Carpentry apprentice Blake Retallick of VR Builders Castlemaine has taken out an award at the 2025 Master Builders Victoria Regional Apprentice of the Year Awards.
The fourth year apprentice claimed the ‘Apprentice of the Year – Excellence in Trades Award’ at the Bendigo event.
Blake studied at the Bendigo Kangan Institute and his passion for carpentry and distinctive skill set stood out to this year’s awards judges.
The judges said, ‘Blake thrives on problem-solving and finds great satisfaction in completing a project and delivering it to the client.
His eagerness to learn and tackle challenges has helped him and his co-workers navigate difficult situations on-site. Blake looks forward to continuing to showcase his dedication while further developing his leadership skills. Described as a strong nominee by his employer, he has proven himself to be a reliable tradesman capable of managing job sites daily.’
VR Builders director and builder Ross O’Neill said Blake is incredibly motivated.
“This makes him a very productive work-wise, but he demonstrates that he wants to learn as well. He is keen to increase his knowledge and skill-set. You can tell when an employee cares about their work. That’s Blake. He’s very conscientious, very eager to contribute to the team and a reliable colleague. He has exceptional interpersonal skills and talk to anyone, be they two or 92!
“Not only is he everything we could ask for in an apprentice, his is a genuinely great person. We are so glad he is part of the VR Builders team. He is an asset to us and the building industry!”
Blake said he was chuffed and humbled to be acknowledged.
“I really appreciate the opportunity VR Builders have given me. It’s a great environment to work in. I have felt extremely supported. I’ve learned a lot. It has just been a joy,” he said.
“The custom work we do is so varied and different it has really helped me to hone my carpentry skills. From custom homes to passive houses it is a challenge to navigate each build and work with our team to help make the client’s vision come to life,” Blake said.
“It’s exciting to see each new project take shape and put our skills to the test. It’s a real privilege and extremely rewarding,” he said.