Two OG Roberts Mount Gambier staff recently showcased their skills at the Holden Technicians Guild Awards.
The awards are a skills-based test for Holden technicians and Senior Technician Patrick Hughes made it to the top two in the state regional final and finished seventh in the national grand final and Workshop Foreman Daryl Watson also attended the regional final.
“There were another three guys that qualified for the regional final as well that could not go, so as a dealership we were the best in the state as far as how many people we had,” Mr Watson said.
The regional final involved two technical tests where there were problems built into the cars and participants were scored on various factors such as if they were using the correct procedures and using the service information.
“You get points for doing everything right, so Patrick did really well there and got really high points,” Mr Watson said.
“I was pretty nervous going into it (the grand final) and I just tried to do as best I could and I think most people that came higher than me had been there before as well, so if you go a few times you know what’s going on and it takes the pressure off a little bit,” Mr Hughes said.
“You have got examiners looking over your shoulder watching what you are doing and they have got their notepads out writing down what documents you are using and all that sort of stuff, making sure you are using the right tools,” Mr Watson said.
Mr Hughes said the tests were five hours in length and afterwards participants were taken on a tour of the Walkinshaw factory where Silverados were converted from left-hand drive to right-hand drive.
Mr Hughes believed something that set them apart from others to be nominated for the awards was working in a regional area.
“Being in a regional area you see a lot more diversity I reckon, instead of just being the same thing over and over again in a major area,” Mr Hughes said.
“We have seen so many other little issues and things like that that other people might not see, because that is just in the city whereas we have got farmers and things like that who might be a bit rougher on cars.”
“It is different in the city as well, there might be half a dozen dealers within a 20km radius, so if one dealer does not fix it, it goes to the next one whereas there is nowhere left to go here so we have to fix it, so I think that helps,” Mr Watson said.
Mr Hughes was Mr Watson’s apprentice and he has now been qualified for two years and Mr Watson has worked at OGR for 26 years.
Mr Hughes said he was thankful for Mr Watson teaching him over the years, who he said had not been shy in showing him tricks of the trade.
“I am proud of Patrick because I am responsible for where he is at as well, so he is really keen and he has been learning from me for the past six years,” Mr Watson said.
“Anything that comes through the door basically he can take on, I am there to give him a hand if he needs it, but I am confident that he can take over doing the majority of that sort of stuff.”
