Crane whizz sets his sights sky high

MATTHEW Cole arrives each day at crane parts manufacturer Crane Aid in Dandenong South knowing he’ll have a great time at work.
While other 24 year olds are pushing paper in an office or paying their way through university, Matthew will program a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine to build crane parts.
He’ll also continue his advanced studies at TAFE while the company pays for his tuition.
It’s a job that most young people would turn green with envy for – using a high-tech computer to program and build tangible parts, and receiving an education on the house.
But Matthew is one of a few young people to have realised the opportunities in manufacturing.
His success at such a young age has already culminated in him being awarded the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s Young Enterprise Award in March, for being the most outstanding young worker in the region.
This month, Chisholm TAFE named him its most outstanding apprentice.
“I also completed the Certificate III in Engineering Technology late last year and in that time Chisholm judged me the highest achieving apprentice for both Level 2 and Level 3,” he said.
“A highlight for me last year, too, was that I was selected for the Okuma Australia’s TAFE Incentive Program which took me to Japan for a major international engineering exhibition and a tour of Okuma’s head office and production facilities in Nagoya. This was fantastic.”
Matthew now has greater targets in his sights.
“Ultimately, I’m working towards be-coming a mechanical engineer, or ending up somewhere in that field and my goals are advancing in CNC machining and programming . My aim is to some day achieve a management role in the company I work for,” he said.
“I think I have added to the value of my learning by challenging myself to very high expectations, asking many questions, having a curious mind and wanting to know as much as I can. I’ve also worked as many hours as I can on the job and after hours, never saying no, so that I could get as much experience as I could.”
Manufacturing has also given Matthew a taste of responsibility.
“I’m currently undertaking the role of active leading hand in the workshop, with responsibilities including ordering and purchasing of materials, and account for the work of six tradesmen and one other apprentice.”