DONNYBROOK-Balingup Shire gardener Bri Dean was named Best Horticulture Apprentice at the recent South West Institute of Technology Awards.
Bri, who has been with the Shire for three years, combined work with study until she graduated in July last year.
Following her success, she has been taken on as a full-time member of the Parks and Gardens team.
“Bri has been well-mentored by team leader Anne Cullen and is a welcome addition to the team,” Shire chief executive John Attwood said.
“This award acknowledges her hard work and commitment to her studies and is well-deserved.”
Bri looks after planting, pruning, spraying, reticulation and a range of gardening tasks.
Her interest in gardening developed when she helped her mum plant primroses and vegetables in the family garden.
“The horticulture lecturers were very good and they were able to customise my apprenticeship for shire work,” Ms Dean said.
“I’d like to work towards landscape design, so I’ll probably continue studying at TAFE and hopefully then go to uni.”
Mr Attwood said Council supported apprenticeship opportunities in horticulture because of their value to both the individual and the Shire.