Our first Apprentice Appreciation Evening 2026

March 26 marked a special milestone, as we proudly hosted our first Annual Apprentice Appreciation Evening at Hallam Truck Centre.

Hallam Truck Centre, Bayswater Truck Centre and Melbourne North Truck Centre teams all proudly came together with our new and graduating apprentices, their families and loved ones, as well as our valued industry partners for a memorable evening at our Hallam Truck Centre dealership, filled with great food, drinks and celebration.

This exciting new annual event celebrates the outstanding achievements of our newly qualified apprentices across the businesses, recognising their hard work and dedication in successfully completing their trade qualifications. At the same time, it warmly welcomes our first‑year apprentices as they embark on their journey toward becoming the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

The energy was high as guests started to arrive in the “pop-up” style event space, set up in the two front workshop bays of the Hallam service department. As guests walked through the inviting pub-style space, it was hard to believe that only hours earlier it was filled with workshop benches, trucks and the usual workshop grease!

Guests were encouraged to grab a drink at the bar and enjoy catching up with each other as Essential Catering waitstaff circulated throughout the crowd serving some epic canapes like their mouth-watering Pulled BBQ beef sliders!

Matt Keene, Hallam Truck Centre Group General Manager, kicked off the night by officially welcoming all our valued guests, including CMV board members, industry and franchise partners and families of our apprentices.

Matt provided an overview of each of our sites and highlighted the benefits of being part of the CMV Group, emphasising the organisation’s strong culture, supportive environment and the diverse career pathways it offers.

Matt then went on to share CMV Groups core values, encouraging our new first year apprentices to implement these every day in their work, and life in general.

Matt Keene then spoke in detail about the apprentice program, outlining what the first year apprentices can expect to learn across their four-year journey.

Matt reflected on his own apprenticeship journey, sharing how those early years laid the foundations for the role he holds today. “To our new first‑year apprentices, it’s great to have you onboard. You’re going to learn so much, and I really look forward to seeing what you achieve throughout your careers. I was once in your shoes myself, starting out as an apprentice - it’s a fantastic opportunity, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes each of you in the future.”

This year, we are stoked to welcome seven first-year apprentices into our apprenticeship program Matt explained that “Throughout the program the goal is to produce highly skilled, all-rounder technicians by rotating the apprentices through several teams within the workshops such as electrical, engine rebuild, Kenworth and DAF to give a wide range of experience during their time as apprentices and offering OEM training opportunities.”

Campbell McNaughton, Hallam Truck Centre Service Manager, was next to take the stage, sharing an engaging overview of the Hallam Service Department and its structure. He proudly introduced each of the new Hallam first‑year apprentices, highlighting what inspired their interest in the automotive industry and welcoming them onto the stage.

Keeping the momentum going, Andrew Bramley, Bayswater Truck Centre Service Manager, followed with an overview of Bayswater Truck Centre before introducing the Bayswater first‑year apprentices.

The evening’s Service apprentice introductions were then rounded out by Shaun Brealey, Melbourne North Truck Centre Service Manager, who warmly welcomed and introduced the first‑year apprentices who have recently commenced their journey at Melbourne North Truck Centre.

Ben Richards, Hallam Truck Centre Group Parts Manager was then invited to the stage to introduce the new parts apprentice and gave an overview of the parts program, highlighting the essential skills apprentices develop to support the business and its customers.

Welcome to our First Year Diesel Technician Apprentices

• Thomas Porcianko
• Jordan Smith
• James Brough
• Mia Crunden
• Saif Ismail

Welcome to our First Year Auto Electrician Apprentice

• Jason Daniel

Welcome to our First Year Parts Interpreter Apprentice

• Jarrod Van Straalen

As the night continued, we were extremely proud to recognise our graduating apprentices who have successfully completed their Technician Apprenticeships.

Each Service Manager each spoke on stage proudly about their graduates, sharing their hard work that has led them to this moment. As each graduate came to stage, they were presented with a framed certificate, a crystal trophy as well as a $1,000 bonus.

Congratulations to our Graduating Apprentices:

Inndyah Chenoweth – Hallam Truck Centre
Auto Electrical Technology Apprenticeship

From a young age, Inndyah spent many of her weekends alongside her dad as he serviced trucks for their family business. Being exposed to the industry early on sparked her passion for heavy vehicles and ultimately led her to begin her auto electrical apprenticeship at Hallam Truck Centre in 2022. During her third year, Inndyah’s dedication and skill were recognised when she was selected to compete in the Technician of the Year competition, where she proudly took home the Technician of the Year title. She is currently working towards obtaining her truck license and continuing to develop her expertise with the goal of becoming a senior technician.

Callum Harding – Hallam Truck Centre
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Callum began his diesel mechanic apprenticeship in 2022 after discovering his interest in the trade during VCAL. Since then, his skills have steadily grown, especially in roadside breakdowns - an area where he excels at staying calm, diagnosing issues quickly, and getting customers moving again. Throughout his journey, Callum has earned a reputation as a quiet achiever, his growth reflects not only his technical ability but also his work ethic and the pride he takes in doing the job well.

Nick Skepper – Bayswater Truck Centre
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Nick began his apprenticeship at Bayswater Truck Centre in 2023 and has become a mature, confident technician who isn’t afraid to take on a challenge. As part of the BTC service team, he has steadily broadened his overall knowledge and continues to develop positively. One of Nick’s standout strengths is his ability to work independently and problem solve, which has been evident in several projects involving brand new trucks where precision and attention to detail were critical. With the progress Nick has already made, we are excited to see him continue developing into an exceptional technician.

Darcy Porter – Melbourne North Truck Centre
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Growing up on a farm around trucks, trailers and engines, Darcy developed a passion for the industry early on. He has steadily built strong technical skills, with extensive Cummins engine knowledge and valuable experience as a breakdown technician - where he has proven himself capable under pressure. Always eager to learn and try something new, Darcy continues to expand his skill set. Looking ahead, he hopes to move into a sales role, bringing his hands‑on expertise and industry understanding into the next stage of his career.

Samuel Sesto – Melbourne North Truck Centre
Heavy Commercial Vehicle Diesel Apprenticeship

Samuel joined us as a fourth year apprentice and quickly made a strong impression, earning the Apprentice of the Year award. Shortly after starting, he successfully completed an engine rebuild - an achievement that highlighted both his capability and his readiness to take on complex work. Since then, he has stepped confidently into a breakdown mechanic role, where he continues to demonstrate strong technical skill and steady development. Samuel has also expressed interest in pursuing a dual trade as an auto electrician, showing his drive to further expand his expertise and grow within the industry.

As our formalities drew to a close, staff and guests were encouraged to stick around, mingle for a while longer and enjoy another drink and some more food.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our first Apprentice Appreciation 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!