australia: An education award that has been running in Australia for 11 years and is sponsored by Filterfab has been won this year by Stephen Carroll.

He has won a five-week, around-the-world study trip. First stop was the Texcare Asia exhibition in Hong Kong, following which Mr Carroll was due to visit Germany, France, the UK and the USA. He will see a variety of companies including Jensen, Kannegiesser, Severnside Fabrics, Milliken, Milnor and HJ Weir, as well as visiting the Disney’s laundry in California.

Mr Carroll said: “The trip is a great opportunity to see the advances made in the industry and take back to Australia some of those advances.” His particular areas of interest are marketing of the industry and computer and machinery innovation.

The award is open to any Australian citizen under the age of 40 that has been in a position of responsibility in the industry for four years or more. Mr Carroll, who sucessfully came through heats held in each state, is production manager at Spotless Group in Abbotsford, Victoria.