Starting on the Spanners: From the Workshop to the National Stage: Jonesy’s Drive to Succeed

Q: Where did you kick-off your career and how did you progress?

My first job on the tools was at a Hyundai and Chrysler dealership in Werribee (Victoria).

I was incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by the right people who gave me great guidance and support. That first role was a fantastic introduction to the working world.

It was through that dealership that I got involved in skills competitions, something I'm still a huge advocate for today. I saw them as an opportunity to get my name known and show what I could do beyond my own workshop.

I'd always had a knack for diagnostics and became the 'go-to' person for problems no one else could fix. That naturally led to building relationships with the technical teams at the manufacturer.

Once I saw the kind of work they did, I knew that was where I wanted to be.

I started entering every skills competition I could, setting a clear goal for myself. I ended up on the podium at the 2005 national competition, and the very next year, I was working in their technical centre.

Q: How did that "have a crack" attitude shape your journey?

I believe that in anything you do, if you want to succeed, you have to try and be better.

You need to get your head above the crowd. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a fantastic mechanic who loves their daily work-I know many who are completely satisfied with that path.

But if you want to progress, you have to take the opportunities that are offered. Putting myself out there in those competitions is a big reason I'm here today.