M.A.O.T.Y.
Established in 2004 by the Ulysses Club to foster growth in motorcycle apprenticeship numbers, the Motorcycle Apprentice of the Year has become an integral support mechanism for apprentice motorcycle mechanics.
Ulysses Club Inc. MAOTY Award for 2011
I’m usually not the excitable type but when I got the phone call notifying me that I was the National Winner, I started shaking, I was that overwhelmed. Having the chance to win a motorbike was a huge incentive for me to put in that extra bit of study, which wasn’t a real chore because motorcycles are a major interest of mine.
I am employed by Tucker Motorcycles in Mt Barker, South Australia, which is a partnership between Clyde and Sharon Tucker. They’ve had the business in Mt Barker for 14 years and previously had a shop in Mt Gambier. Clyde has over 40 years experience as a motorbike mechanic, he’s very quick on the tools, neat, honest and never gets angry. Sharon does everything she can to make sure that I’m comfortable and safe and that the business runs smoothly.
I got the job after doing work experience for a week with the business while I was in Year 10. Clyde said that I was chosen because I showed the most interest and had prior experience with tools and basic mechanics. I completed Year 11 on a Friday in December 2008 and started work on the Saturday. When I started I was thrown in the deep end being the only employee, but it was a blessing as I’ve been involved in every job from day one.
Tradeschool was rarely boring as my lecturer Leigh Hollamby had interesting stories relating to each topic we covered. He pushed me to further my learning with a Dyno and Performance Tuning course and I know that he puts in lots of time trying to improve and streamline the SA motorcycle course.
Mum has always been the one who has pushed me to study up on the theory side of things. She also doesn’t ask me to do much around the house, which allows me time to tinker around in the shed. Dad has always had a shed full of tools that I could experiment with, which gave me a head start before my apprenticeship. He has taught me everything he knows about motorbikes and was the one who started my interest in the sport with a minibike. I have now raced in the last two seasons of motocross, finishing 13th and then 6th out of about sixty bikes each season.
To be eligible for the National Motorcycle Apprentice Of The Year Award I had to first be selected as the top third year apprentice from South Australia. This involved preparing a presentation and then an interview. Next I needed to win the zone competition against the WA nominee, and then be selected as the best out of the four zone winners. The zone winners and MAOTY were judged on a phone interview by a Ulysses member where technical questions were asked and also two references were required, one from the employer and one from the lecturer at tradeschool.
My thanks go to Supercheap Auto for the Sidchrome toolbox full of tools, to QBE for a years worth of insurance and to Honda Motorcycles Australia for the CB400.
I’d also like to thank the Ulysses Club for running the national MAOTY competition and inviting me to be involved in an unforgettable weekend at Mildura.
Kent Shillitoe
HELENA, KENT AND ALEXA
Zone Winners – Motorcycle Mechanic Apprentice of the Year (MAOTY) 2011
10 Nominations for the Motorcycle Apprentice of the Year Award (MAOTY) had been received and sent to John (Twiggy) Branch # 9250, Automotive Trainer and Assessor, to commence the adjudication process for the Zone Winner and the National Winner. The process is the same as in previous years and takes into consideration the following three main factors :-
- the motorcycle orientated technical telephone conversation on brakes, engines, fuel systems, transmissions, steering/suspension and electrical,
- references from the employer, and
- references from the nominees’ Registered Training Organization.
All contestants are to be congratulated for being chosen by their Registered Training Organizations as well as their Employers, as worthy candidates of MAOTY, and for their endeavor to strive for excellence in their trade.
Upon completion of the adjudication process, John’s recommendations are as follows:-
- NSW/ACT: Nick Cox - Lloyd Penn Motorcycles - Artarmon, NSW
- VIC/TAS: Nick Cooper - Fastlane Motorcycles - Invermay, TAS
- QLD/NT: Deni Smith - Fairways Motorcycles - Rockhampton, QLD
- SA/WA: Kent Shillitoe - Tucker Motorcycles - Mt Barker S.A.
“These zone winners are to be congratulated for their endeavor in their trade but praise should also be acknowledged to their employers and training organizations that have persevered to produce what is called in this country, a “good hand”.” says John (Twiggy) Branch.
Each Zone winner will receive a Sidchrome Tool Kit suitable for an Apprentice, sponsored by Supercheap Auto.
We thank the Registered Training Organizations, the Candidates and their Employers for their ongoing assistance to the MAOTY award and to John Branch, Automotive Trainer and Assessor, for administering the adjudication process.
The National Committee takes this opportunity to thank our National Sponsors for supporting the MAOTY award – Supercheap Auto; Honda Aust MPE and QBE.
Helena Gritton #14027
National Vice President
Ulysses Club Inc