Granville TAFE Apprentice butcher Jacob Camilleri wins national award

Granville TAFE apprentice butcher Jacob Camilleri’s the guy you want cooking at your barbecue.

• Butcher brings home the bacon
• Sun sets on swimming pool
• Man winched to safety at Shelly Beach

Granville TAFE apprentice butcher Jacob Camilleri’s the guy you want cooking at your barbecue.

The 19 year old, who works at Chop Artisan Butchery in Belrose, recently snagged the national apprentice of the year at the Australian Meat Industry Council competition in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Jacob Camilleri at his Belrose butcher. Picture: Troy Snook

The competition attracted 3200 independent butchers whose hopefuls sat theory exams and cutting skills challenges.

Customers are in good hands with Jacob Camilleri. Picture: Troy Snook

A mystery box with a leg of lamb, beef rump and a pork scotch fillet was also presented to apprentices to see what they could produce.

Jacob whipped up 20 products in the mystery box challenge.

Jacob at the competition.

Mr Camilleri’s knack for creativity saw him create 20 different products from the three cuts.

The second-year apprentice, who commutes 1½ hours from his home at Tennyson in the Hawkesbury to the northern beaches butcher, knows the value of presentation.

“I do enjoy processing meat and selling it and finding ways people to buy it,’’ he said.

‘To really stand out you’ve got to be different’: Picture: Troy Snook

“Ideally people buy with their eyes. Any butcher shop could cut a steak or marinate a steak.

“Butchers have been doing that for hundreds of years so to really stand out you’ve got to be different to that.

“People do you like things that are more convenient and that’s ready to eat.”

Mr Camilleri was not always in love with his job.

A stint being a metal fitter and turner made him think otherwise so he returned to his original trade.

He also loves working with Chop Artisan Butchery’s David Funnell at the Glenrose Village family business.

Mr Funnell praised his apprentice.

“He handled the pressures of a national competition extremely well,’’ he said.

“Jacob is a hardworking kid, he’s very respectful and is always willing to help out. Nothing is ever a drama for him and he has good customer service.”