A 16-year-old boy who drowned at Lake Mulwala on Sunday is being remembered as a “talented” and “dedicated” engineering student.
Key points:
- Fellow students have remembered Jack Bird as a “passionate” student
- The 16-year-old died after a boat he was in capsized
- Jack has won an award for his studies recently
Jack Bird was fishing with a friend when their tinny capsized on the Shepparton waterway, throwing them overboard.
A witness was able to help the other boy to shore.
A multi-agency search for Jack had been ongoing since Sunday and on Thursday night his body was recovered by police.
A spokesperson at GOTAFE, where Jack was studying, said the event had deeply saddened staff and students.
“Our thoughts are with Jack’s family, friends, classmates, trainers and workmates during this incredibly difficult time,” the spokesperson said.
“In his time with us, Jack showed incredible talent and passion for engineering.
“The 16-year-old apprentice developed an interest in engineering during work experience at Goulburn Valley Engineering Works and began a Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering at GOTAFE.”
Jack recently won a gold medal at the WorldSkills Regional Turning Competition despite only having six months of experience.
“Jack’s friends and colleagues have described him as an exemplary student with ambition, drive and dedication to his craft,” the spokesperson said.
‘Hard-working bloke’
Friends and colleagues have also taken to social media.
One man who worked with Jack said he “was always a hard working bloke with a good attitude”.
“I feel for his family, they raised him right,” he said.
Another man recalled memories of his own apprenticeship years ago, when he got to know Jack’s father and grandfather.
Reminiscing on the times they would bring the teen into the workshop he said it was “absolutely gut wrenching that his life is over so soo..”
“[Twelve] years ago he was that 4-year-old boy coming into the workshop with his dad, to the place that would one day kick off his career,” the man wrote
“Not even into the second year of his apprenticeship yet and he’s already been winning WorldSkills awards. The skills he would learn there would take him above and beyond for sure.”
