A BENDIGO plumber is still coming to grips with winning bronze in an international tradies' competition, but will consider helping other Aussies in their search for gold.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Patrick Keating last week placed third at WorldSkills 2019, a competition attracting the world's best young apprentices and trainees to Russia.
He had been unsure where he would place in the competition and had aimed to score in the top 50 per cent of entrants in the plumbing and heating category.
"So I hadn't really thought of what it would mean if I won a medal."
Story continues below video of prize ceremony
The medal placing could open up doors, though.
"I can continue on pathways through WorldSkills and go judge at their nationals competition, or their regionals," Patrick said.
"I could go help out at the next international competition in China. There's a heap of opportunities there."
Patrick spent a year training for the millimeter perfect tests of international competition fitting out a bathroom.
"The one thing that got me, at the start (of the competition last week), was designing this towel rail, which I had not practiced on," he said.
"We only found out the plans two days before the competition."
Patrick's father - Bendigo jockey John Keating - said growing up around the racing industry played a small part in shaping his son's competitive spirit.
"That's been ingrained from a young age, with Patrick," he said.
"He enjoys what he does and always takes pride in any task he puts forward. It's his nature to do a job well and he has just excelled in plumbing."
Patrick began competing in WorldSkills regional heats while a student at Bendigo TAFE.
That group's CEO Phil Murphy congratulated him on his achievement in Russia.
"Patrick also showed us the importance of not just being skills-ready, but trained to be competition-ready by having the ability to work under pressure to complete the skills challenge in the time allowed," he said.
Patrick thanked his employer, Phoenix Plumbing, as well as TAFE, family, friends and sponsor Reece for their support.
If it wasn't for all them people I wouldn't be here talking about a bronze medal. I would have been down near the bottom of the pack," he said.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
