Ben Hocken

• WORK EXPERIENCE
• At Brent Smith's trailers I adapted fast to the work environment and got along well with staff. I took on the role of helping out making parts for trailers from scratch, that's working on big metal cutting drop saws to sanding parts for the trailers or using huge bending machines. I would often do the odd welding for trailer parts too.
• acquired new skills and applied them to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity
• carried out duties accurately and efficiently
• demonstrated respect to others, friendliness and willingness to help whenever needed
• caught on to tasks quickly and learnt new skills within those tasks

• At Kilmarnock Nurseries I was a positive and quick to learn worker, I would be set tasks of using machines and my hands to pot each plant everyday, potting and handling different variety's of plants, often Azaleas and Camellias, etc. I would take trailer loads of plants on a quad to the nurseries and unstuck them in rows. I learnt a lot about how plants need to be potted and how to help keep the plants in good health. i would also often drive the forklift loader around picking up and putting down pallets of plants for the team.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.

I have a strong work ethic on the farm taking on jobs that have to be done. This can be from moving sheep, fixing fence lines to dagging sheep and driving the digger. With shearing I started a couple months ago only doing weekend jobs when i could, getting the numbers and doing the hard yards as shearing is a very hands on job. I first started from dads shed then as i progressed i was asked to other locals sheds shearing and crutching their sheep doing half days to full days, I manged to get my first 100 sheep shorn in a day after only couple months learning. Its certainly good exercise and a handy skill to know.

As a painter i picked up multiple skills in the trade, from either sanding walls and ceilings to painting doors and walls, in the trade the knowledge you learn is a great skill little things like filling holes with a blade or perfectly rolling a wall are skills that all needs to be learned , having painting knowledge is good to have for future use.