A YOUNG woman from the Bega Valley has been recognised for her jewellery making skills.
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Third-year apprentice at Georgies Fine Jewellery in Narooma Jyothi Forman has been named the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Champion for Jewellery.
This is not the first time Ms Forman has been recognised for her talented craftsmanship, as she has been the Nationwide Jewellers Group Apprentice of the Year for the last two years and received best second-year apprentice for 2013 at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.
Ms Forman said hearing her name called out as the winner of her WorldSkills category at the presentation on Sunday night was “incredible”.
“They went through every category before mine, so it took a long time,” she said.
“I thought maybe I didn’t get anything, then it turned out I got gold.”
Originally from Tanja, the 21-year-old began her apprenticeship in Victoria before starting in Narooma.
“I’ve always been very hands on, and always loved art and creating things,” Ms Forman said.
“I found out about the trade and decided that’s what I wanted to do.”
The WorldSkills competition was held in Perth, where Ms Forman spent three days competing.
“I was a little bit nervous at the start,” she said.
“But in the end I was really happy with the way I performed.”
The contestants had $18,000 worth of gold to use, and all made the same item which Ms Forman said was “kind of hard to explain” but would be a broach if extra parts put on it.
There were nine other contestants in her category, including four who were qualified jewellers.
She is also now age eligible for the WorldSkills International Competition, and hopes to compete in it at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in August next year.
Georgie Staley of Georgies Fine Jewellery said Ms Forman put in many hours of practice before going to WorldSkills, taking a month off her holidays to do so.
“She is just the most diligent girl I have ever employed,” Ms Staley said.
“People get opportunities but don’t always go with them, but she has taken up the opportunity and run with it.
“Through it all she has just remained very humble and unassuming.”
Ms Forman was not certain of what the future will hold, aside from focusing on the “intense training” required to compete in the WorldSkills International Competition, but hopes to stay in the area and continue working at Georgies.
Sponsors who helped get her to WorldSkills included Nationwide Jewellers, Australian Jewellers Supplies and NMIT.
