Russell Matheson (Macarthur, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Wakeling Automotive, which is celebrating 30 fantastic years of service to the automotive industry in Macarthur. Paul and Margaret Wakeling started Paul Wakeling Holden in Campbelltown in 1985 with just five members of staff. With continuous hard work and dedication, the Wakelings' business has enjoyed great success, expanding immensely since its humble beginnings in the eighties to selling some of the best-selling car brands in the country today. In 2010, Wakeling Automotive set up Camden Valley Motors in Smeaton Grange in Camden, selling Holden, Mitsubishi and Hyundai. With these two locations in Campbelltown and Smeaton Grange, Wakeling Automotive now employs over 230 staff—a truly remarkable achievement.

Wakeling Automotive is not only a major employer in Macarthur; it is also a committed and generous contributor to the community through the Wakeling's Wheels for Life program. This fantastic initiative, which started in 1995, commits $25 from every new or used vehicle sold to be injected into this charitable program. This year, the Wakeling's Wheels for Life program reached an amazing milestone, raising $1 million to provide vital medical equipment for both Campbelltown and Camden hospital. This includes a ventilation machine, digital surgical cameras, state-of-the-art operating theatre lights, an ultrasound unit, 14 cardiac monitors and much, much more.

The level of dedication and passion that Wakeling Automotive has shown for Macarthur is truly astonishing. On behalf of the Macarthur community, I would like to thank Paul, Margaret and Scott Wakeling and all the staff at Wakeling Automotive for your contribution to our region over the years. Congratulations again for 30 successful years in the automotive business. Your community truly loves you.