Apprentice of the Year
Thank you to all the apprentices that took part in the Nationals competition.
Congratulations to the National Apprentice of the Year, Lewis Lack, from Water’s Butchery in Queensland, with Jesse Anderton from Fussy Meats in Western Australia our runner-up. Applications for 2025 State competitions will soon be available. Contact us for more information.
With thanks to our national sponsor, Wedderburn.



Finalists
Tamika Banks
Malone’s Butchery
Number of years an apprentice:
2 years, 9 months
How they first started – got into the trade
Although butchery runs in my family, I started my journey as a counter-hand in a Darwin butcher shop while my dad and I were travelling Australia.
Ryan Taylor
Thomas Farms
Number of years an apprentice:
3 years
How they first started – got into the trade
Was always interested in butchery and when the opportunity came up to work with my brother at Castle Plaza, I couldn’t turn it down.
Lewis Lack
Uni Plaza Meats
Number of years an apprentice:
3 years
How they first started – got into the trade
Started as a clean up boy doing afternoons and Saturdays. Through this job, I became really curious about the trade and wanted to go further with it.
Jesse Anderton
Fussy Meats
Number of years an apprentice:
3 years
How they first started – got into the trade
I started cleaning the shop and serving customers. I fell in love with the art of butchering by watching the butcher’s boning out lamb legs and slicing steaks. I could see it was something they were truly passionate about.
Connor Alexander
Ranfords Family Butcher
Number of years an apprentice:
4 years
How they first started – got into the trade
I often look back at being a clean-up kid, washing dishes, rolling rissoles, and getting given hell from the butchers. I think of how lucky I am to now be an apprentice.
Lochlan Leonard
CHOP Butchery
Number of years an apprentice:
3 years
How they first started – got into the trade
I had a chat with a mate from high school who had dropped out to become an apprentice butcher. From that chat, I decided to start a six-month period of work experience before being offered an apprenticeship at CHOP Butchery.
Oscar Campbell
Vermeys Quality Meats
Number of years an apprentice:
1 years
How they first started – got into the trade
I knew Marcus Vermey by going to school with his sons. After doing some casual work for Marcus, he offered me some full time work in the shop.