Electrical Field Generates Interest For Girls

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday December 11, 2004

By JULIAN MURPHY

LYNIE Herbert and Jessie Saulge have successfully tackled the HSC and are now ready to battle the status quo.

Both girls will embark on careers in traditionally male-orientated industries next year and can't wait to get started.

The two Illawarra school leavers have been signed up as apprentice electricians, Lynie with Energy Australia and Jessie with Illawarra Group Training (IGT).

The 17-year-olds, who graduated from Illawarra Senior College, secured their positions after undergoing a period of mentoring and training with IGT.

Neither had really considered moving into a trade before this year.

"I thought I'd go to university and do law," Lynie said. "About six months ago I thought I'd like to do a hands-on job that also challenged my mind and I'm really excited about what lies ahead."

Lynie will start with Energy Australia in Sydney on January 10.

Jessie will be staying closer to her Farmborough Heights home, working with IGT host company BlueScope Steel at Port Kembla.

"I was good at maths and you needed that and after meeting people from IGT and hearing what they had to say I thought I'd give it a go," she said.

Illawarra Senior College careers adviser Noelene Fulton said the girls needed more than just good grades to earn their apprenticeships.

"They had to complete a difficult testing and interview process and it was also about their personality, enthusiasm and teamwork capabilities," she said.

Illawarra Group Training manager Annette Hornby said Australia's skills shortage was providing opportunities for young women to enter trades.

"We seem to have more girls showing interest every year," she said."We try to work with them, their schools and potential employers so they can see just how many fantastic options they have."

© 2004 Illawarra Mercury

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