Tennyson’s Jacob Camilleri has been named the top butchery apprentice in Australia by the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC).
He won the National Apprentice of the Year title at AMIC’s national competition held in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Jacob was among finalists from six states competing for the title in beef, lamb, pork, gourmet, continental and poultry sausage divisions.
Each finalist earned the right to represent their state after winning regional competitions held over the past year.
Jacob (19) first developed a passion for butchering at the age of 14, when he was working as a ‘washing up boy’ for his local butcher.
He is now studying for a Certificate III Meat Processing (Retail Butcher) at TAFE NSW Granville.
Jacob said he was “quite nervous” competing on the national stage at Fremantle, and thanked his employer Dave Funnell from CHOP Artisan Butchery in Belrose who travelled to WA to support and mentor his apprentice.
“The first day was a theory exam, we were judged on our knowledge, cutting skills and knowledge of the different cuts of meat,” Jacob said.
“Day two was when it ramped up as we were given a mystery box which had a leg of lamb, beef rump and a pork scotch fillet; I was able to create 20 different products from the three cuts of meat.”
Jacob is keen to continue his studies after completing his apprenticeship, and hopes to become a manager at CHOP Artisan Butchery, which also has a store in Rouse Hill and will soon be opening outlets in Penrith and the Central Coast.
Jacob was schooled at Bede Polding College and played rugby for the Penrith Panthers under 18s and Malta under 16s.