MY FAVOURITE PLACE : Tony Plummer
by Greg Martin
For 43 years , Tony Plummer has generally spent five and a half days a week on each of those 2236 weeks , repairing motor vehicles .
“ I ’ m closing in on 60 years of age and the body certainly isn ’ t in the same shape it was when I began my apprenticeship in 1979 ,” Tony said .
“ But I still enjoy getting cars back onto the road and down the years I have developed solid relationships and friendships with my customers , so coming here every day has never been a chore ,” Tony said .
“ Here ” is Tony ’ s business , Max Phillips Auto in Lukis Avenue , Richmond , where he has got his hands dirty making sick vehicles healthy again for customers , many of whom were sicced onto his services by parents and their parents .
“ So , I ’ m getting the impression that this workshop is your favourite place ,” your scribe said to Tony . “ Sure , I still get out of bed each morning and look forward to heading over here , working on vehicles to get them roadworthy and to chat with customers , many of whom go back to when I first became indentured as an apprentice ,” Tony replied .
“ But as much as I enjoy coming here , my favourite place is our home at North Richmond where we have lived and raised our four children since 1986 .”
The other half of “ our ” is Tony ’ s delightful wife , Belinda . “ I enjoy pottering around the quarter-acre block but what makes our home so special to me and Belinda are our Sunday night dinners with the family ,” Tony explained .
“ It has become a family ritual and it is very rare for all of us not to be sitting down and enjoying a meal together .
The line-up for the Sunday night dinner is mine hosts , Tony and Belinda , their four sons , 33-year-old twins Beau and Josh , Zach ( 30 ) and 26-year-old Tate , their wives and partners and Belinda ’ s mum , Helen Hall .
And not to mention – OK I will – the first of their grandchildren , seven-months old Ella , the daughter of Josh and his wife , Tara . Ya reckon little Ella receives a bit of attention each Sunday night ?
The catalysts for those Sunday night dinners were a little bouncing ball and Belinda ’ s late father , Jim .
“ My family moved to the Hawkesbury from Castle Hill just as I commenced my apprenticeship – Dad had owned a 65-acre cattle , citrus and stone fruit property at Tennyson for many years and he and mum decided to make it their permanent home ,” Tony said .
“ A few years later , I met Jim , who was an avid squash player , and he talked me into joining Richmond Squash Club where one of my new team-mates was his daughter Belinda ,” Tony said .
Both Belinda and Tony developed into A-Grade squash players , indeed the talented Belinda was good enough to advance to the elite State Grade . It was game , set and match for both from the very beginning , with that bouncing ball four years later leading to marriage and four healthy , bouncing boys !
And the opening bounce for Tony ’ s entry into the wonderful world of toiling under car bonnets and bodies occurred in 1979 when Tony kicked off a four-year motor mechanic apprenticeship with Clive Tate in Richmond .
“ I was with
Man at work ! Master mechanic , Tony Plummer , doing that voodoo , that he do , so well .
Clive for about nine months , but he was mainly working on heavy machinery and lawn mowers so with his blessing , my indenture was transferred to his old mate , Max Phillips ,” Tony said .
Max Phillips Auto at that stage operated at the rear of the Esso Service Station on the site now occupied by Richmond Aldi .
“ I came out of my time with Max and continued working alongside him until 2001 by which time the business had relocated to Lukis Avenue ,” Tony said .
“ Max had decided to retire , and he had always assured me that if I wanted to take over the business , he would sell to me and as you can see , I readily accepted his offer .”
I asked Tony now that he was approaching his 60 th birthday , how long
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would he continue tinkering with motor vehicles .
“ I still don ’ t find it a chore opening these doors every day , but I suppose the time will come when the body and mind tell me to retire ,” he replied .
“ Like many my age , I have a few aches and pains but while I can continue to get under a hood and vehicle , I ’ ll keep going .
“ Plus , I really enjoy having a chat with my customers , many of whom I have known since I kicked off in the first
Hail , hail , the gang ’ s all here . The Plummer clan are all smiles as they prepare to sit down for the traditional family Sunday dinner . Back row ( l-r ): Georgia and her partner Zach , Beau and his expectant wife Alex , Piper and her partner Tate . ( Front row ) ( l-r ): Tara and her husband Josh with their daughter , Ella and finally her doting grandparents , Tony and Belinda Plummer .
08
MAY year of my apprenticeship back in ‘ 79 .”
And there ’ s always those Sunday night Clan Plummer dinners to rejuvenate for the upcoming work week !
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Pioneer Tavern . 21 Aspen Street South Penrith . 4736 4466 . pioneertavern . com . au
This venue is committed to conducting all aspects of alcohol & gaming service in a professional and responsible manner as well as actively supporting the promotion and encouragement of responsible gambling .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 143 // APRIL 2022 9