Getting Back in Gear
1 July 2008
It had been a long time between oil changes for Kangan Batman TAFE student Jim Adams when he entered the Auto Electrical course stream in January this year.
Following his retirement in 1998 - from a career which began as an auto apprentice and evolved into a senior position in purchasing at Caterpillar - Jim went back to his roots and rediscovered a talent for auto electrical/mechanical servicing.
"I started my motor mechanic apprenticeship in the 1950s, and worked for a few years in the field before changing career focus and shifting to the Caterpillar purchasing department as a purchasing clerk," Jim said.
"Over the years, the role evolved and by the time I retired, I was the senior buyer at Caterpillar - although I don't know if that's because I had been there the longest, or simply because I was the oldest!"
Since his retirement, Jim found he was able to devote more time to his horses, which were kept at his daughter's farm near Ballarat, competing in novelty riding events along the way. A hip replacement several years ago again created the need for a change of focus, and with more spare time on his hands, Jim dusted off his mechanic skills and got to work fixing some of the machinery around the farm.
With the advances in motor mechanics over the years, there were some projects Jim didn't have the knowledge to complete.
"I misdiagnosed a few electrical problems which took time and cost a bit of money, so when I received a Kangan Batman TAFE short courses brochure in the mail one year, I decided to apply for two programs - an auto electrical course and a spray painting course," he said.
"Unfortunately, due to low interest, the courses didn't get off the ground that first time around.
"After applying each year for a few years, I said to myself, right - this is going to happen for me. I called Joe Farrugia in the Auto Electrical area and after discussing it with him, it was decided I could sit in the class with current apprentices.
"In the end we agreed that I could sit in class with the current apprentices, so I started in January this year, and have just finished my modules."
Jim covered a range of study modules over the past six months including repairing single circuits, starter motors, alternators, ignition systems and fuel injection.
"The teachers were really instrumental in my training. They were just superb - couldn't fault them on anything. They really know their trade and went to so much trouble to make sure I was on track," Jim said.
"It became fun again to work with motors."
Jim paid tribute to the teaching staff at the Richmond campus - including Joe Farrugia ("who never gets angry"), David Cocks, Chris Crean, Jim Eccles and Andrew Robson - and has already registered interest for a spray painting course set to start in August to help him build the skills he needs to prepare his horsefloat for sale.
He is also planning to repair a farm ute and, aside from the financial savings to be made from doing the work himself, the sense of self-achievement also rates highly on his motivation for further study.
"I've been learning all my life, and have completed various courses throughout the years at Essendon, like introductions to accounting, law, economics and report writing - and I think I passed them all," Jim said.
"Not one of the courses has been a fizzer. Lifelong learning is something I definitely encourage others to consider."
