General News
3 July, 2025
Year 10s get a taste of employment
This week, year 10 students from Gilgandra High School took part in their first round of work experience for the year.
By Carlie Crockett, on work experience at Gilgandra Newspapers
Students were scattered sparsely - ending up in Queensland, Dubbo, or simply just staying in Gil - and selected a wide variety of work environments based on their personal interests. With a whole term and a half of anticipation, feelings of busyness, trepidation, and excitement would have been present in each and every student. We are all very fortunate to be able to have a taste of the real world before we are plunged into it, and I would like to thank all employers, teachers, and other personnel on behalf of the year 10 class of 2025.
Stella Valler - Gilgandra Motors
Stella chose to do her week of work experience at Gilgandra Motors due to her love for auto mechanics.
Why did you choose to complete your work experience here?
“I love anything involving cars like mechanics, and figuring out what’s wrong and how to fix it.”
How would you rate your working experience from one to 10?
“Nine. It’s been pretty fun so far and everyone’s been helping me a lot. I get to do lots of things.”
How do you feel about handling customers or talking to unfamiliar people?
“Pretty okay, most of the people I have talked to have been nice and easy to talk to.”
What do you think is the most valuable thing you will take away from this?
“Being able to go home and help my mum with her car when it’s not working.”
What’s the most stressful situation you’ve been in?
“Fixing a tail light and it not wanting to work.”
It was said that you were very interested in the profession, so you’ve chosen this work experience purposely. Is that something you want to pursue?
“Yeah, I’d love to do auto mechanics. Love to. I also did work experience with Gilgandra Toyota last year,” concluded Stella.
In the world of mechanics, employees are severely limited and interest in the field is declining exponentially - particularly amongst women. It is rare to see a young woman like Stella so passionate about mechanics, and her excellent work ethic paired with a sharp mind is valued. It is up to young people like her to keep this essential and intricate industry alive, particularly into the future when these sorts of trades will be at further risk of meeting their ends.
Charlie Hutchison - Darling Downs Spray Tech and
Muddy River Agricultural, QLD
Charlie spent his week of work experience up in Queensland; a significant change of scenery from Gilgandra. He chose to indulge in his love for agriculture and fabrication by working with Darling Downs Spray Tech; a company which manufactures machinery.
Charlie has assisted in assembling, programming, and installing never-seen-before equipment, a real privilege. This included an 80 foot roller - new to Queensland and the third in Australia, installing a GPS on a brand new Horsch self propelled sprayer - new to Australia, and even a robot - new to Queensland. He was also fortunate enough to work with Darling Down’s partner company, Muddy River Agricultural, during his eventful experience.
Lorelai Hawke - Gilgandra Pharmacy and
Gilgandra Multi-Purpose Service (MPS)
Lorelai has a passion for nursing, which was her driving reason for picking both the Gilgandra MPS and pharmacy for her week of work experience.
Why did you choose to complete your work experience at these places?
“Well, I really wanted to go to the hospital because I like looking after people. And my auntie’s a nurse, I really look up to her. I came to the chemist because I was interested in this.”
Is this a career you’d like to pursue?
“Nursing? Yes.”
How would you rate your working experience?
“At the hospital, 10 out of 10. At the pharmacy, 10 out of 10 as well.”
How do you feel about handling customers or talking to unfamiliar people?
“Yeah, I really liked it.”
Have you always been good at that?
“Yes.”
And what’s the most valuable thing you think you’ll take from this experience?
“Nursing, definitely. Looking after older people and helping them when they’re sick.”
Do you think your mere presence has had a positive impact on these establishments?
“Yes, yes, yes.”
What’s the most stressful situation that you’ve been in during the week?
“At the pharmacy, probably reading all of the prescriptions. I get a little bit confused. And at the hospital I got a bit confused about where to go, but it was alright. I got used to it.”
Any further comments?
“I really like it here at the pharmacy. Everyone’s really nice, and I really would like to look into nursing in the future. I loved it at the hospital.”
As Australia’s elderly population continues to grow, our communities will need more people like Lorelai who are willing to devote their time and energy to the care of senior citizens. These strong work ethics and tender qualities are also highly beneficial to the healthcare industry, giving Lorelai an excellent edge for her journey into nursing.
Carlie Crockett - Gilgandra Newspapers
I chose to complete my own week of work experience at the Gilgandra Newspapers because I have a love for creativity.
I enjoy sitting in my bedroom at home and writing imaginative stories, editing photographs on my phone, creating collages or scrapbooks, and composing short videos of movie characters for social media.
I can do these sorts of things for hours on end, so I knew I would enjoy my choice of work environment.
During my time at work, I completed many tasks I had not been exposed to before.
I collated paperwork, prepared recycling information sheets for the council, wrote articles such as this one, edited existing articles, observed more technical procedures, and photographed and interviewed other students in my year.
I was even complimented on my cleaning skills.
I was able to apply my existing knowledge of English skills and creativity to complete my work in a way that I liken to excitedly indulging in a hobby.
I would like to thank all the staff at The Gilgandra Weekly that have taken care of me throughout this eye-opening week of work.
Jordan Wighton - Cooee Tyres
Jordan decided to return to his existing job for the week, heading into uncharted territory as he wasn’t sure if he’d be paid…
Why did you choose to complete your work experience here?
“Just to help my workmates out a little bit and there’s not really many options around town. And I just enjoy it, it’s fun.”
How would you rate your experience here?
“Yeah, it was pretty good. 10 out of 10. It’s good working with my mates.”
How do you handle speaking to customers or unfamiliar people?
“Yeah, I handle it pretty good. I just say ‘Hello, how you going?’ Just be confident.”
Do you think your mere presence has had a positive impact on this establishment?
“Yeah. Yeah, definitely.”
What’s the most stressful situation that you’ve been in so far?
“Dealing with workmates!”
Jordan has endured a rough week of banter from his colleagues, completing important work whilst withstanding various quips and jokes. Cooee Tyres is an essential part of the Gilgandra community, helping both individuals and businesses in times of need.
Jordan’s drive to do well in the workplace makes him a valuable asset to the company, which allows them to fill this role in the community well.
Glynn McIlwin - Ahrens
Glynn decided to join Ahrens for his “highly productive and rewarding” week of work experience.
Why did you choose to complete your work experience here?
“I like to weld, I like fabrication. I want to learn more, hopefully.”
What activities have you been doing while you’ve been here on work experience?
“I’ve been grinding, tack welding, welding, measuring… more welding.”
How are you enjoying all of this?
“It’s been going good so far. I’ll probably come back if they’ll let me next time.”
How do you feel about handling customers or talking to unfamiliar people?
“Pretty good. Just act confident, talk with your chest, act normal.”
What’s the most valuable thing you’ll take away from this experience?
“Learning how to weld overhead, building silos, welding bases, stays, footplates.”
What’s the most stressful situation you’ve been in?
“When my tacks broke. It just went everywhere, fell down, had to start again.
Any further comments?
“I’d like to thank Greg Stubbs, Rusty, and Paul for helping me along the way and Andrew Shier for letting me come here and enjoy the experience.”
Greg Stubbs stated that Glynn had been a ‘real benefit’ and that he ‘helped us a lot’. He highlighted Glynn’s impressive and pre-existing welding knowledge, and how his confidence and skillset was rare in such a young person.
Glynn’s tasks were set around the construction of silos, meaning he was exposed to general fabrication, building metal bases, and lots and lots of welding. Ahrens Gilgandra operations manager Andrew Shier said they would be quite happy for him to return in the future.
Acacia Reiri-White - Gilgandra MPS
and Gilgandra Youth and Fitness Centres
Acacia picked a few different work environments for a full week of experience. She was with the Gilgandra MPS, Gilgandra Fitness Centre, and Gilgandra Youth Centre.
Why did you choose to complete your work experience here [youth centre]?
“Because the gym only was open on Thursdays, and I thought I’d just do it instead of not doing anything for the last day.”
So you did work experience at the gym as well?
“The hospital originally had me for three days, then I did the gym, and then I forgot that it was only for Thursday. Then I was talking to Tracey [Stevenson] and she said that I could come to the breakfast club and that on Friday.”
So why did you choose to go to the hospital originally?
“‘Cause I want to be a nurse or a midwife, so I just wanted to see if it was actually a career I want to pursue.”
And you made a decision on that?
“Yeah, I want to be a midwife instead of a nurse.”
Across everything, how would you rate your general experience?
“Seven out of 10.”
Any factors that contributed to that?
“I wanted to learn more about nursing and midwifery at the hospital but instead it was mainly about aged care, like 70 per cent of the time. That’s been the main thing.”
Is that part of your personality or is that something you’ve learnt?
“Personality, I guess. And I’m at work experience so I’ll be asking questions or talking.”
What’s the most valuable thing you think you’ll take away from this?
“I realised a career I wanted to do in my life.”
What’s the most attractive thing to you about midwifery?
“I was going to do something to do with childcare, and then I wanted to do nursing and it just gives a good mixture between the two.”
Acacia had a busy and enlightening week of work experience, discovering what profession she wishes to pursue in just three days. She observed hospital staff, supervised gym members during their workout time, and handled a barrage of noisy, hungry children across three different workplaces, showcasing her resilience and willingness to try new things. These valued qualities will give her the work ethic she needs to enter midwifery.
