Two talented young Border tradesmen have been recognised as among the best in the country in their craft and could go to China to show off their skills.
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Tangambalanga bricklayer Jayden Jennings and Wodonga based apprentice plumber Lachlan Kinter won gold in the World Skills National Championships.
The competition sees people training in vocational, technological and service-oriented careers compete at a regional, national and international level to showcase their flair for their trade.
Mr Jennings said the national stint of the competition was held in Perth, but due to COVID he completed it remotely from Albury and watched the closing ceremony online.
"When they came up to the reading of the tally it was pretty surreal to see my name," he said.
To win, Mr Jennings was required to build two walls over 24 hours.
"One had a picture of a swan in it, it also had a 2021 logo on there and the other wall was a concrete block masonry wall," he said.
"In that it had a picture of a tree owl and it had the letters WA.
"They give you a plan and you've got a certain amount of time to complete the works that are on that plan.
"It's as simple as you don't finish, you don't really score marks."
Mr Jennings was judged on every aspect of bricklaying, from skill, to measurements, to plumbing and leveling.
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Mr Kinter, also completing the national leg of the plumbing section of the competition from the Border, said he was grateful to win.
"I don't even recall them calling out my name, I just remember everyone going crazy," he said.
Mr Kinter said the challenge had made him value his plumbing work more.
"It's probably made me take a step back to realise that the hardwork at the start of my apprenticeship is really paying off," he said.
Mr Kinter's manager and former World Skills winner Tyson Knight said the boys were now waiting to find out if they were selected to represent Australia in their chosen skill in the international part of the competition in China next year.
"At an international level the commitment involved is extraordinary," he said.
"They're up against the best part of 30 to 40 competitors internationally over a four day competition and the skill accuracy is down to plus or minus two millimeters and 0.5 of a degree.
"And all with the added strain of a quarter of a million people coming past your over those four days, so it's pretty intense."
But it's a challenge the boys are taking in their stride.
"I'm really interested and hoping to get on the national tour," Mr Jennings said.
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