Local commercial cookery student Jonathon O’Connor (pictured) from TAFE NSW Grafton will leave on February 23 for a career experience of a lifetime, joining 31 other finalists from around Australia for a four-day cooking showcase in the Proud To Be A Chef program.

Each finalist will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Melbourne followed by Tasmania to participate in the long-standing annual event, where they will be challenged to create their own special dish in a bid to win a $7,500 scholarship main prize.

Six of the other 31 finalists are TAFE NSW students hailing from Ryde, Campbelltown and Baulkham Hills.