Service with a smile

PASSERSBY can always be assured of a friendly smile and greeting when walking past Tranter Motors.

The mechanical workshop is situated in High Street, between the Post Office and Gaffney’s Bakery.

“It’s how we like to do things,” said owner, Anthony Tranter.

“It’s good for business and good for everyone.”

Mr Tranter bought the workshop with his father in 1980 and took over the partnership on his own in 2013.

“The building was originally owned by Elsbury Brothers and started as a bicycle repair workshop,” said Mr Tranter.

“It then became a Holden dealership from 1930 to 1970 when they sold it to Peter Nielson.

“He sold it to Peter Medcalf in 1976, then my father Ron and I bought it in 1980.

“We didn’t want to continue as a dealership; we turned it into a mechanical workshop.

“Dad previously worked out of Farley’s Garage, the former Ford dealership.”

Mr Tranter fondly remembers his father as a hardworking man.

“He worked on a lot of wood trucks and tractors in the early days,” he said.

“In 1970, Dad took a job with the army over at Seymour, working long hours.

“Then he’d come home to find a line of wood trucks waiting for him to work on, so he’d work all night.

“After a year he had to give up the army work. It was too much.

“Even into his 80s, Dad loved to come in and help in the workshop.”

A well-known and loved local identity, Ron Tranter passed away in 2022, aged 92.

“Over the years there have been a lot of characters come into the workshop,” said Mr Tranter.

“And lots of stories, although probably not for print.”

Mr Tranter employs six workers in the workshop and lives at Mt Camel with his wife Fiona.