Peter Young selected the bold colours and finished the paint job with a coat of clear to withstand the elements.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Exploring roads in and around Shepparton, motorists would be familiar with the novelty features attached to buildings and poles that draw attention to the businesses behind them.
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A few that spring to mind are the terrifying giant redback on a Telford Dve shed, the huge pear atop a frame in an orchard down Channel Rd, and, of course, the tail-end of a plane coming from the building at the wrecking yard in Archer St.
The plane was first added to the building’s design when local aerobatics legend Peter ‘Pip’ Borrman owned the business.
Since his tragic and untimely death at 54 early in 2009, it has remained there to honour the skilled pilot’s legacy, despite the wreckers changing owners a couple of times.
Pip sadly died practising aerobatic manoeuvres in Shepparton in his new Pitts Samson biplane, which he had planned to fly publicly for the first time at the following month’s Australian International Airshow.
The plane remains as a tribute to a former business owner, the late flying legend Peter ‘Pip’ Borrman.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Jack-of-all-trades Peter Young was a friend of Pip’s.
“We got on like a house on fire; I was always there,” Mr Young said.
Mr Young has been associated with the wreckers since 1969 when he was 16.
He was first an employee there, regularly a customer and has provided security to the business throughout the years.
Most recently, he was the handyman enlisted to make over the plane and the building.
Ten years ago, when the current owners, the Mgoter family, first took over the business, Mr Young had pleaded with them never to take the plane down.
“There’s so many people who loved Pip. He was a great person,” Mr Young said.
Mr Young said the Mgoters were wonderful people who respected the iconic status of the plane and kept it in place.
He was honoured to have been asked by them recently to help bring the broken and faded plane back to life.
Even the sign stills honours the former owner’s flying history.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
After visiting Gawne Aviation to view photos of Pip’s old plane, Mr Young got to work building a solid metal frame for the replica aircraft, filling it, painting it and adding details, such as the registration — VH-PIP — which was Pip’s actual ham radio frequency.
Mr Young said he shed a couple of tears while carrying out the restorative work as he reminisced about his flying friend.
It took him just 16 hours to complete and the job was finished by Monday night.
Beaming with pride at the result, Mr Young said before lunchtime on Tuesday, he had already received three phone calls of praise from passing eagle-eyed motorists who’d recognised his work and were equally impressed with the finished job.
You can take a look at it for yourself at 235 Archer St.
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