Wire & Gas 2026: Awards round-up

The Wire & Gas 2026 convention gala awards dinner (sponsored by NAPA) hosted 10 award presentations recognising automotive careers spanning more than four decades, workshops setting the standard on refrigerant handling, and the technicians and mentors coming up behind them.

Four VASA Industry Excellence Awards went to Colin Beards of Mobile Car Air Queensland, Andrew Passmore of Passmore Auto Air and Electrical in the Lower Clarence, Arie Oosterveen of Freeze Equip Sales and Service in Newcastle, and Rodney Smith, who runs CoolCar Air-Conditioning & Heating across three workshops in Auckland and Hamilton with VASA NZ director Catherine Tocker.

VASA Legend Awards were presented to Shayne Quaile and Robert Picone, who both retired late last year with a combined 90 years in the automotive industry.

VASA founding president Mark Mitchell presented the award to Mr Quaile, whose 45 years span air conditioning and auto electrical work, from R12 and analogue systems through to the integrated thermal management in today’s electrified drivetrains. Mr Mitchell said Shayne has played an active role in ensuring our industry could embrace change.

Robert Picone, who dedicated 45 years to CoolDrive Auto Parts and spent 13 years on the VASA board, was travelling overseas so CoolDrive key project manager and VASA director Tony Stephens accepted the award on his behalf.

Darrel Hursey of Tumut Auto Electrics took the Grant Hand Industry Mentor Award, announced by its inaugural recipient Ian Stangroome and presented by Grant Hand himself. Sebastian Moore of Natrad Wagga Wagga won the REDARC Young Technician of the Year award and the product package that comes with it, worth more than $5250 this year. David Ciccotelli of Bellbowrie Mechanical received the inaugural TaT Industry Champion Award.

The ARCtick Environment Award for Exemplary Refrigerant Management went to Rhys Collier of R-LEK Auto Electrical & Air-Conditioning in Roma, Queensland, who could not make the trip. ARC outreach engagement manager Greg Watts accepted for him.

One theme ran through the night without anyone planning it. Mr Moore thanked the mentor who took him to his first VASA conference exactly two years earlier. Mr Hursey said passing on everything you know moves you forward as well as the person you teach.

Mr Quaile put it plainest: “Please, grab yourself a mentor, two, maybe three,”he said. “Because it’ll teach you a lot.”