Fiona's Letters TAFE Motor Mechanic Training Course for Girls Week Two Hi All, Due to popular demand and at great expense to management, here's this week's adventures in a "Reader's Digest" version. Week 2 and we're just starting to get our teeth into serious stuff: the mechanic's diet. Now, you may think this would be something that was not needed but it's up there with occupational health & safety; not to mention last week's lesson in the correct walking technique. Traditionally, the average mechanic's diet is made up of the 5 basic food groups - McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, the corner takeaway and, for the exotically inclined, Chinese food. The rule of thumb here is heat and grease - much like the average motor. If it's hot and oily, it has to be good, right? A fully-fledged mechanic has the added nutritional value of any 'flavour enhancements' embedded under the old fingernails. A mechanic worth his/her salt will appreciate the recognition of a good Pennzoil or Valvoline accompaniment with the chicken nuggets for breakfast. I'm a little worried about whether I'll be able to pass this particular module but the lecturers have assured me that paramedics will be on standby during the eat-a-meat-pie-in-60-seconds-or-less test. Hopefully with a stomach pump and some burn cream. (Now I'm starting to realise why we have non-slip soles on our boots). I did ask if sushi, salads, brown rice and protein shakes would be introduced at a later date. However, TAFE are still waiting to hear if NRMA are willing to sponsor these as well. Since none of these contain the minimum oil:salt ratios, Rosemary Stanton (she's a nutritionist for those outside of Oz) will need to be commissioned to make a ruling on the suitability of these foods. No point in having mechanics squeaking when they walk because of lack of oil!! Apart from that, we didn't really learn too much. We were given a tour of the tools we'll get to use - drill press, bench grinders, gas torches, wheel- balancing machine, bearing press - just to name a few. We were also let loose on the 4-post hoists - they even put cars on them!! Different engine-types were covered - 'v' types, inline or 'straight' and flat (sometimes called Boxer motors). Finally had a look at a diesel engine and a cutaway of a 2-stroke (this is living!). Our Friday lecturer revealed his secret loathing for VW engines. In his words: "The British invented the oil leak but the Germans perfected it" - hahahahaha. I knew there was no turning back when we had to break out the calculators to figure out engine capacities and compression ratios but I managed to survive and gained the admiration of my fellow classmates at the same time. I had the only calculator in the room.................. On a sad note, there was a marked decrease in the attendance numbers this week. We've gone from a keen group of 16 down to 6 regulars and a couple of hangers-on. Still, the course will go ahead regardless at this stage (it better!!) but the next course may be mixed girl/boy classes to keep them going at all. Fingers crossed that the concept of getting girls into the industry won't fade entirely and that it will be another 20 years before another attempt is made. Female mechanics aren't a new idea - they have been around for a long time - it's just that they are few and far between these days. Which gives me an idea - perhaps I can request that a female mechanic is brought in to speak with us. It might spark some renewed interest. Anyhow, that's all for this week - hope everyone is well. Any diet suggestions will be considered - just not necessarily taken on board :) Catch you next week! Cheers! Fiona xx ;) Go to first page - Index - Next page

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