Event gives girls a go at power generation
Cromwell College students Georgia Lapthorne and Ayla Deuchrass, operate an underwater drone and communicate with their fellow students to retrieve as many orange pipes from the water as possible. PHOTOS: ELLA JENKINS
Nearly two dozen year 10 and 11 high school students braved the cold to get a taste of working in the electricity generation industry at the Girls With Hi-Viz event held at Clyde Power Station yesterday.
The high school students, who came from as far as Invercargill, were able to get hands-on experience with some of the equipment used on the job in the industry.
The event was part of the Girls With Hi-Viz programme centred around trades in the infrastructure industry, with feedback from females already in those roles. Southland students visited Manapouri power station earlier this month.
Yesterday, students were able to try operating large roof-mounted cranes from their cabs high above the ground, as well as use a special underwater drone in a challenge to collect as many items from the water as possible.
As well as getting hands-on experience, the students took part in a tour of the dam, and learned about how it was built and some of the features installed to protect it in the event of an earthquake or flood.
Cromwell College student Ruby Cookson said she found the event interesting and was excited to see what was on offer working in the electricity generation industry.
Operating the crane was the highlight of her day, but she said it was a bit scary as it was high up.
Students tour the dam and power generation facilities in Clyde.
Cromwell College pathways manager Jenna Faulkner said the beauty of the event was the girls could see the different pathways in the trades, especially in Clyde.
Connexis Infrastructure Training customer service and accounts manager Stephen Griffiths said the organisation set up the Girls With Hi-Viz programme to encourage women to get into industries such as electricity generation.
The programme had been running in Central Otago for years and was well-received by students, teachers and industry.
Mr Griffiths believed initiatives like Girls With Hi-Viz had helped get more women into the electricity generation industry.
"Girls have attended these events and have later ended up working in the industry," he said
Central Otago District Mayor Tamah Alley was at the event for the first time, observing the students as they took part in the activities.
"It's awesome to see careers in the trades showcased to women," she said.
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