March 18 marked a special milestone for CMV Truck Centre as we celebrated the next generation of skilled technicians at our Apprentice Welcome & Graduation Evening.

This annual event serves as both a warm introduction for new apprentices and a moment of well-earned recognition for our graduates stepping into their careers. 

With a buzzing atmosphere, incredible food and industry guests joining in on the celebrations, the evening was a memorable occasion filled with pride, camaraderie and inspiration. 

The night began with Heath Patten, CMV Truck Centre General Manager, extending a heartfelt welcome to apprentices, their families, and industry representatives from TAFE SA and Cummins. 

Barry Dellow, CMV Truck Centre Service Operations Manager, was then welcomed to stage where he took the time to share his career journey, starting out as an apprentice and working his way through a range of industries over the years gaining many vital skills. This ultimately is how he became successful in accepting the role at CMV Truck Centre at the start of February this year.

It was also wonderful to hear Barry reinforce the importance of CMV Group’s Values – the guiding principles that define how the team operates both professionally and personally. The CMV Values; Safety First, Can Do, Ask the Question, Do the Right Thing, and Mutual Respect - are more than words. They set the tone for how we support each other, take ownership of challenges, and build a positive workplace culture. Barry urged our newly starting apprentices to embrace these values, making them the foundation of their career. 

Following Barry, Bryan Brown, CMV Truck Centre Training Manager then took to the stage to provide insights on the Service Department’s dynamic environment, offering new apprentices and their families a glimpse into the teams they will be working with and the wide range of experiences they’ll gain throughout their training. 

CMV Truck Centre has always placed emphasis on developing well-rounded technicians, and Bryan expressed how throughout their apprenticeship apprentices will rotate through different departments, including electrical, engine rebuild, Kenworth, and DAF, gaining exposure to diverse skills and experiences. 

Bryan then proudly welcomed our newest apprentices to the team: 

Welcome to our First Year Diesel Technician Apprentices

• Josh Dwyer Sterzl
• Henri Hogan
• Michael Dinys
• Charlie Jay
• Jayden Catchpool
• Thomas Knox
• Brad Peel 
  
  

Bryan then had the honour to introduce our three 2025 Apprentice of the Year winners, celebrating apprentices from each year level who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, work ethic, and enthusiasm. 

Congratulations to our Apprentices of the Year:

2nd Year Apprentice of the Year: Darren Martin

3rd Year Apprentice of the Year: Rex Catford

4th Year Apprentice of the Year: Brock Wise

Each recipient was presented with a $250 tooling voucher and certificate as recognition of their commitment. 

As the night continued, we proudly recognised our graduating apprentices - individuals who have completed their formal training and are now stepping into the industry as qualified technicians.

Bryan shared their individual journeys, reflecting on the hard work and determination that has brought them to this moment. Each graduate was presented with a certificate, trophy, and a $1,000 tooling voucher in recognition of their efforts. 

Congratulations to our Graduating Apprentices: 

Blake Cook - Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Blake started his apprenticeship at CMV Truck Centre in 2021. During this time, Blake worked in several teams but spent most of his time in the DAF and engine rebuild team, becoming very efficient with the Cummins product. Blake also gained experience working remotely at Wimmera Truck Centre, located in Horsham, as part of the breakdown team. Blake says coming to work every day and working with “a bunch of top blokes” is the best thing about working at CMV Truck Centre. Since completing his apprenticeship, Blake looks forward to what comes next for him. Outside of work, Blake uses his mechanical skills to build his Nissan Patrol.

Thomas Anderson - Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Thomas started his apprenticeship at CMV Truck Centre in 2021, working in many different teams throughout his apprenticeship. Thomas expressed his favourite team to work in has been the Kenworth team because he gets to work on the classic old models, as well as the new ones. Thomas believes the best part about working at CMV Truck Centre is receiving ongoing dealer support from OEM’s, and getting the correct information to do his work; like product updates, as well as the exposure to the warranty process. Thomas also uses his mechanical skills for his interests in project cars and 4X4’s. 

Luke Measures - Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Luke started his apprenticeship in 2019 at CMV Truck Centre as an upskill; moving from light vehicle to heavy vehicle. Luke had a variety of engine experience from previous roles, but as the supervisor of the Kenworth team he has developed a broader range of knowledge - specifically with the chassis side. Luke enjoys working at CMV Truck Centre as he likes continuing to develop good relationships with OEM suppliers and customers.

As CMV Truck Centre continues to grow, we were thrilled to also welcome two new apprentices who joined our Parts Apprentice Program under the guidance of Adam McCue, CMV Truck Centre Parts Manager. 

Adam took to stage to introduce each apprentice and gave guests an overview of the parts program, highlighting the essential skills apprentices develop to support the business and its customers. 

Welcome to our First Year Parts Interpreter Apprentices

• Jack Rogers
• Phoenix Howard
  
  

With formalities wrapped up, guests enjoyed more time to connect, share stories, and savour the last rounds of Amore Catering’s wood-fired pizzas and signature char-grilled skewers. 

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Apprentice Welcome & Graduation Evening - a night of celebration, reflection, and excitement for the future. 

Want to relive the night? Check out the event photos on our Facebook page!

Interested in an apprenticeship? Apply now for our next intake!