Trading tourism for skills |
 WE’LL MISS YOU: Workmates and friends farewelled Deb Shaddock (fourth on left) last Thursday night. Deb ready for exciting challenge Written by RHYLL MOORE. AFTER nearly eight years at the helm of the Mansfield Visitors Information Centre, Deb Shaddock has resigned from her position to head across town for a new and exciting role. Not leaving Mansfield entirely, Deb rather is taking up a new position with the Mansfield Shire Council as the Southern Hume Region’s Rural Skills Connect project manager. Working across four shires - Murrindindi, Mansfield, Benalla and Strathbogie - Deb’s role will essentially be to help farmers gain qualifications for skills they already possess, while at the same time helping to solve Victoria’s skills shortage crisis. "It’s to do with addressing the skills gap shortage," Deb said. "I’ll be talking to on farm people - whether that’s the farmer, his wife or even older children - and identifying what skills they have, and then hopefully matching those skills to a qualification. "It will help to provide farmers with an off farm income - if they want it - as well as addressing the skills shortage." Deb, who has worked in the Mansfield tourism industry for almost two decades, said the decision to leave the Visitors Information Centre was not an easy one. "I love the job (at the visitors centre)," she said. "But I’ve worked in tourism a long time ... and it was time for a change. Deb is not wasting any time, finishing up at the Visitors Centre last Friday and starting her new position on Monday. "It’s a really interesting project and I’m really excited about it," she said. "Farmers out there are doing it really tough. "It will be a challenge, but I’m also sure it will be really rewarding." |
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