01/06/2026
Saturday night had our hearts full. ✨
~ Maxima Finalists at the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards ~
What an honour to be in a room full of South Australia’s most inspiring young people. The energy, the talent, the stories - a powerful reminder of what our next generation is capable of. We left genuinely moved.
On Saturday evening, two of our Maxima apprentices stood among the finalists for the South Australian Skills Commission Outstanding Apprentice Award at the 7NEWS Adelaide Young Achiever Awards gala - sponsored by Fresh 92.7 and held at the Hilton Adelaide - and we couldn’t be prouder of both of them.
🌟 Cooper Chomel, a fourth-year apprentice chef at The Strathmore Hotel, began his journey unemployed, without a car, and with an incomplete SACE. By his third year he’d won Maxima’s Apprentice of the Year; by his fourth, he was a state finalist. A silver medal at a Nestlé culinary competition and an extraordinary personal resilience make him one of the most impressive young people we’ve had the privilege of supporting.
🌟 Jemma Glatz, a Painting and Decorating apprentice hosted by the City of Adelaide, is only in her second year - and already set to represent Australia at the 2026 WorldSkills International Championships in Shanghai. In a trade where women make up fewer than 4% of the qualified workforce nationally, Jemma is a trailblazer in every sense. (Pictured with her TAFE SA trainer, Steve.)
The award went to another deserving finalist - but Cooper and Jemma are winners by every measure that matters.
We also want to acknowledge Marcus Tree from City of Onkaparinga Council, who reached the semi-finals. A brilliant effort.
A sincere thank you to the South Australian Skills Commission and Commissioner Cameron Baker for their continued investment in recognising apprentice excellence across the state - and to host employers Strathmore Hotel and the City of Adelaide for being the partners behind two exceptional apprentices.
Thank you also to the Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP for her inspiring words on the night.
And to everyone who showed up on the night to cheer them on - including Tim Riemann (GM, Strathmore Hotel), Steve (TAFE SA), and the Maxima team - Stacy Thomas (Group Training GM), Jasmine Ottaway (Group Trainjng SA State Manager), Charlie Corbo (Hospitality Field Officer), and Michelle Kelly (Marketing & Relationships Manager), and all the friends, family & supporters of the stars Cooper and Jemma.
These are the moments that remind us why this work matters. 🧡