Apprentice Cabinetmaker Selected for Tool Blacks

by Boating Industry Training Organisation on 28 Oct 2008 Mike Schieffelbein, an apprentice with Robinson Marine Interiors, has won selection for the New Zealand Tool Blacks team to compete in the World Skills competition in Calgary next year.

Schieffelbein and five other marine cabinetry apprentices competed in the World Skills NZ competition in Wellington in September. They were competing for the right to represent New Zealand in the Furniture Making category of the bi-annual World Skills competition.

In the qualifying competition, which was run by the Boating Industry Training Organisation, the young apprentices had to build an oak tool chest on a freestanding leg base. This gave them the chance to showcase skills such as dovetailing, veneer pressing, dowel and biscuit joining and the building of both a drawer and hinged door.

The competition lasted three days and was closely contested. The other participants were Jonathon Lougher from Alloy Yachts (who actually won the contest but, because of his age, is not eligible to compete in the World Skills competition), Chris Marsh (also from Robinson Marine Interiors), John van Huenen from the Salthouse Marine Group and Craig Allen and James Wintle (both from Alloy Yachts).

BITO Field Officer Mike Birdsall says Schieffelbein will spend the next year practicing and up-skilling in preparation for what is sure to be a very competitive contest in Calgary.

“Although Mike is a very talented young man, he will be up against the best in the world. The Europeans, in particular are very skilled furniture makers and we will all be working very hard to ensure Mike has all the skills he needs to compete for the World title.”

Joining Schieffelbein in the New Zealand Tool Blacks in Calgary next year will be the country’s best young plumbers, bricklayers, builders, chefs, printers, joiners, fabricators, waiters, florists and representatives of several motor industry related and electrical/electronic trades.