Albany Air’s Sean van der Brugge has taken out a major scholarship award for a refrigeration and air-conditioning apprentice at the annual industry awards, recognising a year of hard work and dedication.

Mr van de Brugge won WA apprentice of the year last year and went back-to-back at this year’s awards, taking home the Airefrig Australia scholarship award.

The scholarship is awarded each year to an apprentice who is dedicated to advancing their skills in the industry, and is designed to provide a financial backing to encourage them to continue expanding their knowledge with further training.

Mr van de Brugge received the award at Optus Stadium on September 9 at the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating’s annual WA members’ lunch and awards ceremony.

Mr van de Brugge was originally an electrician, but has spent the past two years becoming a qualified dual tradesman in refrigeration and air-conditioning with Albany Air.

“It’s been pretty cool; it sort of came out of nowhere but it’s a nice feeling to be recognised,” he said.

“I guess the South Metro TAFE put my name up and the awards people obviously came to the same kind of agreement, so it’s pretty awesome.”

Mr van der Brugge started his electrical apprenticeship with Castlehow Electrical Services in Albany after completing Year 10 work experience there while he was at school.

He moved to Canada for a stint, but eventually returned to Albany with his partner and young family.

“I was actually getting my air-conditioner sorted at my house, and it got me thinking about possibly doing a dual trade,” he said.

“My dad actually works at Albany Air as well, so he helped me start talking to them, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“In the end, I took it on because electrical is a great trade but it does tend to get repetitive.

“One of the things I really like is breakdown and fault finding; it’s like a puzzle and it’s very fun to do.

“In the electrical industry, that niche is very small, and there’s not many options to do that kind of work in Albany especially, but with refrigeration and air-conditioning, there is a lot more opportunity for that kind of thing.”