LINK Employment and Training’s Group Training Apprentice of the Year Ben Flower hard at work at Motor Court Toyota in Mornington (left) and accepting his award (above).
By Shaun Inguanzo
BEN Flower is more than just a mechanic.
At age 21 he is also a home owner, a leader and a car enthusiast who in two weeks’ time will also be flying to Canberra as one of 20 young people from across Australia to meet the Prime Minister as part of the Federal Government’s Today’s Skills, Tomorrow’s Leaders program.
His maturity and knowledge has astounded his employer, Mornington-based Motor Court Toyota, and earned him the ultimate apprenticeship prize as Group Training Apprentice of the Year with Link Employment and Training.
Mr Flower’s boss, service manager John Bennetto, has no reservations in admitting that the award-winner is the best young apprentice the business has ever seen.
“We get plenty of apprentices, but none are as clever as what Ben is,” Mr Bennetto said.
And the testimony is in Mr Flower’s ability to learn.
Mr Flower finished an auto electrical apprenticeship through LINK within two years and applied to begin a motor mechanics apprenticeship.
He will be dual qualified within six years, as opposed to the four years it takes the standard apprentice to finish one qualification.
Mr Flower’s thirst for knowledge means that while most 21-year-olds sit down to action novels or magazines as part of their night time reading, he avidly reads service manuals for new cars to ensure he is at the forefront of service knowledge.
Mr Flower is one of four mechanics at Motor Court Toyota who are qualified to work on Toyota’s hybrid electric-petrol cars, and that qualification can only be obtained by completing Toyota’s own program.
Mr Bennetto said Mr Flower had the right attitude and work ethic, as opposed to many other people his age.
“Ben’s what we would call conscientious,” Mr Bennetto said.
“But most young kids don’t seem to care about what they’re doing.
“LINK will send us some (apprentices) and unfortunately we might have to send half a dozen back.
“It’s hard to find good kids like Ben.”
Mr Flower said he felt ‘privileged’ by the nomination.
“I’ve put in a fair bit of hard work and it is good to get something out of it,” he said.
