Above: Darcy Nicholl, Hospitality Trainer Kellie Smith and Brendan Woodroffe.
A trip to Abu Dhabi for the World Chef's Congress and Expo has been a memorable one for TAFE Gippsland Hospitality staff and students.
Hospitality Trainer, Kellie Smith, and two students Darcy Nicholl and Brendan Woodroffe finally got to represent their country after the scheduled Congress in 2020 was postponed due to COVID-19.
The trio returned to Australia in early June after an exciting four-day congress. The flight home took off at 9.50pm Saturday for a 14 hour return flight to Australia at 5.05pm the next day.
Hospitality Trainer, Kellie Smith, described it as, "the most incredible, memorable trip of a lifetime!".
"I am so blessed to be the Mentor for Australian Culinary Federation ,Victorian Young Chefs and be supported by my workplace TAFE Gippsland to represent Australia at The World Association of Chefs Societies Congress Abu Dhabi 2022," Kellie said.
"This trip has inspired me to improve my knowledge and skills as a trainer, its also been a privilege to represent my country being the mentor for all the
Australian Young Chefs that attended the Congress. I am honoured and so proud of them all."
Darcy and Brendan were also glowing in their praise of the trip and the opportunity afforded to them.
"Thankyou TAFE Gippsland very much for all your support in helping me and my fellow young chefs getting to the world chef congress Abu Dhabi 2022.
This has been an amazing experience that has helped me grow as both a chef and a person. We had the opportunity to learn many new tastes, techniques
and ideas to better ourselves for the future. We had the opportunity to learn more about the issues were facing as the next generation of the hospitality industry and
what we can do move towards a better future for ourselves and future generations.
And more than anything I had the chance to network with chefs young and older from all around the world forming connections we may never have had without this amazing experience. Once again thankyou so much for your support in getting us involved in this fantastic opportunity."
Brendan Woodroffe.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank TAFE Gippsland for the generous contribution towards our trip to the world chefs congress in Abu Dhabi, without your support this once in a lifetime event would not have been the same.
I learnt so much during the congress that will forever shape the way I cook and how I view the changes I can make to create a better, more sustainable industry not only in our region but for the whole planet. This trip has also opened up many doors for me both locally and internationally to further my education and career, many of which would not have been possible without attending the congress. Thank you again for your contribution."
Darcy Nicoll
For all media related enquiries, call;
Neil Lawson - Communications Coordinator, TAFE Gippsland
Phone - 0419 425 804
Email - nlawson@tafegippsland.edu.au or news@tafegippsland.edu.au