These were Inverell TAFE students who received their certificates of attainment and completion.

More than 50 students from different areas of study participated in the awards ceremony on Thursday, November 28, and a further 11 received their Certificate II in Civil Construction on Monday, December 2.

Senator John Williams addressed the Thursday assembly. He expressed an appreciation for the institute. 

“Many would believe TAFE is a training facility for unemployed. Well, it’s not that solely. There are many working people who wish to better their careers and they do it through TAFE training,” he said.

This year, student Rob Beany completed Certificates II and III in Information, Digital Media and Technology. He plans to enrol for his Certificate IV in 2014.

Rob also received an award from the TAFE Student Association for working and promoting the association.

“It’s very humbling,” he said.

Gabrielle Seveau from Tunisia is 85 and received a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Training with Chinese native Cathy Ralph. 

Gabrielle has been in Australia since 1971 and has both a daughter and granddaughter teaching at the Inverell TAFE. Both women wanted to expand their grasp of English colloquialisms.

“I came to Australia 23 years ago. I came to (the class) to learn more Australian sayings; idioms. This course is very good,” Cathy said.

A few other non-English speaking students received certificates of completion for language and literacy.

Oksana Palacio is from the Ukraine and took the course to improve her facility with English. 

“I learned English in university but never used it,” she said.

Gierdre Howard also learned English when she lived in her native Lithuania but Aussie English proved a challenge.

“It’s different English when you’re in Europe than when you come to Australia. It’s English, but it’s different…seriously!” 

Ashley Rose and Karlie Barnes completed their Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation. They plan on university in the near future and both women took on the difficult certificate with young children.

“That’s to get them straight into university,” said head teacher Annick Marsh.

“I’m going to uni to study psychology,” Karlie said.

Ashley is keeping her options open but indicated education was an interest.

Pam Ellis completed her Certificate II in Civil Construction. She previously worked as a Cultural Heritage Officer in the mines at Muswellbrook, working with archaeologists and recording and securing every artefact and site. 

With her new skills, she said she has expanded her established knowledge and felt confident to return to the mines with more employment potential.

Tom Walford also completed the certificate. 

He is one of three Inverell council employees who helped make up the numbers to allow delivery of the course.

He is a parks and gardens employee, but the course has given him a range of valuable skills.

“I can pretty much go into any part of the council now with a bit more knowledge about how things run in the other departments. 

“If they need someone, I’ve got the skills to go do that,” Tom said. 

Elizabeth Mepham received her certification in gem faceting under instructor Helen Ray. She’s been a keen fossicker all her life.

“I’m been wanting to do this course now for about 10 years. I used to go out with my dad when I was a child.”

She said there was still a way before she gains confidence to facet for a business.

“Because it’s still a learning curve, I think cutting my own stones at the moment will give me that bit of practice for the future.”