CUT-ABOVE: Allora Butchery’s Justin Wade has won the South-West Queensland WorldSkills butchery competition and will compete at the national finals in Melbourne next year.
CUT-ABOVE: Allora Butchery’s Justin Wade has won the South-West Queensland WorldSkills butchery competition and will compete at the national finals in Melbourne next year. Jayden Brown

Justin carves it up with freestyle chicken at butcher comp

AFTER missing his shot at taking out the National WorldSkills title in 2013, Allora butcher Justin Wade is on the road to redemption.

Armed with his butcher's knives and passion for his job, the 21-year-old blitzed the WorldSkills butchery competition - taking out the regional title for the second time.

The win means the Allora Butchery employee will finally get to compete in the national finals in Melbourne next year.

Mr Wade said he was meant to go to the national finals after his last win, but personal circumstances got in the way.

"It's good to win it (the regionals) a second time," he said.

"I put a bit of pressure on myself leading into the competition."

The regional competition saw seven butchers from Toowoomba and Warwick test their skills for the judges.

For six hours the young butcher had his every move watched by the judges in the intense competition.

"We were given six hours to do a lamb and a chicken, with set instructions to follow and some freestyle value adding," he said.

"We were judged on personal presentation, knife skills, hygiene and evenness of cutting thickness."

For Mr Wade, the success came down to hard work and a passion for his job.

"You have to put passion and effort into it," he said.

"I've had great training and experience from (butchery owner) Grant (Lollback).

"I've been getting out and looking at other butcher shops as well."

The former Clifton High School student will be one of four Queenslanders vying for the title.



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