THERE were smiles all round as more than 100 people graduated from The Salvation Army Tom Quinn Community Centre yesterday.

Hundreds of people turned out for the graduation ceremony, which marked the achievements of Bundaberg region jobseekers.

A total of 131 participants in job preparation programs run through the Salvation Army Tom Quinn Community Centre were honoured at an awards ceremony in the centre’s community gardens in Killer Street.

Tom Quinn Centre community services manager Tom Osborne said of the 131 graduates, 30% already had found jobs and a further 10% had gone on to further training.

“What is so great about this training is that so many participants have gained jobs or are now taking further training,” he said.

“They received practical, on-the-job training in our onsite facilities, such as our commercial kitchen and garden cafe, our retail shop or family stores, and our nurseries and gardens.”

As well as retail, horticulture and hospitality, accredited training is available in business, information technology, furniture making and asset management.

New courses start in January, and more details are available by calling the centre on 4153 3557 Monday to Friday.