He will be presented by Steve Liebman, former host of the Today Show, to the Federal Minister for Vocational and Technical Education Minister assisting the Prime Minister, Gary Hardgrave, as a finalist in the NSW Group Training Association Awards for 2005.

Will is a Certificate II Hospitality Operations trainee at Pat's Place cafÈ in Auckland Street, Bega.

His nomination for the award was written by training company Sertec's group training staff, Melinda Michael and Sue White and submitted it to the independent judging panel in Sydney.

A host of family, friends, Sertec and Workability staff will also attend the function to support Will.

The group will include Karen Kennedy and Michelle Spindler, the proprietors of Pat's Place, who are both full of praise for Will.

They say his work ethic, manner and commitment are exemplary.

Sertec was notified last week that Will was a finalist and immediately contacted Peter Harvey of Workability who was delighted with Will's success.

Peter has a long association with Will and his family and extended his congratulations to the delighted nominee.

Workability chief executive officer, Virginia Fitzclarence, is also thrilled with Will's success.

Images of Will at work will be screened at the function in the Shangri La Hotel in Sydney.

Last year Fred Wiedeman of Bega was the outright winner of the NSW Trainee of the Year Award in the trainee with a disability category.

"Fred has been a fantastic ambassador for New Apprenticeships," Sertec chief executive officer, Marea Moulton said this week.

She has arranged for Fred to travel to Sydney to attend this year's award presentations.

"The town of Bega is fantastically supportive and we are honoured to be involved with such enthusiastic trainees, their host employers and their families," she said.