After 34 years of loyal service, founding chairman and director of Hunter Valley Training Company (HVTC), The Hon. Milton Morris AO, is retiring from executive duties.

Milton announced his plans to step down at HVTC’s Annual General meeting held in Sydney this week. In recognition of his significant contribution he was appointed as the organisation’s inaugural Patron. HVTC Chairman Bob Cameron described Milton’s contribution as outstanding.

“Milton Morris has served this organisation above and beyond, including 30 years as Chairman and the past four as a director,” Bob said.

“It is with heartfelt appreciation that we thank him for all that he has done for the Company and to help skill our nation and we wish him well.”

In 1981, the then Labor Government approached the former NSW Liberal local MP and Minister for Transport to be the Chairman of a new group training organisation in partnership with industry and unions. Its role was to help reduce looming skills shortages and ensure local people were trained up to take jobs that were being filled by imported labour from the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

One of the not for profit organisation’s first projects was to provide skilled people to build and operate the new Bayswater Power station. Since then, HVTC has provided employment opportunities and training for more than 20,000 apprentices and trainees.

“We were only supposed to exist for a certain timeframe but we are still going, employing and training around 900 apprentices and trainees a year in partnership with about 400 host employers, all managed from our ten regional offices across NSW,” Milton said.

“My work at HVTC has been a lifelong passion. To know that I have played a small part in skilling young people and opening career paths has been both an honour and a privilege.”

Milton’s outstanding contribution was also recognised during last year’s official opening of the HVTC Skills Centre, attended by the then Minister for Education Adrian Piccoli MP, when the organisation’s Administration Building at its Rutherford headquarters was named after him.

Coinciding with Milton’s departure the Board officially welcomed the appointment of new director and former Hunter TAFE chief, Phil Cox. Phil has extensive experience in the tertiary and VET sector spanning 40 years.

“We are delighted to be working with Phil as his expertise in strategic planning, training and education brings valuable knowledge and experience to our Board,” Bob said.

Image | HVTC Chairman Bob Cameron and Patron Milton Morris