Toowoomba technician named Mazda’s best

MAZDA Australia has named Brian Bernier of Wippells Autos in Toowoomba, Queensland, as the winner of its bi-annual MazTech competition, which recognises the best technicians for the Japanese brand across Australia.

Mr Bernier won the contest from eight finalists in a showdown at Mazda headquarters in Melbourne recently, with Nick Ingram of Melville Mazda in Perth taking second, and Todd Fletcher of West End Mazda in Sydney third.

Having progressed through the competition open to the 1300-plus technicians working for Mazda across Australia, the other finalists were Stephen Nancarrow from Jarrett Mazda in South Australia, Brett Simpson from Ian Boettcher Mazda in Queensland, John Testone from Eurocars Mazda in NSW, and Victorian technicians Mathew Gatto (Mornington Mazda) and Michael Walsh (Garry and Warren Smith Mazda).

Left: Ian Boettcher Mazda’s Brett Simpson.

Mazda Australia’s national learning and development manager Simon Weller described the MazTech contest as an important part of the company’s technical training program.

“MazTech is an opportunity for our best technicians to test the skills and knowledge they have gained from Mazda’s training programs in a series of complex technical and diagnostic challenges,” he said.

“All eight finalists performed exceptionally well and we’re proud to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Mazda’s best.”

The finalists were required to complete a number of practical tests including engine and body electrical fault diagnosis and various on-bench mechanical tests. Theoretical knowledge was also tested.