08/04/11

PRIME MINISTER EXTENDS HER HOSPITALITY TO CHALLENGER STUDENTS

It’s not often that those in the hospitality and service industry receive praise from the very top.

But for seventeen Challenger Institute of Technology hospitality students and staff, their well deserved recognition came from the Prime Minister herself.

Challenger hospitality and tourism students and staff had the rare pleasure of catering for and serving at Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s community cabinet meeting and public forum held last month at South Fremantle Senior High School.

Six diploma student cooks prepped in the days leading up to the event by creating a gourmet selection of canapés including handmade sandwiches, savoury pastries, sweet buns and cookies.

Markus Beuke, Program Manager of Challenger’s Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre said the students and lecturers worked extremely hard to make sure everything was perfect for the event.

“We were catering for approximately 450 guests, so it was important to have a good selection of quality canapés prepared as well as enough food to feed everyone,” Markus said.

“Everything on the menu was handmade by the cookery students right down to the bread being baked and the fruit being cut into equal portions.

“Our food & beverage and events students who worked as servers at the forum were very efficient and went out of their way to ensure guests were looked after. I received many comments on the professionalism and great work ethic of the student and staff volunteers,” Markus continued.

“It was a lovely surprise and honour to be personally thanked by Prime Minister Gillard who was genuinely appreciative of the hard work of our students and staff.”

“The students got a real buzz out of it also, which is really important for their confidence moving forward in their studies and careers in this industry.”