Love, legacy and a lifetime on the workshop floor

After more than thirty years of marriage, Michael and Rosy can still recall exactly where their story began: a Fyshwick workshop in January 1989. They were both sixteen and had no idea how intertwined their lives would become.

Michael had just moved from Sydney and started an apprenticeship under Rosy’s father. The moment Rosy walked into the workshop with her mum, he was certain of one thing: he’d marry her one day. Rosy, meanwhile, barely noticed the new apprentice hovering hopefully near the toolbox.

“I saw this babe wander into the workshop and thought, ‘One day I’m going to marry her’,” Michael said.

It didn’t take long for him to find ways to impress her. When Rosy’s dad began detailing what would become her first car, a brown Holden Camira, Michael threw himself into every task: polishing rims, dusting the dash, quietly dreaming that one day the two of them might drive away together.

By 21, they were married. For Rosy, it was Michael’s cheeky humour, his hot Ford XC, and the way he wore his tight pink stubbies that sealed the deal. Their partnership built on humour, resilience and deep affection has now lasted more than thirty years.

In 2007, their story expanded from home to business when they purchased the Canberra VW Centre Tuggeranong. The couple transformed it into a trusted, family‑run workshop known for its reliability and warmth. Many customers have been returning for over twenty years.

“We know most of them by name, not by their registration,” Michael said.  “We recognise their voice when we answer the phone. Some still bring the cars they bought new in 2002. We’ve grown old together and watched each other go grey.”

Their son Angus grew up among the hoists and tool trays, exploring, tinkering, and absorbing the rhythm of the workshop. In February this year – nineteen years to the day they bought the business – Angus became its first ever apprentice.

Michael has to hold back tears when he describes how proud he is of his son. Born at just 25 weeks and weighing around 800 grams, Angus faced serious health challenges as a newborn. Today, he’s strong, determined and preparing to carry on the family name.

“At one point, the doctors feared he wouldn’t make it,” Michael said. “Now he’s sixteen and has a six‑pack. He’s grown up here and he knows how things operate. We’re so proud that he wants to take over. He’s adamant this is his path.”

Supported by Mas National (part of the IntoWork Group), Angus is completing a school‑based apprenticeship alongside classes at the Canberra Institute of Technology. On this particular day, he’s fitting a new gearbox to a car belonging to one of the nurses who cared for him as a baby in the ICU.

Rosy says it’s the communication between the three that sets their business apart.

“We know each other so well,” she said.  “We read each other’s body language. We make decisions without needing to explain them. That trust is what makes this place work.”

For Angus, the decision to carry on the business was an easy one.

“I didn’t need to think about it,” he said.  “I’ve worked here every school holidays since I can remember. When I was about 14, Dad asked if this is what I wanted for the rest of my life. I told him I’d never even considered anything else. I feel blessed. It’s a privilege to carry on our family’s legacy.”

And so the story that began in a workshop in 1989 continues – rooted in love, strengthened by years, and handed proudly to the next generation.