Doug McKenzie recently celebrated 50 years of service with HM GEM Engines

At a special dinner in his honour, well known and highly respected HM GEM Sales Manager Doug McKenzie was celebrated amongst friends and colleagues to mark the occasion of having notched up 50 years of service with HM GEM Engines of the HeadMod Group recently.
Doug commenced with his new employer in 1972 and as a young married man with their first child and he commented “I needed a job!”
Head Mod Engineering at that time was located at 833 Doncaster Road, Doncaster and the factory was divided into three separate units with admin and sales, a lube bay and a small cylinder head repair and manufacturing area at the rear.
The centre included tuning and repairs with around 10 motor mechanics, and it also included a wheel alignment section. The rear section was devoted to engine reconditioning, cylinder head and crankshaft repairs and this also contained a fully equipped dynamometer and chassis dynamometer.
The aftermarket business not only covered these parts but included such products as Selby’s Suspension Products (sway bars, coil springs and shock absorbers). Over the years the company was servicing a large range of customers such as the Australian Army, Albion Reid quarries and many others.
“Doug arrived amid a period of rapid expansion in the company and was a great asset from day one with his great interpersonal skills of service in every aspect of the day-to-day business handling unit and parts sales, the procurement of parts, warranty issues plus many other tasks in a friendly and professional way,” Doug’s first boss, Danny Williams, said.
Much to his sorrow, due to COVID, Danny was unable to be there on the occasion to shake Doug’s hand and look him in the eye to say thank you personally.
HM GEM Principal, Bruce Parker, and General Manager, Dean Taylor, conveyed their personal thanks and the thanks of all personnel in the company to Doug for his dedication and exceptional service.
With 50 years of experience behind him Doug is continuing to work on reduced hours passing on the knowledge gained to a younger team of equally dedicated people.

For more information, visit www.hmgem.com.au