Calling time on his career as a mechanic that spans nearly 50 years, Smallbones mechanic Robbie Maw. Photo Sue NewmanFor more than 40 years Robbie Maw has made a living fixing big motors; from Monday he’ll be trading down and turning his mechanical skills to fixing some of the smallest motors around.

The long serving Smallbones Isuzu mechanic signed off yesterday after 42 years with that company and almost 50 years in the industry; on Monday he starts a new job, fixing sewing machines in wife Rachel’s quilting shop.

Robbie did his time with Mid Canterbury Transport, leaving school and picking up a mechanics’ apprenticeship.

Eight years later he headed overseas and on his return home saw a job opportunity at Smallbones.

He applied, won the job and suddenly 42 years have been logged, he said.

In all of those years, Robbie said he’s never regretted signing on with the company – great vehicles, great workmates and a great company to work for, he said.

In the early days TK and J1 Bedford trucks were his speciality.

That was in the day when mechanics were a one-man team – from diagnosis to fixing the problem.

“Today it’s all quite different, totally different, now you have to be good with computers and electronics.

“The computers help with the diagnosis but you still need the knowledge to fix the problem,” he said.

Because Smallbones has always held a new vehicle franchise, apart from elderly farm trucks, most of the vehicles through the workshop were relatively modern, Robbie said.

As a trade, being a mechanic takes a lot of beating, he said, but for too long the trades in general fell out of favour in schools and that is still showing up in the small numbers of school leavers wanting to sign on.

The scarcity of qualified mechanics sees many companies forced to bring in qualified staff from overseas.

He looks back fondly on the days of the big engine Holden Kingswoods and Belmonts, but says that unlike many mechanics, he’s never really been a car enthusiast.

Over the years he’s always been too busy with other commitments, to be an after hours tinkerer.

In saying that, Robbie said, he has a 36 Chev stored away in pieces in the garage waiting for the day when he has time to restore it.

“It’s pretty rough at the moment.

“I’ve had it for 20 odd years and rebuilding it keeps getting put back,” he said.

He’s been a volunteer firefighter for 35 years and said that job takes a fair slice of time, particularly when competition work is involved.

It’s time he willingly gives.

“It becomes a big part of your life.”

His later years in the workshop have been spent largely on Certificate of Fitness work with big trucks.

He says he’d always promised himself he’d retire the first winter after he turned 65.

There has to be a point where you call time on spending your working day in a chilly workshop, he said.

There are few on the workshop floor with his years of service, but remembers director Bob Grant was already on staff when he joined – as the office junior.

Come Monday morning Robbie will turn up for work at Annie’s Country Quilts and will learn the intricacies of fixing sewing machines.

He hopes his wife will put him on the payroll; if not, he’s anticipating a bit of pocket money might come his way.

And, he admits, he won’t be severing all ties with Smallbones.

When he signed off as a full time employee, he signed on as a casual.

“If they get stuck, I’ll come back and help out.”

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 1 July 2017