Eli Taylor is a proud Waanyi and Ganggalidda man from Doomadgee in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a very remote location in northwest Queensland. With no secondary school options, Eli moved to Townsville to stay at NRL Cowboys House, which provides supported accommodation, quality secondary education opportunities and transitional support from school to workplaces for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from some of North Queensland’s most remote and educationally disadvantaged communities.
As Townsville is over 1,000 km from Eli’s home, he spends more than 40 weeks each year away from his family, which would be very challenging for anyone at such a young age. Eli’s family has a long history in the automotive sector, so with the help of the NRL Cowboys Foundation he joined the AMA Group’s Gemini Townsville repair facility in 2019 as a Year 11 school-based apprentice. He moved to a full-time apprenticeship once he graduated Year 12.
Antonio Winterstein, career transitions officer at the NRL Cowboys House said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to witness Eli’s development from a shy year 11 student back in 2019, to the young man who inspires many of his peers at the NRL Cowboys House and back home in Doomadgee. Eli’s rise from a work experience student with AMA Group to an established apprentice has enhanced the interest of many students who wish to follow in his footsteps. Leadership is demonstrated in many forms, and Eli leads by his actions.”
Eli used his apprenticeship wages to help his family and buy gifts for them: “It is always about what Eli is going to do for his family,” said Martin Dickinson, Eli’s first manager at AMA Group and now area manager for North Queensland. “He has been fully committed since day one, is always respectful, and has progressed rapidly to the point where he is now able to do all the main basics of a tradesman, with two years still left in his apprenticeship.”
Eli’s new manager, Phil Fairweather, centre manager at Gemini Townsville, and his trades mentor Shayne Walsh also speak very highly of Eli’s positive attitude and willingness to learn. “As well as being a great asset at Gemini, Eli is already a role model for next year’s graduates from the NRL Cowboys House, which includes his younger brother Chad, who has also commenced an apprenticeship with AMA Group,” said Fairweather.
Eli’s inspiration is to set an example for the youth of his community back in Doomadgee and demonstrate what can be achieved by setting clear goals and working hard. His message to others as they enter apprenticeships is: “When you go into work, heads up, ears out! Always listen to your supervisors and the other workers – and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.”
Eli’s long-term dream is to return to Doomadgee and start his own repair business, repairing vehicles in the local community. “I am confident that Eli will progress within our organisation,” concluded Dickinson. “As he prepares to become a business owner himself, I have no doubt he will achieve his dream.”
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