“I’m 16 and I’m into my 4th week as an apprentice mechanic here at Polettos. It was through Hunter Valley Training Centre, Fausto called and requested a female to start an apprenticeship and I was the only one available. I had a trial day, worked really well with one of the retired mechanics who comes in and here I am. I love it here.
Ever since I was 2 years old, I would be out in the shed with my pop who is now a retired mechanic. No matter what he was working on I’d have a tool in my hand and I’d be tapping on something under the car with him. I learned a lot from my uncle who is also a mechanic and I worked with him a bit before I started here. I don’t have any brothers, I have 2 sisters. One sister is a horse person and the other is a daycare person. I’ve never been a girly girl. I’ve always been into cars.
I grew up half hour out of Casino in a little country town called Ellangowan in a house my dad built on a massive farm. We rode motorbikes, dirt bikes, paddock bashers and tractors. I live with mum in Lismore now but still go out to the farm. My uncle on my mum’s side races at the Speedway, my uncle on my dads side use to race Formula 1 cars. My Pop, my Nan, my Aunty, all used to race Speedway. It’s in my blood! My apprenticeship is for 4 years then the plan is to open my own shop with all female mechanics. I’ve always wanted to do that.”
Polettos Mechanical Repairs, Locket St. Lismore.