Caboolture apprentice wins prestigious award

A Caboolture apprentice saw doctor has been honoured with the 2023 Camco Best Teamwork and Communication Award at the TAFE NSW Saw Technology Awards.

Daniel McNabb, 20, successfully applied for an apprenticeship with AKD Caboolture Sawmill after becoming enamoured with the art of the profession during work experience at the same sawmill while still at Morayfield High School.

Shortly after being accepted into the apprenticeship, Daniel enrolled in a Certificate III in Saw Technology at TAFE NSW Tumut.

TAFE NSW is one of two forestry training providers in Australia, giving apprentice saw doctors the opportunity to forge long careers in the industry.

“Not many people know about saw doctoring, but they’re fascinated when I explain what we do,” Daniel says.

“I get so much pride out of the fact that my work is helping keep the mill running. I also like the fact saw doctors are in such demand, I’ve got pretty much guaranteed work for life.”

Saw doctors are an irreplaceable part of the timber industry, as they repair, set and sharpen saw blades for timber production.

“I loved that it was hands-on, whether it’s manually hammering a saw, tig welding a crack on a saw or programming a CNC machine,” Daniel says.

Daniel says he was honoured to win the award and couldn’t thank TAFE NSW enough for the quality of their training.

“There were so many good operators in my class, I feel privileged to be singled out like this,” Daniel says.

“My TAFE NSW training was exceptional, and the teachers were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about passing on their knowledge.”