Hannah Dillimore didn’t take the conventional path into the trades. She saw an ad for welders in Antarctica and thought, that’s interesting. She wasn’t ready for the South Pole, but the spark was lit.
The 27-year-old from Melbourne’s South East is now Victoria’s 2026 MBV State Apprentice of the Year, taking home both the overall State title and the Excellence in Trades Award at a ceremony in front of more than 750 guests at Marvel Stadium.
It didn’t come easy. When Hannah decided she wanted to weld for a living, finding someone willing to give her a shot proved harder than expected. She knocked on doors. She persisted. Eventually, NuForm Steel Fabrications took a chance on her, and she trained through Murray Mallee Training Company.
That decision paid off for everyone involved.
The team at NuForm recognised Hannah’s passion early and invested in her potential. The judges who assessed her for the award recognised the same thing: a work ethic that approaches every task without hesitation, resilience that holds up under pressure, and a positivity that lifts everyone around her. She consistently gave 110 per cent on site and beyond it.
Now that her apprenticeship is complete, Hannah hasn’t just moved on. She’s become a valued mentor for others considering a trade career, using her own experience of the early struggles to help the next wave of apprentices find their footing. She’s the kind of person the industry needs more of, not just someone who can do the work, but someone who goes out of their way to show others it’s possible.
“I want to encourage more women to consider an apprenticeship. I hope to become a role model for others and help them realise that, with a bit of determination, you can do anything. I love my job, it can’t be replaced by AI, and I can apply my skills anywhere. I may even finally get to go to Antarctica!”
MBV President Steven Peluso described Hannah as standing “head and shoulders above an exceptionally strong field.” With 699 apprentices nominated across the state and more than 452 receiving Certificates of Excellence this year, that is no small statement.
MBV CEO Michaela Lihou used the night to acknowledge something that often goes unsaid: the employers, training providers, families and friends who walk alongside apprentices through every stage of the journey.
“Every milestone our apprentices celebrate is underpinned by a network of people who believe in them, encourage them, and generously invest their time and care. Without this unwavering support, these moments of pride and success would simply not be possible.”
Hannah’s story is exactly the kind the industry doesn’t hear enough. A young tradesperson who faced early knockbacks, pushed through, found the right employer, and now turns up every day doing work she’s genuinely proud of. And if things go to plan, maybe one day she’ll finally make it to Antarctica.
The construction industry is better when people like Hannah are in it.
Know an apprentice or employer doing something worth celebrating? We want to hear about it. Get in touch with the TGB team.
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