Patterson Cheney and Isuzu Australia have congratulated Service Manager Wayne Murphy on a milestone of 40 years under the Patterson Cheney Isuzu banner.
The busy dealership in Greater Melbourne is home to many like Murphy who are celebrating decades at the dealership.
Having grown up opposite the Patterson Cheney Trucks workshop, Murphy knew he wanted to work on engines from a young age.
After being accepted for a motor mechanic apprenticeship he attended the GM training facility on ‘Bedford by Isuzu’ product (as they were known at the time).
“I wanted to work on trucks because I could see there were a lot of interesting things going on at the time,” recalled Murphy.
“They were a bit harder to deal with than cars, so the other apprentices weren’t that keen on working on them.”
Persistence paid off and Wayne quickly developed the skills to move up the ranks to Foreman, Assistant Service Manager and then onto his current role of Service Manager.
In the 1980s there were eight service technicians at the dealership compared to today’s team of 30 technicians and diesel mechanics that work under Murphy’s watch.
His 40-year run with the Isuzu product has also encompassed the entire 35 years the brand has led the Australian truck market.
This a feat that Isuzu widely accredits to the hard work of its broad dealer network, including those who put their heads down and tools to use in service such as Murphy and his team.
“I have a great relationship with Isuzu Trucks so that’s made my job very easy, their support is fantastic,” said Murphy, admits he is old school enjoying the smell of fuel, the noise and power.
“I am still enthusiastic about my role after all these years because I have great customers and a great OEM,” he said.
Accessing the right information in a timely manner is critical to Murphy’s ability to do the job, which he says improves year-on-year across the Isuzu Dealer Network.
“What we’re dealing with today is so technical with electrical components, computers, emissions to consider and diagnostic tools,” he said.
“When you’ve got a good product that speaks for itself, plus equipment and access to information that improves year on year, and you’ve got good support, then you can make smart decisions based around the package.”
There are still plenty of heritage models rolling into the workshop to pique Murphy’s interest in Isuzu truck history.
“If one of our mechanics get something a little bit older, they know they are welcome in my office to ask for advice about the ins and out of the truck,” he said.
Training the next generation of mechanics and technicians is Murphy’s way of ‘giving back’ to the automotive industry and the Patterson Cheney dealership which has supported him throughout the years.
“The industry has become a much friendlier place for all service technicians, regardless of their gender, culture, or race, which you can see right here on the floor at Patterson Cheney,” he said.
“We’re coming into a new generation of young technicians—I think our job here as service managers and role models is to give something back.”
While celebrating this 40-year work anniversary with Patterson Cheney, Murphy is hardly ready to call it a day.
“People ask me what’s next, do I want to go any higher, but I still believe there’s work to be done right here in my role as service manager,” he said.
“I am curious to see all the changes coming to the industry with alternate fuel sources and the introduction of Isuzu’s EV trucks.”
The Patterson Cheney dealership is accustomed to long-tenured staff with its former Trucks Dealer Principal, Terry Jewson, retiring in May last year after 41 years.