State's Top Apprentice In Tune With Engines

28 August 1998

Balgownie's Daniel Ford has cleaned up at an awards night hosted by one of society's necessarily dirtiest industries.

The 23-year-old was this week named NSW heavy motor vehicle apprentice of the year.

The honour was topped only by news that industry leaders had voted him most outstanding NSW apprentice of all motor vehicle repair trades.

``I love building engines," Mr Ford said yesterday, up to his elbows in grease.

``Stripping them down, cleaning them up and getting them working again gives you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

``It trains your mind for taking apart other things and teaches you patience".

He hoped the awards, presented on Wednesday at a Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Council function in Sydney, would build on the good reputation of his new business.

The enterprising young mechanic fulfilled a life-long ambition when he opened his Illawarra Diesel Servicing shop just months after completing a four-year apprenticeship with a Sydney firm.

``I wanted to stay in Wollongong and work for myself," he said. ``I aim to stay small and hopefully pass it down to my family some day".

Business is already booming for the Japanese engine specialist who has secured a major subcontracting deal with his previous employer, National Trucks Spares.

He hopes to put on an apprentice of his own in the next two years; within 10 years he aims to employ a staff of five.

To keep costs down for customers, Mr Ford has set up shop in the same building as his mate Nathan Harriman, a builder.

It was the only building in Jardine St, Fairy Meadow, spared from last weeks floods.

Mr Ford was top apprentice in his first and second years of training at Illawarra TAFE's Shellharbour campus.

He received the Heggies Bulk Haul award for outstanding achievement and an academic achievement award at his TAFE graduation ceremony last year.


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