Throwing in the towel, literally or otherwise, simply wasn't an option for Charis Inoc when employed in an Albury commercial laundry.
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"The machines do the washing, but the folding of towels, it's manual, so we have to do it," she said. "I remember I had to fold, like, 500 to 600 towels an hour."
The way she tackled this physical task pointed to a work ethic that has since helped her thrive in a new career, leading to an award nomination and being able to buy her own home.
Miss Inoc, a property manager at Ray Mack Real Estate, is a Trainee of the Year contender in the Riverina/Murray NSW Training Awards, which will be presented at Griffith on Thursday night.
It's something the 23-year-old couldn't have imagined when she arrived in Australia from the Philippines in 2017.
She recalled being surprised to find Albury already had a significant Filipino community.
"I really thought that when I came here I was just the odd one out, but no, there's a lot and they were happy here and wanting to live their life here and I thought, 'Yep, I'll do that'," Miss Inoc said.
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Finding work while on a bridging visa proved difficult, but gradually people in her community helped her gain experience in a shop and restaurant and then the laundry job came up.
Ray and Brenda Mack met Miss Inoc through Mr Mack selling a family property and were impressed by her manners, quick learning and willingness "to have a go".
"It wasn't an easy job (at the laundry), but she just showed that she was dedicated to it and hardworking," Mrs Mack said.
Mr Mack offered Miss Inoc some work experience - where she would take notes from the industry magazines she was given to read during quiet times - then took her on as a trainee two years ago.
Miss Inoc admitted she knew nothing about Australian homes at first.
"I didn't know that all houses here have hot water connected, in the Philippines we only had cold water," she said.
"I didn't know that there's a system outside that you need to fix if it breaks down."
She also felt overwhelmed initially by the many calls seeking assistance and advice as one of two property managers overseeing about 200 houses.
"People expect you to be in charge and that's one thing that I had to learn throughout my traineeship," Miss Inoc said.
Mr and Mrs Mack have witnessed their young property manager's development.
"She was shy ... and she's grown into this confident woman that understands what's expected," Mrs Mack said.
"Charis always encourages herself ... to go outside your boundary, to go outside your comfort zone."
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