After two tours of Afghanistan and a tour of the Solomon Islands, he left the army when he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Growing up on a small rural property at Tintinhull, he developed a love for horticulture. It was a passion he rediscovered after leaving the army, leading him on a new career path with Tamworth Regional Council.

Five years ago he began an apprenticeship with the council and a Certificate III in Parks and Gardens at TAFE NSW, and breezed through the training.

Being on council's parks and gardens crew is a role he's immensely proud of, and one he describes as "incredibly rewarding".

"I love being in the green space every day and coming down here," he told the Leader. "It gives us a nice feeling that we're providing something for the community."

Recently, he beat a field of about 84 nominees and nine finalists to be named the New England Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 NSW Training Awards.

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Now, he is a finalist for the NSW Training Awards Apprentice of the Year. The award is a People's Choice category, and the community can vote for him to win.

If he were to take the title, it would be a significant achievement for the young father who said it "represents a bit for our crew and the hard work we do down here".

"For me personally, it would be a big achievement since getting out of the army and moving on and building a meaningful life," he said.

"It would mean a bit for me to show my kids that you can chase your dreams and be happy in your work. I really think I've come a long way and it would mean a lot for me and my family.

"Everyone I've worked with over my time here has influenced me, helped me along the way and given me so much, and it would be a good way to give back to the council for putting me through an apprenticeship."

With drought, bushfires, and now COVID, Mr Lye believes the city's green spaces are more important now than ever, with more people getting out of their homes to exercise in public spaces.

At the 2019 Training Awards, another member of the council's parks and gardens crew, Matthew Newell, won the New England Apprentice of the Year.

For Mr Lye to win it two years later is something that made the whole team proud, his supervisor Adam Jones said.

"For Ben to now make the top six finalists, which we've never had, is a really good reflection of Ben as a person and his work ethic and the crew that gets behind him every day," he said.

"We're absolutely stoked to have Ben in the position he's in, he's earned that."

You can vote for Ben to win by clicking here.

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