MTA Queensland held its first Chairman’s Trackside Breakfast event in Townsville on Friday, July 5. Coinciding with the Townsville leg of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship, and sponsored by Spirit Super, the breakfast was held in the Pavilion x Piper-Heidsieck corporate suite overlooking pit lane – a brilliant spot from which to watch the country’s top drivers, in Australia’s premier motor racing series, thunder around the city’s Reid Park Street Circuit.
Around 80 MTA Queensland members attended the breakfast, with some travelling epic distances to be part of the event. Members came from as far afield as Mount Isa and Maryborough to attend, network with others from industry, and meet MTA Queensland representatives and executives.
Rod Camm, CEO of MTA Queensland and Paul Peterson, Chairman of the Association were in attendance, as were Kellie Dewar, Deputy CEO, and Marcello Riotto, Director of the MTA Institute.
MTA Queensland places immense value on listening to its members said Mr Camm, and the Trackside Breakfast, as well as other forthcoming regional visits, is another avenue through which the Association can reach out and engage with members. That is essential for any representative organisation, especially one such as MTA Queensland that is responding to the innovations and developments within the automotive industry by introducing a wide range of courses, programs and initiatives designed to assist businesses to navigate the industry’s transformation.
“. . . We’ve committed 100 per cent to members. We’re offering new services, new diversity. We are out in the field all the time,” said Mr Camm during his address to guests at the breakfast event. “Members say to me, “Why don’t we see the MTA Queensland brand at the events we go to, at the places we go to make work, where we go to grow our business, where we go to enjoy ourselves?” They said, “Why don’t you go to a Supercars event?
“Well, here we are. We had a capacity of 80 people, and every single place was sold . . . We’ve got people from Gladstone, people from Mount Isa, members from Longreach, and we are humbled by this effort to come along.
“We’re really excited about it and we intend doing a lot more, not just in the racing industry but the agricultural sector too, and hold other events where our members are. It’s a really exciting initiative for us.”
During his address, Mr Camm also noted how much effort MTA Queensland was putting in to be proactive in delivering on industry’s requirements, including in regional areas. It was, he said, imperative that members reach out, including at events such as the Trackside Breakfast, to let MTA Queensland know what they want and need, so that the Association can put its considerable muscle and resources into action.
“. . . You want business planning? We can help you with that. You want electric vehicle training locally? We can help you with that. You want training of your apprentices, better EFTPOS rates, complimentary insurance review? Basically, you tell us and yes, we can do that,” he said.
“We are now running school-to-work programs across Queensland; we’re working with schools in Townsville; we’re running automotive training careers programs; we’ve partnered with Capricorn at trade shows . . . all you need to do is talk to us.”
While MTA Queensland members were welcomed to the relaxed environment of the corporate suite – and were treated to quite a spectacular breakfast! – a number of guests of the Association also attended. They included Councillor Paul Jacob, Deputy Mayor of Townsville; Scott Stewart MP, State Member for Townsville; and Tallisha Harden, captain of the North Queensland Cowboys Women’s Rugby League team. Also on hand was Geoffrey Lowe from Spirit Super to give members the lowdown on what the industry super fund is doing and how it can help them.
The Trackside Breakfast was the focus on Friday, but MTA Queensland representatives had been in Townsville for a few days beforehand, travelling around the city to catch up and meet with members. Those included Brashas Workshop in Garbutt, Bob Parkes Automotive in Hyde Park, and McClure Refinishing in Currajong. As well as talking to the owners of those businesses about their work and the challenges their industry sectors are facing, Marcello Riotto, Director of the MTA Institute, also caught up with some of their technicians and apprentices.
Regional visits and events were, he said, essential for MTA Queensland to further develop its close ties with members and show its commitment to the industry across the state.
“We often reflect internally that we are MTA Queensland, not MTA Brisbane.
With that mindset, it’s important we engage with our stakeholders wherever they may be in Queensland,” he said.
“While we have solid digital communication strategies through platforms such as our online portal, emails, regular newsletters, webinars and so on, they’re not a replacement for meaningful face-to-face engagement.
“Such regional visits and events allow us to support our regional managers and local trainers on the ground, and it gives members and training clients a sense of the depth and breadth of MTA Queensland and the MTA Institute and highlights our commitment to industry. They also enable us to get some local industry intelligence and receive clear communication, directly from members, about the challenges they face such as the workforce situation and their skilling requirements.”
As for the Trackside Breakfast, Marcello pointed out the benefit of meeting and networking in an informal setting.
“It’s an opportunity to engage with stakeholders outside of their businesses where they are always flat strap. The venue, the timeslot, the guest speakers, food and entertainment were great, but it was all about industry engagement, and that was exceptional. We look forward to the next regional visit.”
MTA Queensland takes pride in its proactive approach, crafting initiatives designed to foster the growth and development of automotive businesses and professionals across the state.
Recognising that the needs and challenges of automotive businesses are significant, MTA Queensland has instigated a range of programs and initiatives to assist them – from workplace solutions such as Auto Connect, the Industry Skills Advisor and Industry Workforce Advisor, and the newly launched Automotive Women in Trades Apprenticeship Mentoring program. Added to these will be a series of regional visits that will reflect the Association’s commitment to the well-being and professional development of its members, ensuring that they know they are valued and understood, and that their concerns are always taken seriously by an organisation that is dedicated to their success.
The Trackside Breakfast took place on the Friday before the main races of the NTI Townsville 500 and plenty of attendees stayed on to watch the practice sessions held that morning and the races over the weekend.
For the record, Cam Water of Monster Castrol Racing won the first race in Townsville with Penrite Racing’s Matthew Payne taking victory in Race Two. The Championship leaderboard is still topped by Will Brown of Red Bull Ampol Racing although his lead in the race for the title has been cut after he finished third in Race One and got caught up in a collision in Race Two which saw him finish 24th.
MTA Queensland thanks event sponsor Spirit Super and prize sponsor Gates Corporation.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (July 2024)
18 July 2024