Madison returns home to pursue hospitality dream
You know that moment, in the years following school graduation, when you finally pinpoint a career to match your passions?
Madison Walton has had that moment.
She has returned home to the Bringalbert family farm, after four years away, and started working as a hotel services assistant at Grampians Health Edenhope.
“My main goal, career wise, is hospitality,” she said.
“One day, a long way into the future, I would hopefully move up to the chef position here; I know it will take a lot of work and I’m ready for that. Eventually I’d love to open my own café, but that’s years and years down the track.”
Madison credits her Edenhope College teacher, Annabel Hawkins, with sparking a passion for food preparation and service.
“One of my electives at school was hospitality and we got to do some big events, after school hours,” she said.
“Mrs Hawkins was really supportive of me, and I think that’s where I started thinking about hospitality as a career.
“One of my highlights was waitressing and helping with food preparation at the Year 11/12 formal.”
The revelation came after Madison tried an agriculture apprenticeship, helping out on the family farm and working at Hungry Jacks.
“I used to help out with all the crutching and shearing and day-to-day stuff like putting up fences,” she said.
“My parents know, farming isn’t my passion.”
She hasn’t been at Grampians Health Edenhope long, but the team has welcomed Madison with open arms and fanned her hospitality dream.
“It’s a great team to work with and I have a lot of support here,” she said. “I’ve done lots of training, with savoury and sweet foods, but am mainly on salads and sandwiches to start.
“My parents have noticed an improvement at home too.”
When she’s not at work, Madison can be found on the golf course, honing her photography or “spoiling my fur baby to death”.
And despite working full-time, she still enjoys cooking dinner at home.
“If I had to explain it, it’s that I like bringing a smile to people’s faces with my cooking,” she said.
Welcome to the team Madison, we hope it’s the first step toward a long and fruitful career in hospitality.
