Shané Meyer is the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month for December 2024.
The 21-year-old is in the third year of her automotive refinishing technology (spray painting) apprenticeship and works at McClure Refinishing in Townsville. She is, according to her employer, an outstanding student and someone who, ‘. . . is an extremely passionate and driven apprentice who displays all of the qualities an employer could ask from someone in the team.’
Shané’s journey to becoming a painting apprentice started when she got a part-time job at a local Autobarn store. At the time, she was still at school and unsure what direction to take and what career lay ahead of her, but the team at Autobarn were, like Shané, all interested in cars, and conversations about the industry made her realise that spray painting was something she would like to explore.
“Talking to the boys there helped me figure out what I wanted to do,” said Shané. “One of my colleagues there had been a spray painter and panel beater dual-trade, and he showed me some of the work he had done and all the work that he used to do, and I really enjoyed seeing those jobs go from start to finish.
“I thought if I am going to work on cars, I should do something that makes them look pretty!”
Once Shané had finished school, she started her search for a painting apprenticeship, eventually taking a position at a truck shop. Working on trucks enabled her to develop some broad painting skills and confirm that this was career in which she really wanted to excel. To develop her skills further and be exposed to more detailed work, Shané applied to work at McClure Refinishing.
It was a decision that has paid off handsomely. McClure offers a broad range of body repair and painting services, including complete resprays, custom paintwork, and restorations, and encourages and supports staff to train and learn and develop their skills. That means Shané has done plenty of interesting work already.
“The boss has had me doing a heap of different things. Even in my off time, if there is something I want to learn, he’ll teach me,” she said. “So I have done some custom jobs, line work, three-layer pearls, direct gloss. It’s great to be able to do that work. They treat me very well here!”
Being challenged and testing herself is one thing, but it is very rewarding, said Shané, seeing cars completed and returned to a factory-like finish.
“We do have a lot of resprays where its like a rusty old car, all the work gets put into it and it comes out looking brand new. That is very satisfying to see,” she said.
As she closes in on completing her trade, Shané’s thoughts about her career revolve around just being better and improving all the time – admirable goals indeed. “I’d love to stay with McClure. They have been so accommodating to me, taught me so much,” she said. “And I want to train and learn more, continue to make the customers happy, and be the best I can be.”
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (February 2025)
20 February 2025
