Days of my life
Rod Slater is the newest member of the Rotary Club of Heirisson. Today we were fortunate enough to hear Rod’s introduction speech to the club, a speech that was both humorous and inspiring given the early adversity that Rod needed to overcome.
Rod is originally from England and was born amongst the chaos and destruction caused by the Germans during the bombing of Britain. In fact, Rod said that it is an absolute miracle that he is alive today to tell his story. When Rod was child, his grandmother told him a story about him being in his mother’s arms when he was a baby and how a German plane sprayed the yard with bullets. Had it not been for his grandmother pushing both mother and child under a table, Rod would not be here today, the bullets in the apple tree were testimony to just how fortunate they were.
When Rod was 5 he decided, he wanted to go to school, something his dad didn’t want at the time. But Rod would have none of it. Instead, he followed his sister to school and enrolled himself, an admirable feat given his age and a sure sign of the determination that would serve him well in years to come.
When Rod was asked to write some short words, he wrote them backwards. Back then we had no understanding of Dyslexia, or at least no name for it. However, Rod was fortunate in that he had a teacher who took the time and helped him to write correctly. No doubt this was no easy task, but one that Rod is most grateful for.
When Rod was 5 his father took him to the speedway for the first time. This event changed his life and was the beginning of a love affair with motor sport.
In 1951 the family decided to pack up and leave for Australia and after a long sea journey the Slater family arrived in Perth. Soon after arriving, Rod when to see the speedway cars at Claremont where he spent time in the pit lanes and learnt how to swear. Rod wanted to be an auto mechanic but his dad was adamant that his son would be “no grease monkey.” Rod was not deterred, and when he was 13 he went searching for someone who would give him a job as an apprentice auto mechanic.
Fortunately for Rod, he was given an opportunity on the condition that he finished Year 8 and that he attended night school two days per week. While Rod was doing his apprenticeship, he was also busy at night school obtaining a Diploma in Business Management along with several other qualifications that would eventually lay the foundation for promotion to Service Manager and then General Manager.
In 1971, Rod decided to strike out on his own and started his own business called Eurocars. He became the WA distributor for Renault and Peugeot and was situated on the corner of Canning Hwy and Berwick St where the business remained for the next 23 years.
In addition to starting his own business, Rod also managed to win both the 1970 and 1971 WA Rally Championships. Rod retired from competitive Motor Sport in 1972.
Rod was elected to the Board of RAC in 1997 where he served a period as President. Rod was also Chairman of the West Australian Speedway Commission, and is the only life member of the Chamber Automotive Industries. Rod has also been involved with Rotary clubs for many years.
Rod still operates Eurocars from premises at Welshpool and Burswood but is intending on winding up Welshpool sometime in the future. Rod now spends some of his time working on his property at Yanchep with his mates. He is intending on writing a book with the apt title of “More than just a rally.” An interesting read no doubt, and one that will encapsulate a life well lived.
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