AS part of Gladstone Ports Corporation’s apprentice, trainee and work placement program, 22 new faces joined the team last week.

This year GPC’s intake includes five apprentice electricians, four apprentice diesel fitters, two apprentice gardeners, one mechanical fitter, one rigging and scaffolding trainee and a computeraided design trainee. The intake also includes a group of eight local high school students have also come onboard this year to complete their one-day a week work placement program with GPC.

Acting CEO Craig Walker said the program is delivering for Gladstone’s workforce as well as supporting local apprentices and trainees with world-class training at home.

“Our apprentice and trainee program is one of our most successful programs at GPC and attracts hundreds of applicants each year,” Mr Walker said.

“The new recruits will be given an invaluable opportunity to learn their chosen trade under the guidance of our skilled supervisors and mentors who have been with GPC for decades and are keen to see them all succeed and prosper with their future careers,” he said.

“We’re proud to be shaping Queensland’s future workforce with our program and supporting our local community in which we operate.”

GPC’s rigging and scaffolding trainee, Price Maynard is excited to take his first steps in his new career.

“I was a bit shocked when my application was accepted because I knew how popular the program was,” he said.

“I’m really grateful I’ve been given the opportunity and I’m enjoying every moment.”

Parks and gardens apprentice Amanda De Boer said the program offered her an ideal career change.

“I’m very impressed with the new East Shores parkland development and I’m looking forward to working there, getting my hands dirty and learning all about horticulture,” Ms De Boer said.

“I have been looking for a career change and I’m very passionate about gardening and this program was the perfect opportunity.”

Locals encouraged to paint the port

GPC is encouraging locals to pick up a paintbrush and release their inner Picasso for this year’s Paint the Port art competition.

The competition, which first began in 2007, attracts artists from our port areas of Gladstone, Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

The competition captures and celebrates GPC’s port and its different facets including the natural deepwater harbour, coal-handling facilities, port development and beautiful marina parklands.

There are four prize categories including the open category of $1,000 acquisitive cash prize, the High School category of a $350 cash prize, upper Primary School category (year 4 to 6) $75 cash prize and the lower Primary School category of $75.

ARTmatters at Creative Gladstone Region will host the exhibition of artwork from Wednesday 24 March to Friday 16 April.

Registrations close at 4pm on Friday 5 March 2021.

Artists are required to submit their artwork with the supplied artwork label attached to the back of their art between 10am-2pm on Friday 12 March at ARTmatters Gallery – 3 Pitt Street, Gladstone.

For more information and to register for the 2021 Paint the Port art competition visit:

https://www.gpcl.com.au/paint-the-port