Un-bloody real! Gympie tradie's incredible feat in Russia
A southeast Queensland apprentice has done his home town - and his country - proud in the "Olympics of trade skills" in Russia, taking out a bronze medal at the event which drew crowds of 250,000.
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ACE Gympie apprentice Patrick Brennan has won bronze at the 45th WorldSkills International Championship in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in Kazan, Russia.
The young Tony Stephens Refrigeration apprentice was pipped at the post in the extraordinary six-day contest by gold medal winning Russian apprentice Aleksandr Leughin, and Korean silver medallist JuHwan Go.
The 45th WorldSkills Competition - the leading international event of 2019 in Russia - brought together more than 1600 young professionals representing more than 60 countries and regions competing in 56 skills.
Huge crowds of 250,000 and opening and closing ceremonies at the Kazan Arena Stadium, the location of last year's FIFA World Cup, gave the championship an Olympic Games vibe, and rightfully so, as it is the Olympics of trade skills.
Patrick's proud father, James Nash teacher Torren Brennan said it all when he posted from Russia, where he and wife Sue have watched the entire contest, "Un-bloody real...Paddy won bronze...that is a bronze in the world.”
TSR owner Judy Stephens said the company was very proud.
"Watching the live stream this morning when they called out his name was just incredible,” she said.
"We are all so proud of Paddy and his bronze medal performance in Russia up against the rest of the world.
"The pressure of the competition was immense and he handled it in his usual calm and measured way.
"He has put in a huge effort the months leading up to the completion and deserves all the accolades. Looking forward to celebrate after he returns to work.”
Patrick earned his Australian blazer after winning gold at the Worldskills Australia National Championships last year, then again at the WorldSkills Australia Global Skills Challenge earlier this year, where 500 competitors from 15 nations took part. He was also awarded Best in Nation at the Australian challenge.
The 2019 Skillaroos and Team Australia are:
Andrew Brown (Cloud Computing), Melbourne Jeffrey Nugent (Deputy Chief Expert), Melbourne.
Anthony Cobb (Electrical Installation), Central QLD Joshua Kleinig (Expert), Macquarie.
Anthony Ters (Automobile Technology), Sydney John Francis (Expert), Ballarat.
Clinton Larkings (Industrial Mechanics Millwright), Macquarie Peter Buttenshaw (Chief Expert), Illawarra.
Courtney New (Fashion Technology), Sydney Donna Drain (Chief Expert), Illawarra.
Christopher Matkowski (Cookery), Sydney Ianthe Smith (Expert), Sydney.
Joshua Boon (Cabinetmaking), Tasmania Jai Maluga (Expert), Tasmania.
Maxine Colligan (Car Painting), Sydney West Bradley Franklin (Deputy Chief Expert), Sydney.
Hayden Dillon (Carpentry), Sydney West Allen Hill (Deputy Chief Expert), Sydney West.
Indy Griffiths (Graphic Design Technology), Sydney Brendan Hibbert (Expert), Perth.
Nathan Kettle (Jewellery), Sydney Jyothi Collins (Expert), Illawarra.
Patrick Brennan (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning), South West QLD Carl Balke (Expert), Brisbane.
Patrick Keating (Plumbing & Heating), Central Victoria Andrew Whalan (Expert), Illawarra.
Paul Coon (Bricklaying), Ballarat-WimmeraTroy Everett (Chief Expert) Illawarra Eric Davis (Compariot Support Expert), Brisbane.
Thomas Neave (Joinery), Geelong Thomas Ryan (Expert), Ballarat.
To increase networking opportunities and professional development for WorldSkills volunteers, Experts without competitors attend the international program to retrain or obtain additional skills themselves and knowledge.
About WorldSkills Australia
WorldSkills Australia is a social enterprise that passionately believes that skills drive your future and Australia's prosperity. Since 1981 we have been the leading voice for skills excellence in vocational, technological and service-oriented careers in Australia and have raised the awareness of hundreds of thousands of young Australians, as well as their parents, industry and employers that our nation's future depends on an effective skills training system. For more information, visit www.worldskills.org.au. Patrick's WorldSkills journey is generously supported by Kirby. Kirby is committed to strengthening the HVACR industry through the continued support of apprentices. Our long association with WorldSkills Australia and the launch of the Kirby Apprentice Fund is testament to it. We wish Patrick continued success in Russia and congratulate him on all his achievements thus far.
About 45th WorldSkills International Competition
The 45th WorldSkills Competition - the leading international event of 2019 in Russia - will bring together more than 1,600 young professionals representing over 60 countries and regions who will compete in 56 skills. It will take place in Kazan, Russia on 22-27 August 2019. It is expected that more than 250,000 spectators will attend the Competition and associated events. For more information, visit: https://worldskills2019.com/en/.
Originally published as Un-bloody real! Gympie tradie's incredible feat in Russia