General News
13 September, 2023
Son to keep dad’s 40-year business running
AITKEN Bros Auto will keep its doors open after all, and the business is staying in the family.
AITKEN Bros Auto will keep its doors open after all, and the business is staying in the family.
James Aitken, the youngest son of founding co-owner Mark Aitken, took over operations at the 146 High Street workshop from Monday.
As Western District Newspapers reported in June, brothers Bill and Mark Aitken had closed to doors to their business after 40-years to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
The brothers had planned to close the doors permanently with the bus fleet being sold to Cobden Coaches, and the mechanics workshop closing down.
The sale of the bus line will continue as planned, but James said the opportunity to step in and keep the family business open through the mechanic workshop was too good to pass up.
James said it was a proud moment for the family to know the business would be keeping its doors open.
“I’ve always wanted to take on the workshop, so it was now or never,” he said.
“Dad was pretty excited, pretty chuffed, I think he’s always wanted to keep the family business going and I think he’s quite proud for me to take it on.
“It’s as good of a time as ever – I don’t think I’d get another opportunity like this.”
While the combined decades of automotive experience Mark and Bill brought to the workshop cannot be replaced, James has very much followed in the family footsteps and developed extensive expertise in the field.
“I did my apprenticeship in Warrnambool for Will Ferris Auto Repairs and worked there for around four and a half years,” he said.
“I then moved to Ballarat where I was working on more performance-based vehicles, doing engine rebuilds and cam kits on HSVs, Commodores, Falcons and turbo Falcons.
“I also had the chance to specialise in 4WDs, a lot more than I had done previously.
“For the last 18 months I was also working on earthmoving and agricultural equipment such as diggers, dozers, articulated tractors and all kinds of things.”
James said he had already been contemplating returning home to be closer to his family, but after Mark and Bill made the decision to step in to retirement he felt the time was right to return home to Terang and take over the family business.
“It was good to be away for a few years while I was younger, but I wanted to be back home closer to family,” he said.
“Family was the biggest thing, and it’s such a big thing to take over from what my father and uncle had with Aitken Bros Autos.
“I couldn’t pass up coming back and taking on the business.”
James said there was both strong demand for automotive services in the community, and no lack of support for locally-owned businesses.
“It’s good for the town to have businesses start up or keep going,” he said.
The doors officially re-opened from this week with the business retaining its usual phone number: 5592 1184.
James said he looked forward to connecting with the community and keeping motors running with the same reliability people have come to expect from the business.
“Give me a call or just swing by,” he said.
