A fruit preserving company of more than 100 years, SPC is an icon of the Goulburn Valley in general, and Shepparton in particular.
It has been a place of employment for thousands through those years and one of their current employees is a mechanical engineering apprentice, who helps keep the machinery online.
In an occasional series, the News will profile apprentices across the region, and today we get to know Xavier Hutchison a little better.
Name? Xavier Hutchison.
Apprenticeship? I am completing a Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering at GOTAFE.
What business do you work for? SPC.
How many years of your apprenticeship have you completed? About to finish my first year.
What is your previous work background? I worked at McDonald's Mooroopna during school.
Did you grow up in the Goulburn Valley? Yes, I grew up in Tatura.
What do you like about the job? I enjoy the variety of work that I do and the problem solving involved in some of the work I do. I also work with a great group of blokes that are all really good at teaching and developing my skills.
What do you find challenging about the job? At times, breakdown work (when a machine breaks down during production) can be difficult to figure out what is not working correctly with the machine but I also love the challenge that this brings.
Why did you choose the apprenticeship you’re doing? I completed a Certificate II in Engineering while I was in school and loved it so I pursued it as my career.
What are your goals within your trade? Completing my apprenticeship is my first goal and then probably moving higher up into team leader or similar roles.
Coffee, iced coffee or juice first thing in the morning? Iced coffee.
HiLux, Navara, Triton or other? Land Rover Discovery 2.
Shorts in winter, yes or no? Sometimes.
MAFS, Love Island or 730? None of them.