Mechanic is a beauty

Lip gloss on, nails painted and socket wrench in hand - Laura Wouters in her element, the garage. 142309 Picture: ROB CAREW

By GEORGIA WESTGARTH

WHEN she’s not fixing cars Laura Wouters is shaping eyebrows, painting lips and blushing cheeks.
The 19-year-old mechanic from Maryknoll says even though she took a slightly indirect route to the garage, she is now where her heart lies – in among the grease and the oil, and she loves it.
The Kooweerup Secondary College student left school in Year 11 to start a four-year beauty therapy course which was ‘just a back-up’ career, she asserts.
“I never actually wanted to be a beauty therapist, I always wanted to be a mechanic, it was just a back-up but I regret waiting so long before pursuing my hobby,” she said.
An apprentice mechanic at Rapid Tune Pakenham, Laura told Star News she was initially scared about pursuing an automotive career.
“I was worried because it was a male dominated industry – everyone doubted me.
“My mum was concerned that I wouldn’t be able to stick to it because it was so different and it was the same with my friends, they would say ‘yeah right’ and thought it was a joke,” Laura said.
But sticking with her gut feeling, Laura quit beauty therapy after her first work placement.
“I couldn’t handle being in a salon.
“I knew then it wasn’t for me, I didn’t like it whatsoever – beauty therapy was just too girly, prissy and bitchy for me, but I still enjoy doing it at home,” she said.
With a set-up at home Laura offers waxing, massage and eyelash and eyebrow tinting for those close to her.
“I’ve gone from one extreme to the other really, but I think it’s good – I go home and I can pamper myself,” she said.
Completing a certificate three in automotive at the Chisholm Institute, Laura would cop a wolf whistle here and there as she walked by the classrooms but said the boys backed off by the end of the 10 weeks.
“It was tormenting but it’s entertaining for them because you’re a female, you’ve got make-up on and you’re walking around – you look like a joke,” she said.
After three months’ work experience at Rapid Tune Pakenham Laura was offered an apprenticeship and has been training as a mechanic for six months.
“It is definitely a man’s world but I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.
“I’m always treated with respect at Rapid Tune and they’re always willing to help me and Michael, John and staff here are always asking me if I’m okay,” she said.
Having met just one other girl studying automotive at Chisholm Institute (who has since dropped out) Laura said she would love to be her own boss one day.
“My aim is to open my own garage and I would love to have a workshop full of girls, it’d be awesome.”
Laura wears big sparkly earrings and long fake acrylic nails to work and said she was constantly surprising customers.
“When I go to drop customers off I take my gloves off so I don’t look like I’ve been working and they say ‘So you’re the receptionist’ and I say ‘No, no I’m a mechanic’ and they’re always surprised and shocked, it’s hilarious,” Laura explained.
With another three years to go as an apprentice mechanic, Laura said she never hesitated and got straight into the greasy work.
“A lot of people had a lot of doubt but I have turned a hobby into a career and I just love cars in general, I won’t change my mind again – I love it and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.