Panelbeater on national stage

Bunbury panelbeater Lindsey Scarlett will get the chance to showcase his skills on a national stage after making it through to the Australian Worldskills finals in August.

Mr Scarlett is one of 12 students from Polytechnic West heading to Sydney’s Olympic Park after winning the State heat of the competition earlier this year.

He said it was a big shock to be classed among such a high calibre of panelbeaters.

‘‘I’m actually quite nervous about the next stage of the competition in Sydney,’’ he said. It has been a fantastic month for the 23-year-old who recently completed his apprenticeship in panelbeating.

‘‘I completed my apprenticeship two weeks ago which I was pretty excited about,’’ Mr Scarlett said.

Mr Scarlett, who works at Harvey’s Accident Smash Repairs in Bunbury, admitted he did not always want to get into auto body repair but would not change a thing and hopes to one day own a workshop.

‘‘I love my job, it’s great fun,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s different every single day and there is never one job the same.

‘‘But I never had any idea I wanted to be a panelbeater — if you asked me what I wanted to be during high school I probably would have said a mechanic.’’

Mr Scarlett will receive $2000 to go towards training for the event, with an expert in car-o-liner electronic measuring systems to help him prepare.

The competition will consist of 22 hours of various autobody works over three days.