Wide array of jobs on show

FINE ART: Turakina Maori Girls' College student Lani Hirini gets instruction from chef Dean Wong at the Careers Expo yesterday.PHOTO/ BEVAN CONLEY

Wanganui is sweet and a great place to live, so stay at home to work and play.

That was the message to Year 12 and 13 students who attended the Careers Expo in the War Memorial Centre yesterday where 55 exhibitors showed what they could offer school leavers.

Wanganui District Council economic development manager Alan MacGibbon was there to tell the Students of Wanganui in Employment, Education and Training (SWEET) the benefits of staying in Wanganui once they left school.

Wanganui Collegiate head of commerce Mark Wilson said the school would be looking at where the job shortages were in Wanganui to try to match them with skilled workers, and surveying how many jobs were coming up.

Wanganui High School Gateway teacher Peter Reid said he worked at the freezing works when he was at school, but knew he wanted something more.

So he went to university, got a degree in commerce and accounting and spent years teaching overseas.

A love of Kiwi kids drew him back to Wanganui High School to the Gateway programme, which he said, gave those students a foot in the door to a job.

"You are smart, energetic and talented and the best people in the world."

Chef Dean Wong, from the Chefs Association, displayed the fine art of cooking. He said chefs could train on the job before heading off overseas for experience in the kitchens of the world.