Alstonville Automotive Services is located at 33 Northcott Crescent in the Russellton Industrial Estate at Alstonville. A large, modern and well equipped workshop, with ample off-street parking and a comfortable reception – waiting room should clients want to wait for their vehicles. Alstonville Automotive Services offers a drop off/pick up service for clients requiring to return to home or get to work in the local area, and in the event of a client dropping their vehicle off prior to opening times, there is the convenience of a secure ‘key box’ at the front gate. In the event that a client’s car requires an overnight (or extended) stay, there is a fully secured and enclosed compound and ample room for undercover storage in the workshop.
With 38 years of mechanical experience and training, Proprietor Mal Tolson is highly qualified in his field with a speciality in LPG Conversions and Repairs and has held a full LPG Licence since 1993. Mal has also been a RMS Inspector since 1992 and when the Blue Slip regulations came in was one of the first mechanics on the North Coast to gain full Light Vehicle Inspection status.
As testament to the quality of workmanship and their firm belief of good old fashion personal service to their clients throughout this time, Mal and his wife Kerry Tolson have built a strong customer base, which is now seeing an extension into third generation family members of long-term customers bringing their vehicles to Alstonville Automotive Services.
Holding a firm belief in the importance of investing in the future of the industry and training the new generation of mechanical engineers close to their business ethos, the business Alstonville Automotive Services is an active participant in industry workplace training programes, training apprentices and hosting work-experience students on a continuous basis through the Connect Training Group and untill recently Mal was an Industry Advisor with the Northern Rivers Automotive Training Advisory Group (2014/15).
Along with their belief of training for the future, Mal and Kerry also have a deep philosophy of giving back to the community, both locally and worldwide. Mal & Kerry Tolson and Alstonville Automotive Services have been proud sponsors of St Vincent Palliative Care for almost 20 years, as well as sponsors of The Winsome Lismore Soup Kitchen and the Ballina Soccer Club. They are also supporters of various children’s orphanages including the Cambodian Children’s Trust.
When not covered in grease and grasping the spanners, Mal and Kerry enjoy downtime hunting out interesting pieces of ‘garagenalia’. An avid collector of many years, Mal has uncovered many vintage garage signs, items and trade books which grace the walls and display cabinets in the office/reception room of Alstonville Automotive Services, much to the delight of clients and the general public alike, who enjoy seeing what’s newly added to the collection each time they come in.
