How and why does someone spend almost their entire life working for virtually the same company?
It’s the first thing you wonder when hearing about Kevin Riddle, who officially recorded his retirement from Inchcape Australia on January 2 – having started on the same day way back in 1959, when Sir Robert Menzies was in his third term as prime minister.
Back then Inchcape Australia was known as Larke Consolidated Industries before the company transformed through different names and locations.Despite change, Kevin was a constant.
Inchcape Australia Limited (IAL) property services was one of Kevin’s primary responsibilities; the “go-to man in times of difficulty and potential disaster,” Inchcape tells AutoTalk.
“He most recently managed the company’s property services, including maintenance, and also had oversight of vehicle insurance.”
Born in August 1943, as the Allies bombed northern Nazi Germany and pushed the Japanese out of New Guinea, with an identical twin brother Peter joining him into the world, “it was in Kevin’s genes to be a loyal and long-serving employee”, Inchcape says.
“His dad drove a truck delivering coal around Sydney his entire working life, in the days when that fuel was the only energy source for domestic cooking and heating,” the company reminds as the modern world enjoys plumbed LPG and natural gas.
Kevin went to school at Naremburn Primary School and Crows Nest High in Sydney, and unlike the self-entitled post-school travellers and aimless wanderers of 2019, Kevin listened to advice to get an apprenticeship from mum Doris and dad Sidney.
Not even 16 years old, the still-15 Kevin Riddle joined Larke’s in Parramatta Road, Stanmore, and chased his five-year motor mechanic qualification with Ultimo Technical College.The TAFE still offers automotive repair, paint and trim workshops to this day.
Then came Bathurst.Kevin cut his teeth at Australia’s motorsport Mecca working on hot little Fiats, he became part of the pit crew as the Italian brand went up against the muscle car monsters of Geoghegan, Moffat, Beechey and Jane when it was the Armstrong 500.
Back in the garage, Kevin was quickly promoted to checking workmanship and quality on serviced vehicles, and road testing, before again moving up the ranks as a foreman, assistant manager, and full manager.
Larke’s transitioned ownership three more times before becoming Inchcape, and Kevin Riddle was still working hard.Sometimes going above and beyond.
When the Wetherill Park, NSW, compound opened in 1979, Kevin’s attention was “increasingly grabbed by a series of quirky, yet ultra-reliable, Subarus,” the company describes.
“The Brumby and a variety of Leones took Kevin’s eye.During his entire association with Subaru, he recalls only one mechanical problem in one driven by him, a fuel pump hiccup,” Inchcape recalls.
Meanwhile Kevin’s role expanded to include management of all Wetherill Park facilities.
Kevin was involved in the pre-hail net era that would see the sheer heat of the Western suburbs become an early issue.The hot summers were strong enough to warp vehicle trim; cause enough for the introduction of protective white windscreen coating for vehicles.
Kevin has plenty of stories to tell about the start of the Team Subaru rally operation, later called Subaru Rally Team Australia, all run out of the back of the warehouse.
More personal challenges include a break-in at a Surry Hills warehouse, when a nervous policeman insisted on walking over Kevin’s shoulder as he walked out in front of the officer, as they had to reach light switches half way along the building interior.
Kevin relocated from and then back to Larke’s head office in Ryde in 1981, promoted to administrative services manager, then warranty manager, before becoming property services manager when the business moved to Wetherill Park.
“I never envisioned spending so much time with the same company,” Kevin says.
“But I’ve had different roles and the company ownership changed a few times, so there’s always been variety and plenty of challenges.”
Kevin says the biggest changes he’s seen have been in the vehicles’ technical and engineering design.
“When you look at Subarus now, everything from the paint to the trim, computer technology and reliability, it’s all vastly superior,” he explains.
“When I started, radios were one of the major car accessories.Now, fantastic systems like EyeSight are becoming the norm,” Kevin adds.
Handing back the keys, Kevin also passionately enjoyed playing football, golfing and cricket over the last 60 years.But he’ll be taking life much easier, enjoying five grandchildren and his two daughters’ families.
“He is a legend,” Inchcape Australia chief executive Nick Senior says.
“Kevin’s no-nonsense exterior hides a heart of gold and he’s been a great example to the younger generations about commitment, attention to detail and nurturing colleagues around you.”
Perhaps that’s the answer – signs of a business and people worth working for your entire life.
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