Janson’s Concrete and Haulage apprentice, Daniel Abbott, shows that hard work and persistence pays off.

Daniel is an Aboriginal man who was born 120 kilometres west of Alice Springs in a remote community called Wallace Rockhole. He recently completed his apprenticeship in becoming a heavy vehicle diesel mechanic.

“It’s a dream come true and a lot of hard work that’s paid off,” he said.

“The journey has been all over the shop with travelling around Victoria for schools.

“I did four years of schooling in Ballarat and four years down here.”

It took Daniel four years to finish his apprenticeship and it has been something he has been interested in ever since he was a child.

“Where I come from we have a lot of diesel engines around such as generators, trucks and other stuff,” he said.

“It is very rewarding for me to finish this apprenticeship because I struggled a bit when I first moved down here and I wanted to go back home.

“My mum kept telling me to stick at it and stay here and that’s exactly what I did and I believe it was the right decision.”

When Daniel lived back home at Wallace Rockhole he loved hunting, camping, bush walking, motorbike riding, horse riding and cattle work.

He is also passionate about music and playing the guitar, which he says relaxes him.

“The biggest difference for me when I moved down here was the weather,” he said.

“I’ m used to it now, but when I first moved down here it was bad. It is nothing like it is compared to Ballarat though.”

Since Daniel started his apprenticeship he has worked on many different types of machinery, which for him is another dream come true.

“I actually never thought I would get to operate machinery such as dozers, excavators and loaders,” he said.

“When I used to spend a bit of time in Macarthur in the quarries with my boss, operating machinery and flying in and flying out, that was pretty cool.

“All the people at Janson’s Concrete and Haulage have made me feel welcome from day dot.

“I would also like to thank Paul Carroll, without him I wouldn’t be here.”

Daniel attended trade school in Melbourne for one week every second month.

PICTURED: Janson’s Concrete and Haulage apprentice, Daniel Abbott, has recently finished his apprenticeship in becoming a heavy vehicle diesel mechanic.