MOTOR TRADE SALUTES BEST
Kurt Archer was 31 when he restarted his life as an apprentice heavy diesel mechanic.
He was 35 – and absolutely delighted – when he was named Apprentice of the Year at the TIO Automotive Apprentice of the Year Awards in March.
Kurt works at Ken Scott Services in Darwin.
“The company took a bit of a risk taking me on at my age but it’s worked out well,” he says.
Kurt was one of 22 winners at the TIO-sponsored awards night, which is delivered by the Motor Trade Association of SA/NT.
Territory Motor Trade Association Chief Executive Darrell Jacobs says: “As the MTA’s partnership with TIO reaches a decade, we are proud to once again celebrate the achievements of the best and brightest apprentices from across the Territory.
“We look forward to watching their future success in the automotive industry. The Territory is in good hands.”
And TIO Head of Operations Margaret Pratten says: “TIO is proud to spotlight the achievements of automotive apprentices excelling in their chosen fields.
“With an impressive 170 nominations received for the TIO Automotive Apprentice Awards, I am confident these apprentices in training will shape a promising future for the industry.
“As TIO relies on mechanics and auto repairers to deliver exceptional service to our customers, I take pride in celebrating the accomplishments of these apprentices, and hope they inspire others to follow in their footsteps.”
A former Palmerston High School student, Kurt was married at 19, had the first of three children at 20 and bought a property at 21.
He always wanted to be a mechanic but went to work in the well-paid mining industry for 13 years, often as a fly in fly out worker, to provide for his young family and pay the mortgage.
While Kurt was working at Bootu Creek ,he said to himself: “Now is the time” – and applied for an apprenticeship.
He is now in his fourth and final year.
Kurt pays tribute to his wife Karlie for making sacrifices after he took a big pay cut going from mining to mechanics.
“I really like this job,” he says. “Ken Scott Services is a small, family-run business that works on such a wide range of jobs, such as air compressors, marine, cars, everything.”
Company owner Ken Scott says: “He’s a great worker – very focused, which you often don’t get nowadays. He’s willing to learn.”
Ken, who has four apprentices, says it’s extremely difficult to recruit staff.
THE WINNERS
TIO AUTOMOTIVE APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Kurt Archer from Ken Scott Services
MTA SA/NT CHAIR AWARD, SPONSORED BY SPIRIT SUPER DUAL WINNERS
Tom O’Connor from Hastings Deering & Liam Dark from Weirys Diesel & Mechanical Services
INDIGENOUS APPRENTICE AWARD, SPONSORED BY NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT
Loretta Chumbley from GTNT Gemco (Groote Island)
VET DELIVERED IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS SPONSORED BY CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS
George Bufton, Peter Callaghan, William Cottle, Noah Crawford, Trent Hely, Alysha McLeod, Kallum Powell, Amelie Schmidt and Cossette Tonga.
SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICE AWARD, SPONSORED BY NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT
Nicholas Pikos from Paul’s Service Centre
1ST YEAR AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY CAPRICORN
Caleb Staynoff
2ND YEAR AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY CAPRICORN
Amarjit Singh from Al’s Panel Shop
3RD / 4TH YEAR AUTOMOTIVE REFINISHING TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY CAPRICORN
Michael Parvantonis from Palmerston Smash Repairs
1ST YEAR LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY ISACNT
Christopher Potter from Bridge Toyota
2ND YEAR LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY ISACNT
Nakarin Macaulay from Stoddy’s Mobile Mechanic
3RD / 4TH YEAR LIGHT VEHICLE MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY ISACNT
Mark Ponsones from Darwin Motor Group
1ST YEAR AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY I-CAR AUSTRALIA
Carlos Karpathios from Al’s Panel Shop
2ND YEAR AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY I-CAR AUSTRALIA
Sukhjinder Singh from Al’s Panel Shop
3RD / 4TH YEAR AUTOMOTIVE BODY REPAIR TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY I-CAR AUSTRALIA
Nathan Turnbull from Al’s Panel Shop
1ST YEAR HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Ioannis Charamlampis from North Track Machinery
2ND YEAR HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Tyson Gaghan from Central Diesel Services
3RD / 4TH YEAR HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Kurt Archer from Ken Scott Services
1ST YEAR MOBILE PLANT TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Kayden Heikkinen from Hireworks
2ND YEAR MOBILE PLANT TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Ty Baker from McArthur River Mining
3RD / 4TH YEAR MOBILE PLANT TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY MCARTHUR RIVER MINING
Alex Wiggett from Rhino’s Diesel Services
2ND YEAR AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY NAPA AUTO PARTS
Sara Happes from Prestige Automotive NT
3RD / 4TH YEAR AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD, SPONSORED BY NAPA AUTO PARTS
Rohan Slabbert from J & T Auto Electrics and Air Conditioning