Bill West
Catapulted into the limelight by being selected as the female electrical apprentice of the year for Victoria and Tasmania, Bonnie Saunders is keen to motivate other girls to consider tackling a trade.
“From my experience the school education system is still too sexist-orientated at times, though it is improving. I’ve always been willing to have a go at a variety of things,” Bonnie said after receiving her prestigious award at the National Electrical Communications Association’s gala presentation night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
From an original field of 69 female apprentices, Bonnie was quite surprised to make the final five … and shocked to be announced as the outright winner.
The 2022 female Education and Careers Award was for outstanding excellence in trade training and on-the-job performance.
“I just love my role, getting up early and going off to work and often learning something new on the job each day.”
The effervescent 23-year-old who grew up in Riddells Creek, then Romsey in more recent years, is working on the massive Metro Tunnel project with the long-established Nilsen Electrical company.
It’s been a somewhat bumpy road and a real learning curve for Bonnie since leaving Gisborne Secondary College, and she largely attributes her current position to having a strong work ethic.
She’s worked in hospitality at different venues, went to La Trobe University to study criminology, the arts, and later psychology, then had a break before working in a bakery, hotels and a bowling club.
Her father Michael is with Barker Trailers in Woodend and has always encouraged Bonnie and her older brother Harley (in IT) to be proactive and keep options open on career paths.
“I’m so proud of them both. Through hard work they’ve given themselves great future opportunities.” he said.
WHY ELECTRICAL?
How did Bonnie end up going into the electrical trade?
“I was working at the large Riddells Creek Nursery and co-worker Dani Clemson suggested I should consider getting into an entirely different field,” she said.
“We knew a few tradies in the area and one suggested I try work experience with him …. it’s been full speed ahead ever since, and I’ll be forever grateful.
“I’ll always regard Macedon Ranges as ‘home’ wherever I end up, and at present I am helping mentor another budding electrician.
“Winning the award has given me even more confidence, and I’m happy to talk to younger people about the benefits of getting into a trade, in particular the electrical field.”
At present Bonnie is working a five-day week (eight to 10 hours), sometimes on Saturdays, and even Sunday.
“Women shouldn’t underestimate their place in what is largely regarded as a male dominated industry,” she said.
On the sporting scene she received some tremendous news last week.
“My doctor gave me the ‘all clear’ to resume playing football with Gisborne women’s team in the next couple of weeks,” she said.
“It will be great to get back on the field with plenty of my mates after being ruled out as a precautionary measure with long term concussion.”
Bonnie, a speedy winger, first played with Gisborne in 2019, but then there were COVID and injury frustrations so it will virtually be a fresh start though she had been helping out at Bulldogs’ training sessions.
