General News
8 June, 2026
Chance encounter keeps small business revving
THERE was a moment when Chris Ross wasn’t sure his business would go on. Before his stroke eight weeks ago, there was no back up plan for Wedderburn’s Reef Service Centre.
THERE was a moment when Chris Ross wasn’t sure his business would go on.
Before his stroke eight weeks ago, there was no back up plan for Wedderburn’s Reef Service Centre.
But a random chance meeting with a young man helping his in-laws with their landscaping business would soon chance everything.
And while he is almost at full strength, Mr Ross knew he needed to find a successor.
“Life is short and it wasn’t until this happened that I thought I needed to prepare a bit more,” he said.
After moving to Inglewood a few years ago, Josh Gibbs changed career paths a few times, but one thing was a constant - his love for cars.
“I used to work on them a lot as well as motorbikes with my dad when I was younger,” he said.
“It was just something I always loved.”
After needed to make ends meet for his young family, Mr Gibbs began helping out with his father-in-law’s landscaping business, which brought him to Mr Ross’ front yard.
“They sparked up a conversation and the rest his history,” a friend said.
“Chris just knew Josh was a smart young man and had a gut feeling he needed to keep him around.
“So they spoke about the potential for Josh to take on a mature age apprenticeship at the shop and he was over the moon with the offer.
“I think Chris can relax now knowing that he will be able to trust Josh with his lifetime of hard work and passion and hand over the reigns of Reef’s to him one day.”
Kylie said the pair had a lot in common, which make it easy for them to picture a long future working together.
“I think they can just read each other,” she said.
“Chris has a particular way of doing things and setting out his workshop and it’s the little things like Josh just being able to understand that and put things away in their spots that just make us smile.
“I think it was a lot of serendipity at play the day they met, it was just meant to be.”
Mr Ross assures everyone he will continue his love of the community and helping with their vehicle troubles - big or small - for as long as he can. He also thanked the Wedderburn and surrounding communities for their concern around his health.
- ALEX GRETGRIX
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