The moment of truth came for a bunch of Wauchope TAFE students when they got into the canoes they’d built and paddled them across the Hastings River.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And it was plain sailing all the way.
Teacher Brian Jones enjoyed teaching the young people Certificate II in Construction Pathways.
It’s hands-on, which these guys wanted and needed. It has a very specific goal, with quite a few woodworking skills in it,” he said.
“They’ve been fantastic to work with. There’s an enormous sense of fulfilment, because they can say: ‘I built that,’” he added.
Student John Fernandes said constructing the canoe had been a great experience.
“It’s glued together with an epoxy resin and stitched together with cable ties. That mixture makes it completely watertight, with paint on top,” said John, who was delighted that his canoe held together.
And to complete their day, the students and teachers enjoyed a sausage sizzle on the banks of the river.
