Archie Wilkinson, 20, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship in recognition of his plumbing abilities. Photo: TAFE NSW.
TAFE NSW Wollongong celebrated World Plumbing Day with awards for talented young apprentices, including a scholarship named in honour of a respected former teacher.
A special event to mark the day was attended by about 100 apprentices as well as industry professionals and featured trade stalls, demonstrations and presentation of the awards.
World Plumbing Day is celebrated annually on 11 March to recognise the critical role plumbing plays in public health, sanitation and overall quality of life.
Talented Southern Highlands apprentice plumber Archie Wilkinson was awarded the Craig Walker Scholarship, named after a long-time TAFE NSW teacher.
Craig died in 2023, aged 53, after spending more than a quarter of a century training plumbing students in the Illawarra and on the South Coast.
Archie, a fourth-year apprentice with Mittagong’s Graeme Isedale Plumbing, also received a $2500 cash prize.
Hugh Vaughan, 19, and Riley Powell, 20, were named TAFE NSW Wollongong apprentices of the year. Hugh is a second-year apprentice with Southern City Plumbing and Riley is a third-year apprentice with Powell Plumbing Illawarra.
After receiving the scholarship, Archie, 20, urged other young locals to consider a career in the booming industry.
“It’s a great feeling to be acknowledged with this scholarship and to have my efforts recognised,” he said.
“I’d just encourage any young person looking to get into a trade to consider plumbing.
“There’s so much variety and there are so many pathways you can take to progress your career.”
Archie has been selected in the Australian training squad for September’s WorldSkills International in Shanghai, the “skills Olympics” for trades and technical professions.
He paid tribute to his TAFE NSW teacher Ethan Fisher, who he described as a mentor.
Ironically, Ethan was trained by Craig Walker as an apprentice.
“Craig was a great ambassador for plumbing. Not only did he train a generation of young plumbers, but he was a WorldSkills coach and advocated strongly for students who were disadvantaged,” Ethan said.
“It’s fitting that such a prestigious award be named in his honour and Archie is a very deserving recipient.”
According to the Federal Government’s Occupation Shortage list in January 2026, plumbers of all descriptions are in short supply across the country.
The Master Plumbers Association has declared there is a “critical shortage” of skilled plumbers in NSW, particularly in regional areas.
