WE ALL know someone who is guilty of watching the clock at work, but for more than 55 years that’s how Sandy McKinnon has made a living.
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At age 14, Mr McKinnon left high school to start his watchmaking apprenticeship under the guidance of Gunnedah’s Allan Mettam.
“I left school on Friday and started work on Monday,” he said.
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“I was 14 years old, I didn’t know anything else, it got me out of school.”
After learning the ropes under Mr Mettam, in November 1963, the young man opened the doors to his own shop, based in the newly opened Tamworth Southgate mall.
He said he’d learnt enough to keep himself interested and he was “going to make a fortune”.
His first recorded sale was a watch repair, which would set you back 35 shillings in 1963.
Asked if had accrued his fortune in the intervening years, he said with a laugh sitting at his work bench: “I wouldn’t still be here would I”.
His shop moved to Peel Street in the 1970s where he has seen the main drag go through many changes over time.
Once referred to by staff as “Mr Clock”, the longstanding Tamworth watchmaker has spent more than his fair share of time on the clock, toiling away after hours on customers’ repairs.
Mr McKinnon said he would be winding up his long career soon .
“I’ve organised myself so that I am my own boss and I can decide for myself,” he said.
Staff will celebrate his milestone next week knocking 10 per cent off all stock as well as dropping $2000 off a diamond ring.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
