Patterson Cheney's Longest Serving Member Retires After Stellar Five Decade Career in Service

Patterson Cheney Isuzu is bidding a fond farewell to truck service expert, Roger Padfield, as he retires from a standout 54-year career in the field.

The longest serving member of the Patterson Cheney family to date, Roger started out as an apprentice back in 1967 in the South Melbourne branch. He later moved on to the facility at Footscray for 11 years, before landing at the Dandenong dealership in 1983, staying on as the Afternoon Shift Supervisor in the Service Department for the next 28 years.

Wayne Murphy, Patterson Cheney’s Service Manager, said Mr Padfield has been a pillar of strength in the department and a cornerstone of knowledge for his colleagues.

“Roger was key in helping us set up our afternoon shift when it first began and he also supported our 24-hour service later on,” said Mr Murphy.

“His official title may be Afternoon Shift Supervisor, but really, that does not reflect the breadth of his actual responsibilities.

“Roger has done advising work, spare parts selection and interpretation, diagnostic checks on the trucks for the mechanics to help them identify problems faster, road tests… honestly, he’s done a little bit of everything, and done them brilliantly.

“It has been a privilege to work with Roger, who is not only very experienced but more than happy to share his knowledge with the rest of the Isuzu dealer network,” Mr Murphy continued.

“We have all benefited from his skills and been inspired by his dedication to the brand.

“It is going to be so difficult replacing Roger that we are splitting his current role into two jobs,” he added ruefully.

According to Mr Padfield, the secret to a successful and fulfilling career in service is simply: ‘Enjoy what you do’.

“I enjoy learning how things work and I love fixing problems, put the two together and I simply had my perfect role,” Mr Padfield said.

“And that’s why I have lasted so long... I just enjoy understanding how vehicles work so I can fix them.”

Mr Murphy commented further on Mr Padfield’s incredible contribution to Patterson Cheney, noting his consistent delivery and willingness to embrace new methods have been key contributors to the service department’s success over the years.

“Roger may be a veteran technician but one of his many admirable qualities is that he never shies away from embracing new technology,” said Mr Murphy.

“Many technicians can drift away from the network because they can’t learn new systems, but that’s never been the case here.

“Roger has always been ready to adapt and is so keen and proactive about keeping up his knowledge.

“Everyone can see that he truly cares about the job and the business, and the brands he represents.”

Pictured: Roger Padfield (right), Wayne Murphy (left)

Mr Padfield admitted he would miss the hustle and bustle of the service department but would have plenty of opportunities to occupy his time after retirement.

Having judged the Adelaide Royal Show and the Melbourne Royal Show for dog obedience and agility, he plans to continue as an expert dog trainer and competition judge in the future.

Isuzu Australia Limited National Service Manager, Brett Stewart, added his congratulations to Mr Padfield on an outstanding career.

“Roger has had such a terrific career in the service industry, he will no doubt be sorely missed by both Patterson Cheney’s customers and fellow team members,” said Mr Stewart.

“From all of us at Isuzu, we would like to thank him for his dedication, hard work and loyalty to the brand.

“Our best wishes to Roger as he enters this next stage of life—we hope you enjoy a very well-earned retirement.”