DAWESVILLE resident Chloe Holgate does what a lot of women can’t and she’s hoping it will set her apart for the MINTRAC’s Vocational Student of the Year award.
The slaughter person from Harvey Beef has been nominated for the industry’s training advisory council’s award and is hoping to be the first female to take it out.
This is the second time Ms Holgate has worked for the Western Australian company, after taking a break from the profession.
“It’s a work in progress; it’s all about conditioning yourself,” she said. “It’s a physically demanding job. I see going to work as a bit of a work-out. When I first came back I would wake up in the middle of the night screaming from the pain in my hands because of the work. But you work through the pain and with a sharp knife it does go away.”
Ms Holgate said she wouldn’t be where she was if it wasn’t for her trainer Tony Bandear and manager Natham Cousins.
Mr Cousins said Harvey Beef no longer saw the industry as a male only one.
“We’re trying to change that mentality,” he said. “There is no reason why a woman can’t do this job. We have a couple of women working for us.
“In the time which Chloe has been back she’s learnt five different techniques – a lot of which she’s learnt off her own back.
“I want to give people the same opportunities which I had but they need to show that they’re willing. Chloe has the persistence and the drive to do this.”
The Vocational Student of the Year will be announced on Wednesday.
