Tayla Cardelli proved no obstacle was too big when she was named Trainee of the Year at the 2025 Western Cape Training Awards in Weipa on 6 November. Photo: Supplied.
Western Cape York’s top apprentices and trainees hope their big wins at the Training Awards in Weipa will serve as an inspiration for the next generation.
The Western Cape Training Awards recognised the top contenders across nine categories earlier this month, celebrating the outstanding achievements of individuals in skills training, and the contributions employers and training providers make to developing the region’s workforce.
Evolution Mining and Civil’s Tayla Cardelli was named Trainee of the Year — a testament to her hard work as she balanced a full-time job with her traineeship, which she completed this year.
Ms Cardelli said she was shocked to be announced as the winner, but was proud of her achievements.
“I feel like this year has been my year,” she said.
“I feel like my hard work’s been paying off. It can be hard being the only female, so it feels good to be recognised.”
Ms Cardelli worked full-time driving bulldozers in the dry season and eradicating weeds in the wet season, but wanted to undertake a traineeship to operate heavy machinery.
The 23-year-old said as a young woman in a team of men, she learned to hold her own, and hoped the win would show other young women wanting to pursue a career in civil work that it was possible to thrive.
“I just kept my head down and didn’t worry about the people around me. I did the best I could, and it got me here,” she said.
“I hope that I can inspire other young women, especially Indigenous women, to get into it, because they hold back a fair bit.
“They get shy being the only girl, they think they can’t do it being the only girl, and I can guarantee being a girl doesn’t mean anything — a girl can do anything a man can do, if not even better.”
Wanting to be a role model was also the driving force behind Aurukun Shire Council plumbing apprentice Pana Nawakie, who received the Murphy Rehn Most Outstanding First Year Apprentice Award, and was named runner-up for Overall Apprentice of the Year.
The 24-year-old initially worked as a trade assistant at the council’s workshop with the aim of starting a mechanic apprenticeship but, when it fell through, he lost motivation.
What brought him back was wanting to step up as a father for his baby girl, Cyra, who is now five months old.
“The win’s had a big effect on my drive,” he said.
“After the mechanic apprenticeship fell through, I slacked off for a few months, but then I had a daughter come along and, you know, I just switched on.
“I want to be a role model for the younger generation here that’s coming through; they’ve seen what I’ve been through, what I’ve done and what I’ve become, so I hope they will look up to me.”
Aurukun Shire Council also congratulated trainee Cara Kalkeeyorta, who was named a finalist in the awards.
“Council and the Aurukun community are very proud of Pana and Cara for being finalists in the Western Cape Training Awards, and we hope their achievements can help inspire the coming generations of our community’s leaders,” Mayor Barbara Bandicootcha said.
Napranum Aboriginal Shire Council apprentice painter and decorator Rayesh Wipa was named the Combined Trades Apprentice of the Year and Overall Apprentice of the Year, but could not be contacted before Cape York Weekly went to print.
Aurukun Shire Council plumbing apprentice Pana Nawakie won the Murphy Rehn Most Outstanding First Year Apprentice Award after stepping up for his daughter. Photo: Supplied.
