Page 48 - Australasian paint & Panel Sep-Oct 2021
P. 48

 PEOPLE MATTER
            48
PAINT&PANEL SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021
49 NEW SYMACH APPOINTMENT • 50 APPRENTICE SUCCESS • 51 VACC PODCAST
   Much loved trainer Richard Jenkins.
 e
                  VALE RICHARD JENKINS
                WE WERE VERY SAD
TO HEAR ABOUT THE PASSING OF RICHARD JENKINS OF OCEANIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU TO BARRY PATON FOR THIS TRIBUTE.
and after seeing him at work, I thought that’s what I want to do. I also bought my first car from him. Many years later he was training my apprentices”.
Paul Kulpa from MTAQ said: “Richard was always a willing trainer, who in- volved his students and employers in the training journey. He wanted everyone to succeed in the trade and certainly made a difference. We lost a true professional and he’ll be sorely missed.”
The staff at Oceania College of Tech- nology expressed profound sadness at Jernkion’s passing, referring to him as a key member of the team, and also a very dear friend.
Alex Dunn and Phillip Charlton said: “Richard had an immediate positive im- pact when he joined Oceania College of Technology and successfully assisted us to grow the organisation in the paint and panel division.
“He was a popular, highly respected tradesman, and highly engaged with his apprentices, always ready to provide ad- vice and a perspective on any issue.
“He made particularly valuable con- tributions to the many apprentices he mentored, coached, and trained ena- bling them to complete their appren- ticeships and become fully qualified paint and panel tradespeople.
Dunn said: “On a personal level, I will miss Richard terribly. He changed the dynamic wherever he was, with his tre- mendous sense of humour, warmth, and intelligence. When Richard was in- volved, you knew you were in safe hands, and everything would be better. He was simply incomparable”.
Jenkin’s legacy lives on through the students he taught and the businesses hehelpedduringthelastthirteenyears. The cycle continues, with some of his previous students going on to own or manage businesses and are now em- ploying their own apprentices.
He was close to and supported by his family throughout his illness, they have always been a priority to him.
Our condolences are extended to all his family and his extended Oceania work family.
   A
PERSON ONCE STATED ”ANYONE
can be heroic occasionally, but a gentleman is something you have to be all the time”. Well Rich-
 ard was a gentleman all of the time.
He had a big heart and was always looking to help people. Richard was re- spectful of others and as a consequence
was a recipient of respect himself. Richard had been in the industry all his life. He identified an opportunity in Ipswich back in 1985 and started his own business detailing and touching up vehicles. The quality of the work soon attracted clients needing bigger repairs and vehicle restorations, so he added smash repairs to his stable and that kept him out of mischief for over
twenty years.
After winning a battle with throat
cancer, he concluded that the stress
of running a small business and th proximity to toxic materials was not conducive to his healthy future.
Deciding to utilise his knowledge and experience, he opted to make the transition into vocational education. His opportunity to give back to the industry he loved.
In May 2008 he began the new career that would require him to learn a whole newsetofskills.Withhisusuallevelof enthusiasm, he set about gaining the qualifications necessary and never stopped adding to his well of knowledge by always updating his professional de- velopment at every opportunity.
His students were the beneficiaries of his patience, knowledge, and encour- agement, and always had a good word to say about him. The employers he inter- acted with appreciated having someone
who had been in their shoes, to discuss work challenges with.
Barry Paton of Auto Trade College said: “Richard loved his work and it showed. He always put in his best effort. His exper- tise, demeanour and commitment was ap- preciated by our staff and clients alike.
His students were the
beneficiaries of his patience, knowledge, and
encouragement.”
“When he was with us he was instru- mental in assisting the developing an LMS which helped students progress in their apprenticeships, and employers understand where their apprentices were up to. Without his feedback and ideas, that project would probably never have been finished”.
A great communicator with a big heart, Jenkins will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
“Richard was the inspiration for me get- ting into the smash repair business” said Dave Taylor of Crawford Crash Repairs and Parts Check. “He was a family friend
                                                                                 


























































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