CHISHOLM in Dandenong is fostering future leaders.
Alongside winner Alex Woller, Danielle Erickson, Oun Chao and David Mann were nominated for the 2014 Youth Enterprise award.
Danielle, 18, from Frankston, started a diploma of specialist make-up in 2013 and plans to make the most of her course, work hard and save money to explore her craft overseas.
She’s always been creative and gets a thrill from “transforming someone into something that they love”.
Danielle wants to work in film and television and one day establish her own make-up brand.
“I could one day be the face of the make-up industry. I am the future of the make-up industry in Australia,” she said.
Oun, from Woori Yallock, has lofty goals for his career in the electrical industry.
“I want to be the go-to guy for solar,” he said.
The 23-year-old was comes from a hardworking Cambodian family and between his studies helps at their business – the Woori Yallock Bakery.
He’s studying a certificate three in electrotechnology and has his sights set on a certificate two in telecommunications, certificate three in electrical contracting and a certificate four in photovoltaic (PV) solar generation.
Oun said he regularly read articles about solar electricity.
“That’s the next step in our technology,” he said.
“They’re building solar everything.”
His interest in electricity came from his foam plane hobby – he understood the physics of flight and wanted to understand electricity in the same way.
His goal is to become an electrical contractor, run his own business and pass his skills onto an apprentice.
David, 19, is learning his trade as an apprentice heavy duty diesel mechanic at D and D Diesel in Dandenong South.
The Wantirna South teen’s favourite birthday present as a young boy was a Tonka Truck set with a dump truck and excavator.
“Whenever I saw an excavator pass on a truck going down the road I would be enthralled by it,” he said.
“I’ve always been interested in knowing how things work and what makes them work.
“I love working with my hands and don’t mind getting dirty but I also enjoy having to think and solve problems.
“I plan on going over to the mines in Western Australia because I want to work on the biggest and the best machinery out there.”
David sees earthmoving growing into one of the biggest industries in Australia.
“There are always more holes to be dug and earth to be moved,” he said.
