Harrison McLean is the MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month for September 2024.
The 25-year-old is about to finish the third year of his light vehicle apprenticeship at Hammond 4WD Centre Tyres & More in Capalaba, a few miles south-east of Brisbane.
Harrison joined Hammond 4WD at the beginning of 2022 and though, at age 22, he came later than many to an automotive apprenticeship, working in the industry had always been something he had wanted to pursue.
“I was working in civil construction working as a heavy machinery operator and pipe layer for storm water, sewer and water connections and so on,” said Harrison. “I really wasn’t enjoying it, and in my own time I was always working on cars. I had a 2012 model Mini Cooper, and I did a lot of work on that, making mistakes and learning, and finding that I had a passion for the work.
“I was hoping to get into either heavy diesel or something vehicle related, but it just wasn’t working out for me.”
Harrison’s search for an automotive apprenticeship would come to an end when news of a job opportunity at Hammond 4WD filtered through his network of friends and family and now, three years on and about to start the fourth year of his apprenticeship, he is trusted with almost any job that comes through the workshop. As Hammond is a 4WD specialist shop – and one that celebrates 50 years in business this year – there is plenty of challenging and interesting work that comes Harrison’s way.
“We’re Jeep specialists so we do a lot of diagnostics on them, and we also do a lot of lift kits, suspensions, gearboxes, autos, and clutches – we get a bit of everything. We do the regular servicing but also work on the wear and tear of cars that get abused off-road!
“We do a lot of 12-volt accessory fit outs as well, and on-board air-ups [airbags and bellows] where you can sit in the passenger seat and just click a button for the car to go up and down . . . four-wheel driving has come a long way, and we do a lot of primo upgrades.”
Harrison is keen to get to work on all these types of jobs. Part of what has made him the Apprentice of the Month winner is his enthusiasm and determination to overcome challenges and learn everything he can.
“I’m certainly not averse to being exposed to jobs that are way beyond my capabilities,” said Harrison. “I feel like the only way you can really learn is just to throw yourself in at the deep end and if you make mistakes, well, that happens.”
That ‘deep end’ will, at some point down the line, include electric vehicles (EVs). Currently, said Harrison, there weren’t many electrified off-road vehicles but that wouldn’t stop him from looking to learn about EVs.
“Technology is advancing really fast and it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing some . . . but I don’t think the technology is there yet to have these cars do the really remote sort of stuff that they need,” he said. “I will be looking to do some training though. I’d rather be ahead of the game than behind – it’s better to know than not know.”
With only about a year or so to go before he gains his qualification, Harrison has thought about what steps lie ahead for him as he works to establish a long and successful career. In fact, he’s been pondering that pathway for harbours the ambition to run his own business at some point.
“Since the day I started, I always had a vision of having my own shop,” he said. “I always knew I had the ability and the motivation to do it, and I do see myself in my own shop. I have a passion for old Toyotas, so that’s where I would like to focus.”
The MTA Institute Apprentice of the Month is proudly supported by Spirit Super.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (October 2024)
16 October 2024
