STAN Mitzikis is the friendliest car mechanic in Wollongong.
I walk past his repairs shop most days on the way to the supermarket and shout “Stan’s the Man!”
He immediately returns my greeting with a wave, a smile, and “Hello Darling”.
For the last six years I’ve lived in Wollongong, I’ve mistakenly thought Stan’s business, Velios and Son, referred to Stan’s surname, and that the young bloke who works with him, Muhammed, was his son.
In fact, Stan’s Dad’s first name was Velios, and Stan is the son.
Velios (Bill) Mitzikis established the business in 1971.
Stan remembers going to the shop every day after school since he was 13.
As a boy he was interested in cars, and by the time he reached Year 11 he decided to join the business.
The decision was not without conflict.
“You’re with him all day, every day,” says Stan. “It’s like being with your partner. How can you work and live with your partner? But I thought working for myself is better than working for
someone else.”
Velios was a perfectionist, strict and often pulled Stan up for the way he worked.
But Stan has never looked back and considers his father to be one of his greatest teachers.
“He was a man of few words but straight to the point,” says Stan.
“I take after him, but not as much as I would like to. Mum talks before she thinks, and Dad thought before he spoke.”
Velios was Greek and Stan’s Mum Julie is from Cypress. Stan was born in Wollongong Hospital when his parents were 21 and 18 respectfully.
“I was born in Wollongong, live in Wollongong, work in Wollongong and will die in Wollongong,” laughs Stan.
The firm but fair approach Stan learned from his Father is mirrored in his mentorship of Muhammed Eren, the 18-year-old mechanic at Velios and Son.
“I love working for Stan,” says Muhammed. “He’s been around a long time so I can learn a lot from him. He’s experienced a lot of things with different cars over the years. He takes care of me so I take care of him.”
Photo1: Stan Mitzikis, the owner of Velios and Son, at 1 Victoria Street, Wollongong.
Photo2: Muhammed Eren, mechanic at Velios and Son.
Yoga teacher, skydiver, martial artist and journalist. Yoga keeps her centred and reinforces her core belief that the greatest gift to each of us is ourselves. When Dawn isn’t teaching yoga, she works as a skydive camerawoman, grapples with her mates at Gracie Barra Shellharbour, and does media and promotions for stuff she loves.
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