Community
10 August, 2024
Apprentice in for long haul
PARTS apprentice Wyatt Sciacca of Innisfail has been recognised for his outstanding performance as one of 24 finalists in the John Deere 2024 Technician of the Year awards.
The Innisfail resident’s enthusiasm for agriculture and turf started early, with both of his grandfathers nurturing his curiosity for machinery from a young age.
“I was extremely lucky to have two grandfathers teaching me the basics from such a young age,” he said.
“My (paternal) grandfather used to take me to the local council depot where he worked as a diesel mechanic, where he would show me how everything worked.
“I also remember my (maternal) grandfather teaching me how to fix a mower and read a parts manual.
“Their lessons have definitely assisted me in my direction today.”
Currently in his final year of a certificate III in supply chain operations at Innisfail’s Honeycombes Sales and Service, the 24-year-old is proud of how much he has learned in a short time.
“I’ve been asked to train new staff,” he said.
“I’m proud of how quickly I grasped researching parts and correctly identifying diagrams using serial numbers.”
Joining the Australian Air Force Cadets at 13 taught him the values of teamwork, loyalty and self-discipline, all of which he could apply in 2022 when he landed a job with Honeycombes Innisfail.
An idol of Mr Sciacca’s is Mr Miyagi from the Karate Kid series, who said, ‘There is no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher’.
“I’m extremely fortunate to have been taught by the team at Honeycombes,” he said.
“This is a job I want to do for a long time.”
