Mr. Richard Nathan

Awards 2003Already legendary in NSW, Nathans Prestige is the latest incarnation of a seemingly never-ending drive towards innovation and improvement by owner Richard Nathan.Nathan has strict pro ...

I pay tribute to one of my constituents, Richard Nathan, who has been instrumental in achieving the outcome that we see here today.Richard is the owner of Nathan's Prestige Autobody Repairs at Rouse Hill and, more importantly, is the chairman of the Body Repair Council of the Motor Traders Association.In that capacity he has given hundreds of hours of his time to make sure that the whole industry benefits out of this legislation.That task has involved him in many meetings with his members, government and insurance companies.He was also instrumental in lobbying all honourable members in this Chamber.

Mr Nathan, a somewhat older gentleman, has made that contribution despite trying to hand over his business to his sons and has worked hard for the outcome we have today.He has also been mindful of the need to have an industry solution that suits all auto body repairers, large and small, whether they have modern or technology.Mr Nathan's business employs 40 people, of whom seven are apprentices, and turns over some $5.5 million per annum.Unfortunately, because of this recent major dispute, its turnover has dramatically dropped and he has had to let some of his employees go.It has also made it very difficult, as it has for many other auto body repairers, to invest in further modern technology.Mr Nathan's business is one of the most technologically advanced in the State.He repairs not only cars but helicopters and trucks.
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On behalf of the entire community, I thank Richard Nathan and his son Grant for their efforts and their major contribution to this measure.

"We have discontinued our relationship with the NRMA and are currently completing jobs in progress only," said Dick Nathan of Nathans Prestige Autobody Repairs.

For more than 40 years, Dick, and more recently his son Grant, have been at the forefront of the collision repair industry in Australia and have built an international reputation as one of the most progressive repair shops in the world.

In 2002, the two men built a new 30,000 square feet collision repair facility on 2.5 acres of green fields in Sydney's northwest.

At the time, Motor Equipment News questioned the men's sanity, but with the track record Dick had built up over nearly 50 years it was pretty hard not to go along with his argument that the industry was changing and that insurance companies would see the benefit of a company that provided their customers with top-quality repairs and rapid turnaround.

At the official opening of the new mega shop Richard said:
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But in the long run it is hard for people of integrity and skill, such as Richard and Grant, and many thousands like them around the world, to begin to image the sheer stupidity and naked greed that drives most insurance companies.
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Getting back to the smaller picture, if the likes of Dick, Grant and John (MEN heard at the Trade Fair that a couple of other mega repairers are also set to follow the Nathan/Walker example) think that there is no money in repairing cars under the WRM system, then you can bet your life that this is the case.

With fellow MTA Councilor Richard Nathan, he has endured many marathon meetings and was instrumental in gaining the spray booth allowance.

"We won't sign," says Richard Nathan, owner of one of Sydney's largest body shops, Nathan's Prestige Body Repairs.

it. Richard Nathan, Body Repair Chairman of the Motor Traders Association

Richard Nathan, owner of the Nathan's Prestige Autobody Repairs business at which today's launch was held, said: "Smash repairers have been doing it tough for years.

It remains open under current owner Richard Nathan and includes an on-site Denny's restaurant.

Bids are being accepted through Aug. 26 by Fisher Auction Co., an auctioneering unit of commercial real estate firm Sperry Van Ness.Information: 325-5775, or on the Web at www.svn.com or www.fisherauctions.com.