Another champion named

Six apprentices showcased their skills at the Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition last month

Following three successful regional rounds of the competition – where a record number of apprentices competed – the 2024 Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition has wrapped up with new winners announced.

As well as having a record number of apprentices competing at the regionals, this was the first year apprentices could enter the competition again if they’d previously been involved.

“There were two reasons for the change of rules,” says Gina McMaster, CEO, IRHACE and CCCANZ. “To allow apprentices to enter more than once encourages the younger apprentices to enter. The second reason is that, with competitors entering more than once, the level of competition rises as they should be better prepared.”

This was the case for Liam McVicar from McAlpine Hussmann, Wellington, who took out first place in this year’s challenge after first competing last year.

Newcomers Dylan Hendry (McAlpine Hussmann, Dunedin) and Matt Jackson (Active Refrigeration, Christchurch), placed second and third, respectively. Campbell Brown (McAlpine Hussmann, Tauranga), Dylan Hendry (McAlpine Hussmann, Dunedin), Oliver Tischendorf, Dobsons Refrigeration & Electrical, Te Puke), and Tristran Munro (Excel Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Wellington), also impressed the judges –David Everett, Cameron Wilson-Meek, Daniel Jordan, Neill Adkins, Elias McKenzie, Lee Todd and Rodger Wyatt.

WorldSkills New Zealand’s Operations Coordinator, Sally Gray, was also there to support the apprentices.

Showcasing their skills in both practical and theory, day one of the competition saw the apprentices fly through their practical assessment before starting theory and electrical fault finding in the second half of day two.

Held annually, the Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition is about coming together as an industry and supporting those early on in their HVAC&R careers.

A huge thank you to our major sponsors RealCold and CCCANZ.

A special thanks to Steelfort Engineering and John Jenkins for hosting the final competition, and to our judges and volunteers – none of this would be possible without your support.

If you’re an apprentice or a company that would like to support your apprentices in next year’s Wallie Askew competition, get in touch via admin@irhace.org.nz