JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Timaru’s Alysia Patterson said she was blown away when she won the award.
A Timaru woman with a passion for cars has just been recognised in a nationwide award for the country’s most outstanding automotive finishing apprentice.
Alysia Patterson, 24, was named as the joint-winner of the Collision Repair Association’s joint Golden Gun Apprentice of the Year award about two months ago, but was only presented her award on Wednesday.
“I was blown away, amazed and very surprised.
“The award was for the best apprentice in all of New Zealand, and It’s crazy to know I was right up there,” Patterson said.
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Patterson, who is a former apprentice at Brown and Shipman, in Timaru, now works for the company as an automotive refinisher.
Patterson said she felt “very nervous” applying for the award.
“I know there’s a lot of very good people who applied for it, and it was good to know that I was up there with the others.”
She said Brown and Shipman had supported her the whole way through, and they took her on when she knew nothing of the trade.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Alysia Patterson said her employer Brown and Shipman had supported her the whole way through her apprenticeship and applying for the award.
Patterson said she believes her initiative and confidence had helped her win the award.
“I push myself,” she said.
She said there were a number of aspects to the selection process.
“First I had to send through pictures of previous awards and achievements. Then I had to get references from my Mito (automotive industry training organistion) instructor and the paint company, and after that there was a phone interview.”
The award also grants Patterson with a Mito scholarship, $1000 in cash, $1000 worth of tools and a mystery getaway with Air New Zealand.
Patterson, who completed level 3 and 4 apprenticeships with Brown and Shipman, said she will use the scholarship to pursue a career in business management or might pursue the next level in automotive refinishing.
JOHN BISSET/STUFF
Apprentice automotive refinisher Alysia Patterson customised her 1990 Nissan Silvia and won four awards with at the 4 and Rotary champs in Timaru.
In 2020, Patterson won best wheels, body kit, paint and driver attitude in the Tough Street category for her 1990 Nissan Silvia at the three-day 4 and Rotary champs event in Timaru which attracted about 8000 spectators and 700 modified cars.
The judges commented on Patterson’s eye for detail when they presented her with four trophies at the event.
She worked on her car from the 2020 March lock down until August that year, cutting up the rear guards to fit the wide body, and repaired dints and repainted it.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Alysia Patterson won four awards for her 1990 Nissan Silvia in 2020.
