New job proves ‘a blessing’ for Shem

Shem Hale has been crazy about cars since he was a little kid, which makes him no different from the vast majority of 21-yearold men.

But if there’s anyone who should hate or fear cars, it’s Shem after he sustained a serious head injury, when he was hit by a car as a child.

‘‘I don’t like talking about how I received my head injury,’’ he said.

‘‘It been a challenge leaving all that behind and it brings back too many bad memories - I’ve moved on from that.’’

Originally from Kawerau, Shem moved to Te Aroha for better work opportunities.

Doors were shut in his face on so many occasions that he started to lose hope of ever finding a parttime job.

Until the day he and Enrich+ employment co-ordinator Catherine O’Neill decided to call into Nicholson Autos in Morrinsville.

Ross Nicholson and the team at Nicholson Autos gave Shem a chance to prove himself as a parttime car groomer.

Following on from a trial period he went to see Nicholson, to collect what he thought was going to be a written work reference.

What he got instead was a permanent, part-time car

‘‘All my dreams came true, getting a part-time job was such a blessing.’’

grooming job. ‘‘I couldn’t believe it,’’ he said. ‘‘All my dreams came true, getting a part-time job was such a blessing.’’

The self confessed perfectionist gets a lot of satisfaction out of what he does.

‘‘I love the whole process from watching a car go from being dirty to shiny, clean and new looking.’’

Shem was an ACC client before landing his dream job.

Catherine O’Neill said it was rare to find someone as keen to get into the workforce as Shem was.

‘‘I take my hat off to Shem, he’s been so proactive in terms of looking for a job,’’ she said.

‘‘ACC continue to support him, but his ambition is to be independent of this support. This is a tribute to Shem.

‘‘I’m really happy, not only because Shem found part time work, but because he’s doing something he really enjoys.’’

Shem currently has four cars and as this story went to print he was sitting his full driver’s licence.

Ultimately Shem wants to be a car salesman.

‘‘This job gives me my independence,’’ he said.

‘‘I get so much joy from doing it. I’ve always wanted to work with cars.’’