APPRENTICE jeweller from Meeniyan, Lily-Grace Toohill was awarded a Gold Medal in Jewellery and Best of Nation for being the higher performing competitor across all categories, at this year’s National Championships and Skills Show.
This WorldSkills event has been going since 1981 and is Australia’s largest, inviting young people from across the nation to showcase their talent across multiple fields.
The event was held in Brisbane and was attended by more than 35,000 people.
After qualifying with a second-place finish in the regional competition last year, Lily-Grace went head-to-head with over 600 competitors; across more than 60 skills categories, ranging from cyber security and cabinetmaking to cookery, floristry and plumbing.
Over three days Lily-Grace designed part of and then put together a three-module pendant piece, created from 18-Karat yellow gold. 
“We didn't actually know what piece we were getting. We got it an hour prior to the actual competition, and we just had to wing it really,” she explained.
Lily-Grace commented that the most challenging thing about the competition was that she didn't know how to prepare, because they didn't know what they would be working on.
Hoping to make the top three in the jewellery section, Lily-Grace was very surprised initially when she won the Gold Medal and when she was awarded Best in Nation…
“Oh, that was shocking. I didn't even know that was an award. And then they called my name, and I was like, whoa!”
Creating something out of raw materials is the element of jewellery making that Lily-Grace loves and working with gold on a daily basis gave her the foundation for success, along with true dedication, countless hours of hard work and a remarkably innate creativity.
“It was a good experience,” she said, and with true humility added, 
“It means I'm all right at doing some things.”
The International World Skills competition 2026 will be held in Shanghai and Lily-Grace is hoping to go, but may be limited due to an age barrier, and will find out in due course. 
Lacey Jewellery Studio & Gallery in Meeniyan, where Lily-Grace is just about to be signed off on the completion of her apprenticeship stated,
“We are so incredibly proud of Lily-Grace for all her hard work. She is a very talented jeweller, a beautiful person and a joy to have in our business.”