The days of sending an apprentice around town looking for a long weight or a tin of striped paint may be over, but that doesn't mean Keith Smart doesn't love his job.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 72-year-old recently notched up 50 years at Christian's Bus Co in Terang as a mechanic and bus driver.
"It's a great company to work for - I wouldn't still be here otherwise," Mr Smart said.
He said he had no plans to retire because he loves the variety his role offers.
"I will see out this year and see how I go," Mr Smart said.
"I only live a five minute walk from here so I'm going to be down here every second day being a pain so I might as well be getting paid for it."
Mr Smart was offered a job in the company's Holden dealership workshop at age 22.
He had no formal training, instead learning on the job.
"I remember it like it was yesterday, I got a call one Sunday night from someone from the company asking me if I wanted a job.
"I was at a bit of a loose end - it was back in the day when there were quite a number of jobs for each person, but now it has changed."
Mr Smart said he had recently returned home after a stint fruit picking and was helping out on the family farm.
After 12 years at Christian's he was appointed service manager of the dealership, but when the company bought buses in 1981, he decided to put his hand up to work in that arm of the business.
He said it was a smooth transition and he was later asked if he wanted to drive a school bus.
"I was a bit apprehensive for a start about driving the buses, I was leaning towards the maintenance side, but I love it.
"I've got a good bunch of kids."
Mr Smart said he loved the variety his job offered, from fixing buses, to driving the school bus to driving a charter bus to Ballarat or the snow.
When he's not fixing or driving buses, Mr Smart said he loved fishing or spending time with his wife Margaret and children Jason and Amy.
"I do enjoy my fishing, not that I ever catch that much," he said.
Christian's held a 50-year celebration for Mr Smart at the Peterborough hotel on the weekend, a night he thoroughly enjoyed.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
