Pat & Tina's 50 Great Years of Service

FOR five decades, Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station has been a staple of the community, providing reliable and friendly service to generations of customers. Through hard work, dedication, and a deep commitment to customer care, the legacy created by Pat Di Conza and continued proudly by his family, is truly worthy of celebration.

Photo:

Joe Di Conza, owner of Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station

From the bottom of our heart, we would like to thank you all for celebrating this important milestone.

Joe Di Conza

“Tina, Joe and Angela would like to thank everyone who has been a part of our 50 years in business.

Pat, who passed away back in 2003 would always say that our customers are like friends and family, and that’s the way he treated everyone.

From the bottom of our heart, we would like to thank you all for celebrating this important milestone. We love providing customer service for our whole community.

Thank you.”

-Joe Di Conza

& Tina with bp awards -

with his son Joe in the early days - 1980s

Three cheers for 50 years

ONLY those local businesses with such an impeccable commitment to their service, their customers and their communities stand the trials of time whilst maintaining such a proud name over decades and across generations.

Very few have made a more significant impact across Shepparton than the Di Conza family operating out of the iconic Pat & Tina’s Service Station over their 50 years in business.

For decades, Pat & Tina’s has been a household name across the Goulburn Valley and afar. Their outstanding reputation and the community support behind them are due to their exceptional old-fashioned service, their loyalty to their customers, local businesses and organisations, family, and friends and their unwavering work ethic.

In the 50 years since opening, The team at Pat & Tina’s has

seen it all, from the pandemic and stay-at-home orders, floods and family tragedy, the rising price of petrol and the changing self-service industry, which is a far cry from the kind of values that Pat, Tina and family had held close to their heart.

Throughout it all, the Di Conza family have remained dedicated and true to their principles and today, they celebrate their golden anniversary in business.

Just like Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station, the Di Conza family has continued to grow. Pictured from left is Johanna and Michael Di Conza with their sons Luca and Lorenzo, Emily Feldtmann and Pat Di Conza and their daughter Lydia, Anthony Di Conza, Angela, Joe and Tina Di Conza.

Pictured is Michael and Joe Di Conza, with long-term staff members at Pat & Tina’s, Tony De Rose and Dom Cannizzaro. Photos: Deanne Jeffers

John Anderson,

Greater Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry president

THE experience for a customer to Pat and Tina’s is one of family.

Tina, Joe, Angela, and their staff know their customers, and everyone is treated like they are friends with jokes about football teams, “how is your day” and what are you doing.

People who patronise Pat and Tina’s don’t focus on the price of fuel, they go for the way their full-service experience means the windscreen that was covered in bugs is cleaned,

tyres checked and all the other aspects of car maintenance that is not done by any other service station in Shepparton or afar.

The original owner, Pat Di Conza was an individual with a vision for service to customers and giving back to the community in so many ways that have filtered down to Joe and his team.

On behalf of the Anderson family and the Greater

Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I would like to offer sincere congratulations to the Di Conza family for being icons of service to customers and the community of Shepparton for 50 years.

Pat and Tina’s Service Station was inducted into the Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame in 2013 and was well deserved.

A message from...

Peter Hill,

Museum of Vehicle Evolution executive officer

We look forward to our continued relationship

The Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) is a place that is all about community and bringing people together both locally and from outside of the region. Exactly the same could be said about Pat & Tina’s Service Station. Where else can you find a service station that provides old fashioned service that not only includes filling the tank, but also checking your oil, tyre pressure and

getting rid of the summer bugs from the windshield?

When MOVE was in its initial planning stages, Joe Di Conza approached us and not only wanted to contribute to MOVE, but he wanted to create a likeness of the garage his parents created 50 years ago. That exhibit now stands as a tribute to the whole Di Conza family inside MOVE. A tribute to what hard work and a genuine focus on customer service can deliver.

It takes dedication, hardwork, and a commitment to excellence to reach a milestone like 50 years in business. We at Vehicle & Equipment are honoured to celebrate this impressive achievement with you.

As a fellow business owner, we understand the challenges and rewards. We know first hand how much work it takes to achieve this level of success, and we are proud to call you life long friends.

A true family business

THE exemplary service and unrivalled charm of Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station would not be the same if not for the arduous work of and strong family ties between the Di Conza family.

Joe said he feels incredibly proud to have his family around him and to watch his own grandchildren in the service station where he grew up.

“There were moments in my life that I never thought I’d be married. You know, you go through periods where you think, if I end up alone then I end up alone. Then, in the blink of an eye, in 25 years later Angela and I have been married, we’ve had three boys of our own and now we’ve got three grandchildren of our own,” said Joe.

“For my mother to have great grandchildren is an incredible experience for her. I would love to have dad still around.”

The Di Conza family was left devastated when, in 1991, Joe’s younger sister Alfina passed away after her battle with Hodgkin’s Disease. She was just 20 years old. Then,

in 2003, the family was rocked again when Pat passed away following a short battle with Pancreatic cancer at the age of 68.

Joe said, “He never showed that he was sick, he never complained. It was 28 days of suffering and the week dad passed, there was a procession of our customers, family and friends who came through the service station to say goodbye. Nobody knew he was dying until that last week.”

After Pat’s passing, under different circumstances, Joe became the head of the family and the business, supporting his mum and continuing his father’s legacy, a role he was honoured to fill.

Today, Tina can still be found in the kitchen or in the workshop at Pat & Tina’s. Joe said, "Mum's not doing as much as she used to, but she still likes to come and chat to customers. She mainly sits in the kitchen, watching people or she'll be out in the workshop on the trolley that she uses to help her walk around. She doesn't serve like she used to, but she still tries

to come in every day."

With his sincere love of family, Joe has enjoyed every moment watching his own three boys grow up around the service station. He takes great pleasure in sharing this special place with his grandchildren.

The eldest of the growing family, Lorenzo, Joe says, “he is my little shadow. He loves being here. Being the eldest of the three, everything I do, he’s got to do.

“It’s dangerous for him in the driveway, and he hates when I’m out there because he wants to be out there too.”

Today, each family member still has a role to play in the ongoing success of the business. Joe continues to lead the business into the future, Angela does bookkeeping and works inside the shop and in the driveway while supporting Tina. Angela and Joe’s three sons Michael, Anthony and Pat are frequently found around the service station helping out the same way Joe and his sister grew up, with Michael working there full time.

Proud to be wearing their new 50th anniversary commemorative shirts are Johanna and Michael Di Conza with sons Luca and Lorenzo, Pat Di Conza and Emily Feldtmann and their daughter Lydia, with Anthony Di Conza.

Photo: Deanne Jeffers

The next generation, granson Lorenzo already helping around the service station.

Fuelled by old-fashioned and legendary service

THERE is something truly exceptional about the old-fashioned, individualised customer service you receive every time you fill up your tank at Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station.

In such a competitive landscape, it’s exceptional to see their staff take the time to come and clean your windscreen while they help fill your car. If you don’t want your windows cleaned, then you can enjoy a pleasant chat about footy or the weather with the friendly staff while you wait. At Pat & Tina’s, community service and customer satisfaction underpin everything they do.

Since their opening in 1973, Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station has been a much-loved part of the Shepparton community and the wider region. Customers regularly return to receive the kind of old-fashioned, service-with-a-smile, which has become more and more of a rarity since the self-service model was introduced.

Joe Di Conza, proud co-owner of Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station said, “Having a model of service which is the same today as it was over 50 years ago is important.

“The experience and service we offer mean the most to our customers and that’s why they keep coming back.”

A message from...

Cr Shane Sali,

City of Greater Shepparton mayor

On behalf of Greater Shepparton City Council, we wish Pat and Tina’s Service Station congratulations on their 50 year anniversary in business.

This fantastic achievement is a testament to the family run business and the unique service they still provide to our region.

message from...

Sam Birrell MP,

Federal Member for Nicholls

At

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Many of us would have positive stories from visiting Pat and Tina’s Service Station over the years. It is safe to say you are always greeted with a big smile and a friendly attitude.

Small businesses are the backbone of Greater Shepparton and it is great to see our community continue to support them, and the many others, which have established ties in our region.

We wish Tina, Joe, Angela and family all the best for another 50 years in business.

The team at Renato’s Florist congratulate Tina,

Adviser journalist, Deanne Jeffers caught up with Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell pictured with Tina and Joe Di Conza

Wendy Lovell MP,

State Member for Northern Victoria

Congratulations to Tina, Joe Ange and the team at Pat and Tina’s on 50 years of outstanding service to our community.

When Pat and Tina started their business 50 years ago, driveway service was the norm, where you got your petrol pumped into your car and your car windscreens cleaned, all without the need to get out of your car.

The team at Pat & Tina’s has continued this service into the modern era, thanks to their son Joe and his wife Angela who I am proud to call friends.

Joe and his team provide outstanding service with a smile, and I always enjoy talking football with Joe, a

Kim O’Keeffe MP, State Member for Shepparton & District

Pat & Tinas BP Service Station are a much loved locally owned business and a testament to not only hard work and commitment to the success of their business, but to their special care and connection to their customers, and to the community more broadly. They don’t just provide a service, they have provided so much more than that over the 50 past years.

and they should be really proud. 50 years is truly outstanding and I congratulate them on this wonderful milestone and thank them for their service.

I am sure it is a time of reflection and celebration,

Melbourne Demons tragic. I often recommend Pat and Tina’s to visitors to Shepparton, telling them it’s the best service in the state.

As a member of a family that has owned and operated a small business in Shepparton for many years, I know the dedication needed to run a family business that not only provides outstanding service but also provides employment to others. That is why it is so important that we support local businesses.

Congratulations to the Di Conza Family of Pat & Tina’s Service Station on 50 years of wonderful service to the Goulburn Valley community.

State Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell with Joe.

State Member for Shepparton District Kim O’Keeffe with Joe Di Conza

A moment to remember

THE tale of Pat & Tina’s Service Station lives on in the stories of their friends, their family and loyal customers. Their slice of history has also been forever preserved in the history archives, through the standing replica of the iconic service station exhibited inside the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) in Kialla.

“MOVE is an iconic place, and to be honoured as a local

business person and to be iconed in a place like that was so touching, mainly for my mother and father’s legacy of what they’ve proven,” said Joe.

“Because when we opened here in 1973, the knockers said that my dad wouldn’t last six months because we were too far out of town. They said we wouldn’t survive at all, and here we are 50 years later, and we’re still thriving on this policy of

looking after friends and family as customers.”

"It’s an honour and it’s touching to go out there as a family. When we visit MOVE, it feels just so special.”

MOVE Museum executive officer, Peter Hill said the decision to include the famous full-service station was an easy one.

Peter said the exhibition is, “a tribute to what hard work and a genuine focus on customer service can deliver.”

Joe said it was an honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year the family business reached its’ 40th year in business. Joe and Angela are pictured in the centre with the perpetual trophy and Hall of Fame Certificate, with their children (L-R) Michael, Anthony and Pat, alongside Joe’s mother-inlaw, Dina Cardillo. Staff members Tony De Rose, former staff member Kelvin Norbury, and Dom Cannizzaro are pictured from left in the back row.

Legendary service station enters Hall of Fame for exceptional service and business excellence

10 YEARS ago, the same year the Di Conza family marked their milestone 40 years in business, Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station was inducted into the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s ‘Hall of Fame’.

Each year, a local business is honoured with the Hall of Fame award at the annual Business Gala Dinner and Awards night. Hall of Fame winners are recognised from excellence in Customer Service and Business Excellence as a Chamber Member, since joining and being a continuous member over a number of years.

Winners receive a perpetual trophy and Hall of Fame Certificate and significant press coverage and general media coverage.

John Anderson, the president of the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Pat and Tina’s Service Station being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013 and was well deserved.

Joe said, “To be inducted that night in the Hall of Fame, surrounded by all our peers in the local community and the Chamber, was incredible.”

No stranger to well-deserved prestige, throughout the 80s and 90s, Pat & Tina’s were awarded with a multitude of national awards for customer service and compliance through bp Australia-wide. It was a rewarding time and the values that earned them such a proud reputation continues today.

Joe Di Conza pictured at the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2013 Business Awards Gala Dinner with the well-deserved perpetual trophy.

&

BP

Local people are their lifeblood

TO the Di Conza family, supporting local businesses means supporting local families. Their staff are treated like they are their own.

Joe said, “We employ five other staff members outside of the family. So, that’s five other families that we look after.”

part of our business. They are more than just employees, they’re good friends.”

“Our team are reliable, trustworthy, honest people who take pride in looking after our customers, which in turn supports us in the way we like to operate our business.

“Employing local people is so important because in a community like ours, local people are our life blood. We believe it’s important to support your local businesses just as much as your local community, and that’s just what we do.”

Pictured is junior staff member, Izaac Thompson-Fethney Tina and Angela working at the check-out

Working at Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station was Tyren Rodaughan’s first job, a position he continues to hold onto even though he has moved to Melbourne and bought a house down there. Tyren visits the region every few weeks to help out at Pat & Tina’s, giving him the opportunity to catch up with his family and friends that still live here. Photos: Deanne Jeffers

Pat & Tina’s bp Service

Pictured are long-term staff members, Tony De Rose and Dom Cannizzaro.

Melissa Groppo, A message from...

Chris Ripley,

Linfox National scheduling manager – bulk fuels

Linfox has been delivering on behalf of bp to Pat & Tina service station since 2014, and we are proud to say that our drivers have formed a close bond with the family-owned business.

We visit the site managed by their son Joe two to three times a week, and each time, Joe welcomes our drivers with his generous hospitality, often offering them a refreshing drink or, on some lucky occasions, breakfast.

I have always attributed Joe's warm and inviting nature to his Italian heritage. In a world where people are always in a hurry, Joe takes the time to make sure everyone feels seen and valued, especially his customers.

bp Australia business manager

While Linfox services hundreds of service stations, we are confident that Pat &Tina is the only site where the staff go above and beyond by not only filling up customers' vehicles with fuel but also checking their oil and water levels, cleaning their windshields, and ensuring their safety for the remainder of their journey.

Despite facing difficult times, such as last year's site flooding, the family has shown remarkable resilience. They have always remained positive, demonstrating strength and determination that is truly inspiring.

At Linfox, we take pride in being a bp trusted carrier, and we would be honoured to continue servicing Pat & Tina for the next 50 years.

I wish to sincerely congratulate bp Pat & Tina’s on such a significant milestone.

A 50 year partnership with bp is not something everyone gets to experience every day and I am thrilled to be a part of such a fantastic commemorative occasion for both the Di Cionza family and the Shepparton community.

bp Pat & Tina’s are renowned for being one of the only remaining service

stations in Australia that provide their customers with driveway service. Their customer centric attitude is second to none and they have been an absolute pleasure to work with since I have joined bp.

I look forward to celebrating many more milestones together with the Di Conza’s and wish them a very memorable night of festivities for their 50 year anniversary.

Linfox driver trainer Ben Tiso commented during a recent fuel delivery to Pat & Tina’s that he gets to travel far and wide to deliver fuel on behalf of Linfox, and he has never seen a similar full-service business model or the same warmth emulated that is a mainstay at Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station. He said their business is truly unique. Ben is pictured with Joe on traffic control during a fuel delivery.

PAT & TINA’S BP SERVICE STATION

Di Conza is mad about the Demons, and he’s not afraid to show it

JOE Di Conza is arguably Shepparton’s most ardent Demon’s supporter.

Affectionately calling them, ‘my demons,’ Joe said, “I’ve been a member of the Melbourne Football Club for over 34 years, been a player sponsor for 28 years and all the family members are part of the Foundation Heroes Inner Sanctum Club.”

To be a Foundation Hero, sponsors must donate a sum of money to the club. Joe has made sizeable donations to the Demons to commemorate the birth of each of his three children and he has followed this traditional welcoming his grandchildren. All their names are honoured on the Foundation Heroes website.

With 57 years between grand final wins, few Demons supporters had seen their team take the flag until their big win in 2021. Joe was one such follower that was thirsty for Melbourne

to come out on top, having attended matches where they came close, winning against Hawthorn in 1988 and Essendon in 2000.

“I never thought I’d see a flag,” Joe said. “It was just incredible. To think of the suffering that we’ve had.”

“My son Pat summed it up the best. He said that for all the times that I got teased at school for barracking for Melbourne, wearing my Melbourne top at football training, and getting teased because we’re always on the bottom. They can all get stuffed now because we’re premiers, we’ve done it, we achieved it and we’ve got a window of opportunity of winning another one.”

To celebrate the Demon’s 2021-win, Joe in his Melbourne guernsey spent the weekend giving away over 275 Furphy beer stubbies to customers.

Joe said, "I couldn’t get to the Marketplace

to see the premiership cup in person when it came to Shepparton because of the business.

“So, they drove the cup to me. They came here in a Jaguar, and I filled the Jag up for them and I got to hold the cup. It was just great. It was an emotional time, it felt like having another child.”

“To have the premiership cup physically up here in Shepparton was great for all the local supporters to get our hands on it, get a photo and just get amongst the premiership buzz.

“Seeing the cup with the name Melbourne on it had been a dream of mine for a long time.”

Joe's son Michael was not able to see the cup during its visit to Shepparton either, and Joe was blown away when the club offered a private box to the Di Conza family for round one in 2022 against the Western Bulldogs. The premiership cup was then presented again to the whole family.

To celebrate the Demon’s grand final win in 2021, Joe spent the weekend giving away over 275 Furphy beer stubbies to customers. Joe jokes that the community want the Demons to win another grand final, especially if it means Joe will be handing out free beers in the drive way.

The family pictured with the premiership cup at Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station during its tour of the region, from left is Pat, Anthony, Joe, Johanna, Angela and Lorenzo.

A message from...

"50 years of Pat and Tina’s Service Station –wow! Congratulations to Joe and the Di Conza family on the incredible achievement. Your impact on the Goulburn Valley and the Melbourne Football Club is unmatched!" –Ben Brown, Melbourne Demons

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 27: during the 2023 Melbourne Official Team Photo Day at AAMI Park on February 27, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

Ben Brown, Kate Roffey,

Melbourne Football Club player president of the Melbourne Football Club

A message from...

ON behalf of the Melbourne Football Club, I would like to congratulate the Di Conza family on 50 years of Pat and Tina’s Service Station.

You should all be incredibly proud of this achievement, and the impact you have had on the local region. I don’t doubt that you have experienced a lot over the years, but the fact you’re still going strong brings a smile to the face of many.

When we visited Pat and Tina’s nearly 18 months ago, with our 2021 AFL premiership cup in tow, we saw first-hand the strong family values this business has been built on. From the amazing service to the unrivalled Demons

memorabilia collection out the back, it’s no surprise that we’re now celebrating this special milestone. Thank you for letting us be part of your journey.

Congratulations again. We look forward to celebrating many more years of Pat and Tina’s.

Go Dees!

Left to Right: Josh, John, Arthur, Les & Bayley Kreskas.

Happy 50th

BROWNS

to Joe, Ange, Tina and the team at Pat & Tina’s BP Service Station. Ph: 03 5821 2988 Cnr The Boulevard & Mason St, Shepparton

SHEPPARTON PLASTER WORKS 1926 - 2023

& SHEPPARTON Ph 5822 2288

The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) congratulates Pat & Tina’s BP Service Station on 50 years of exceptional service in the independent fuel retail industry.

A long-term VACC member, having joined in 2000, Pat & Tina’s is a true family-run business serving customers and the community with a smile.

A message from... CONGRATULATIONS TO JOE, ANGE, TINA AND THE TEAM AT PAT & TINA’S BP SERVICE STATION ON YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Wishing you continued success in the years ahead!

PAT Congratulations to Tina, Joe, Ange and the team at Pat & Tina’s BP Service Station on 50 years of outstanding service to the Goulburn Valley community.

a freshly cleaned windscreen. It sounds old school, but it’s a modern set-up with timeless values.

Joe and the team remind us all that the community appreciates well-run, hardworking and customer-friendly small businesses – and they continue to be the backbone of Australia.

There aren’t many service stations where you are greeted on the forecourt, helped to fill up and then drive off with

Anniversary 14 Welsford St, Shepparton Congratulations on good old fashioned country hospitality and service… for 50 years and counting! Whatever your foot problem is... Book an appointment today 5822 1855 or online sheppartonfootclinic.com.au GVF SKYLIGHTS GOULBURN VALLEY FLASH INGS Jarrod and Yvette Thomson of would like to take this extra special opportunity to congratulate Joe, Angela and family along with the Pat and Tina’s Service

Many congratulations to Pat & Tina’s BP Service Station, and here’s to the next 50 years!

Goulburn Valley Hospice Care

GV Hospice wishes to congratulate BP Shepparton Pat and Tina’s Service Station on their 50th anniversary and thank them for their support and generosity for over 30 years.

“When GV Hospice was established in 1989 the Di Conza family provided fuel for the GV Hospice cars free of charge. They continue to provide us with great service through Joe and Angela and the

team,” president of the Committee of Management Jeanette Powell AM said.

“On behalf of the Committee of Management, Staff and Volunteers I wish to acknowledge all at Pat and Tina’s on 50 years of outstanding care and service to the local community. The staff not only appreciate the support, they value the fantastic customer service provided to everyone who purchases fuel."

Pictured with Joe Di Conza from left are Goulburn Valley Hospice Care staff members Annie Jorgensen, Marjo Reijnen, Shirley Taylor and Ross Johnstone. Photo: Supplied

Rising to every challenge, tough through every test

READING about the history of Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station and the Di Conza family, you get a sense of the adversities they have faced to get to this momentous time 50 years later.

As any small business owner would know, there are numerous challenges and obstacles to overcome in order to achieve long-term success. From economic downturns and changes in consumer behaviour to rising costs and intense competition, the road to success is seldom easy. But through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to exceptional customer service, the Di Conza family and Pat & Tina's bp Service Station have emerged as a shining example of resilience and perseverance.

business closed, but their home temporarily destroyed.

“We lived here from ‘73 when we opened, to about 1981-82, then Mum and my dad built a house in Lister Crescent (Shepparton).”

“We had to move because of the flood in ‘74 and we had to move everything out of the building. We moved into my grandmother’s house lived with them for a little period while the place got cleaned up.”

We had a fair bit of water at the front. We only had probably between 15 to 20cm of water through the shop this time

Less than a year after their official opening, Pat & Tina’s was forced to close in 1974 when Shepparton’s worst historic floods impacted the service station.

“1974 floods were really really bad. We had over a metre of water in the shop. Mum and Dad had to close for a long period until we got everything cleaned.”

At the time, the family lived in a small area at the back of the shop. Not only was their

Joe said “It was a double whammy, because it was our home and our business.”

It was not the last time, with the service station again being forced to close amidst 2022’s October flood event.

Joe said, “We had a fair bit of water at the front. We only had probably between 15 to 20cm of water through the shop this time.”

“We sandbagged as much as we could from the front in ‘74, but the water inundated us from behind and knocked all the sandbags out. We managed it a bit better this time from what we learned about sandbagging then.”

“In ‘74, they got us from the back. We never really did anything out the back, whereas this time, we sandbagged the back and the front. That slowed the water, and we didn’t get as much inside the shop this time around.”

Half a century of humble service

With no one to operate the new service station, Tino wrote to Pat in Italy asking him if he would run the service station and saying that to do so, he would need to find a brand to operate under.

Pat secured permission from the Guyatt family who ran Goulburn Valley Motors, the only other Shepparton bp service station across from where the Shepparton Sports Stadium is now located. They signed the agreement opening Pat & Tina’s Service Station under the bp banner on April 4, 1973.

Before there was Pat and Tina’s, there was Pat & Tino’s, a Golden Fleece Service Station operated by Pat Di Conza and his brother in-law Tino Leo, married to Tina’s sister Frances. Situated across the road from where Pat & Tina’s is now, this venture into the service station industry in 1967 benefitted from Pat’s background in mechanics, having worked at Smith Motors, a Ford dealership on the corner of Wyndham and Nixon Streets.

Together the two sisters and brother in-laws operated the Golden Fleece Service Station for five years, finishing up in 1972. At that time, Pat’s father in Italy became ill and the family returned to Italy for six months to care for him. While the family was overseas, Tino and Frances bought land in Shepparton on Verney Road, where he opened Tino’s Paint and Panel, and on Numurkah Road, where Pat & Tina’s Service Station was constructed at the site it remains today.

According to the consensus of the local people at the time, Pat was crazy to open a service station so far out of town. They said it wouldn’t last six months, but as soon as Pat and Tina’s customers from the Golden Fleece Service Station found out they had moved, they followed them.

Pat & Tina worked tirelessly to get the business off the ground, living in a small part of the building at the rear of the service station, offering fuel and complete mechanical servicing through the day and detailing cars at night for extra money. Joe said, “To try and establish a business at that time, even though we had a lot of clients from the old service station, it wasn’t enough.

The 70s were a particularly difficult time for Pat & Tina’s. The worst floods in Shepparton’s history took place in 1974, less than a year after their opening. The floods devastated north Shepparton and Pat & Tina’s was inundated and forced to close. Joe said, “We sandbagged as much as we could from the front, but the water inundated us from behind and knocked all the sandbags out. The clean-up was extensive, and we were forced to close for about three weeks. Dad always said it felt like a year.” After re-opening it was business as usual.

By the age of eight in 1976, Joe had started pumping petrol and helping around the service station, and his sister Alfina began helping with bookwork and being involved in the family business at around the age of 10 in 1981.

In 1978 EFTPOS was introduced with approximately five percent of customers utilising the modern technology. In 2020, there were 7.6B electronic transactions, which includes debit and credit card transactions, online payments, and direct debits.

Joe said, “Dad could never understand the concept of EFTPOS because he liked cash. It’s the European background in him and to have very little cash, but to still have the sales that we were doing... he couldn’t comprehend it.”

Joe completed his HSC in 1988 and joined the business full time. Throughout the 80s and 90s Pat & Tina’s won several customer service and compliance awards through bp Australia-wide. It was a rewarding time.

The Di Conza family was left devastated again in September 2003 when Pat passed away from a short battle with Pancreatic cancer at the age of 68. Joe said, “He never showed that he was sick, he never complained. It was 28 days of suffering and the week he passed, there was a procession of our customers, family and friends who came to the service station to say goodbye. Nobody knew he was dying until that last week.”

After Pat’s passing, under difficult circumstances, Joe became the head of the family supporting his mum and continuing his dad’s legacy, a role which he was honoured to fulfil.

Alfina passed away after her battle with Hodgkin’s Disease in 1991, devastating the tight knit family. She was just 20 years old. In response to her passing, Pat & Tina launched their initial fundraising efforts in support of GV Hospice Care Services in Shepparton in appreciation of the care they had shown Alfina. bp came on board donating a significant sum of money to the cause in support of Pat & Tina.

Pat & Tina’s celebrated 21 years and introduced the fresh look bp Green giving the service station a new lease on life.

Joe married Angela, bringing her into the family business. Their eldest son, Pat was born in 1999 followed by Michael in 2000 and Anthony was born in November 2003.

bp Australia went through a national re-branding introducing the Helios flower as a part of the new world zoned bp banner, uniting all bp service stations in a uniform brand across the world.

The new green look put life into the service station.

Pat and Tina with a bp representative and Joe Di Conza. When Pat & Tina’s daughter Alfina passed away at the young age of 20, bp donated a cheque to the family to be donated to GV Hospice Care.

Pat Di Conza, eldest child of Angela and Joe.

Into the present and future

Pat & Tina’s were awarded both State and National Awards for BP Buying Group Compliance for a single site reseller. The biggest honour for a single operated site under the BP brand and a tribute to the service Pat & Tina’s provides. Also in 2011, Pat & Tina’s, and Joe in particular, was recognised for his longstanding support and contribution to Joe’s beloved Melbourne Football Club. As any of Joe’s customers would know, Joe is passionate about his Demons which is a constant source of banter among family and friends and particularly Tina, who is a diehard Geelong supporter.

Pat & Tina’s Service Station reaches its 40th anniversary and in the same year, the business was inducted into the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Hall of Fame.

Joe’s eldest son Pat turned 15, making him old enough to help around the service station. Since, his other children Michael and Anthony have followed suit helping out around the business as needed.

Joe and Angela welcome two more grandchildren, with Pat and Emily bringing Lydia into the world, and Michael and wife Johanna welcoming their second child Luca.

This year Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station celebrates 50 years of incredible work in business. Joe is immensely proud of his family’s journey and the legacy his parents created. Joe’s sons have joined the business and Michael works at the service station full time.

Joe said, “Two of my boys are doing carpentry at the moment. Michael has now come back and he started time at the service station with us. So you never know, he might end up taking over the business later. Who knows? We don’t know what the future brings yet. We’ll just see what happens.” One thing that is certain, is that the tried-and-true business model that has been successful over 50 years is not going away any time soon, even if they are one of the few remaining full-service stations in Australia.

“It’s what my customers locally expect from us, because of what we started in 1973. And if we drop the service, I reckon we’d end up closing, because we’re unique and passer-by’s that have come through Shepp before, they know we’re still here. Because we provide the service, they come back to us.”

“Now there’s a lot of service stations in Shepparton now. It’s mainly because of what Dad started that we’re still here, and I’d like to continue doing what my Dad has done,” said Joe.

The Covid pandemic brings new challenges to operating local businesses. Petrol prices skyrocket, with prices in excess of $2.03.9 at the pump, which was in line with Melbourne petrol prices, but was around 16 cents more than larger competitors in Shepparton. Pat & Tina’s, as well as competing petrol stations, were all running at a loss. This was exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. As fuel prices increased, average spending on other items decreased and Joe said they were forced to throw out food items like $2,500 worth of flavoured milk when it went out of date.

Joe said, “During the pandemic, we just weren’t getting volume of people anymore, so we were buying stock and it was just going out of date because no one was buying like they were previously.”

“We need local people to support local businesses. Not just us, but all the local businesses in town. We need support to help us survive.”

2020 was not all entirely punctuated with troubles though. Pat & Tina’s BP Service Station’s full-service business model received praise from the community who were more conscious than ever of touching public items.

“There was a lot of customers that posted on Facebook to come to us because you don’t have to get out of the car, we would wipe their cards for them, and we’d wear gloves to minimise contact.”

“We looked after it because there was a lot of Covid getting picked up by petrol nozzles.”

2020 was also the year Angela and Joe welcomed their first grandchild, Lorenzo, the son of middle-child Michael and wife Johanna.

The Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) opened its doors, inviting the public and visitors to explore the replica of Pat & Tina’s bp Service Station that is displayed in the MOVE Museum.

Rod Poliness, Joe Di Conza and Geoff Wright in 2013

aspect

outstanding

cars we sell.

Service with a smile

CUSTOMERS know when they pull into Pat & Tina’s Service Station that they’re going to be looked after and leave with a smile. Pat & Tina’s entire ethos is and always has, centered around the highest levels of customer service and care, priding themselves on going the extra mile with a ‘nothing is too much’ attitude.

Joe said, “The most important aspect of our business is our customer service and the interaction with our clients. As a family operate business, I cannot think of anything more important.”

“Nothing is too much trouble. We check water, oil and tyres while filling up our customers’ cars, we wash their windscreen too, and we’ll even fill up gas bottles too. We also offer ePay, and Citilink so customers can pay their toll fares, and looking to the future, we plan on providing EV chargers so that electric vehicles can be serviced here."

"I would say our customers come back to us for the windscreen wash – they don’t have to get their hands dirty,” said Joe. “They love chatting footy with Mum or myself. Our customers become great friends to us, and we love what we do because of them.

“It feels good to help people with their car needs, especially when there are customers

that don’t know or are unsure about how to check their oil and water, so they just keep coming back.

“We also offer support to people in the community with disabilities. Because we’re a drive-through service, customers who have low mobility or difficulty getting in and out of the car can simply pull up and we can take care of them without them needing to get out of the car. It’s the really simple thing like that which make our job so enjoyable,” Joe said.

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• Start-up discount: 10% discount on last year’s accounting fees for new business clients*

We can offer clients a broader range of services... including, business, farm and individual taxation, Self Managed Super Fund taxation, business planning, taxation advice, GST solutions and BAS, audit general insurance, vehicle & equipment finance and financial planning. We also registered Self Managed Super Fund auditors. We cover all aspects of accounting and taxation with a depth of expertise is hard to compare at affordable fees. M: 0418 337

Izaac Thompson-Fethney washing a customer’s windscreen. Joe says that it is the window washing service that really wins over customers.

Dom Cannizzaro fills up a jerry can for a customer in the Pat & Tina’s driveway. It’s just one of the special services that keeps their customers coming back.

Pat & Tina have been going for 50 years!

From everyone at bp, congratulations on your anniversary!