certificate III in
Engineering (Diesel Fitting) while finishing
her final year at Our Lady of the Southern
Cross College in Dalby and serving as
school captain.
After completing her training, the high
achiever hopes to work with the family-
based Ostwald Bros on a remote site.
The Queensland Training Awards
were first established 50 years ago to
recognise outstanding achievements of
individuals and organisations within the
vocational education and training sector.
Hartwig took out the school-based
apprenticeship category for the Darling
Downs and South-West region in August
before being announced the state
winner a month later.
Ostwald Bros group plant manager
Brian Ostwald says Hartwig is a deserving
recipient of state award as she consistently
meets the company’s expectations.
“Gemma has demonstrated a high-
level of commitment towards all her
responsibilities,” Ostwald says.
“She works well independently and
has displayed great persistence when
problem solving and working through
complex tasks.”
Hartwig was also a recipient of Origin
Energy’s Community Skills Scholarship
this year, winning a $13,500 grant
provided by Australia Pacific LNG to
help young people learn and earn in
their local communities.
The National Training Awards takes
place on 21 November – check out
Australian Training Awards.gov.au to see
how Hartwig places against other star
apprentices from around the country.
RP
Gemma Hartwig is an apprentice
diesel fitter with Ostwald Bros
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TRAINING
