General Manager, Antoine Barnaart, received a warm welcome from APTC STH graduates from Gizo.

He took the time on his recent Solomon Island trip to visit the Western Division and meet with graduates and Gizo Hotel manager Rebecca Smiley. Employer and student tracer study survey forms were distributed, completed and returned, providing valuable information and a perspective from a more remote location in the country.

Antoine spoke at length with both graduates and Rebecca, covering all aspects of their APTC experience, including mobilization, study experience, demobilization and their return home to work and their community.

"It was a bonus that two graduates studied in Samoa, two in Vanuatu and one in Rakiraki Fiji" said Antoine.

On Saturday, they demonstrated their tour guiding, cooking and hospitality skills when they took Antoine on an island hop off Gizo.

"I was very pleased they took me to the tiny Kennedy Island, where John F Kennedy, war hero and later US President, swam to with 11 of his crew after their Patrol Boat 109 was cut in half by a Japanese Destroyer during WW2," said Antoine.

"The sashimi, BBQ of coral trout and sausages, baked bananas and sweet potato cooked on an open wood fire, served with iced beer, confirmed they were well trained APTC graduates and true locals," he added.