18/05/2026
🔥 There are motorcycle mechanics....
and then there's our MASTER TECHNICIAN, Lukas Kunneke. They're not all built equal. 🔥
This month marks 7 years since Lukas joined the crew at Mudgee Honda Centre.... and what a journey it's been.
Believe it or not, it all started with a casual chat between Jen and Lukas's mum, Estelle, in Just Jeans! The Kunneke family had only been in the country for a few weeks after moving from the UK, where Lukas was born. Estelle was shopping with Lukas's younger sister, Zoe, when they got chatting with Jen about 18-year-old Lukas wanting a job, and how he had a natural curiosity and ability for mechanics.
Jen suggested they pop into the Honda Centre and see Mick.
Safe to say.... that turned out to be a pretty good suggestion 👌
Today, Lukas is one of the best technicians in the country!
Lukas worked in our workshop gaining loads of hands-on experience from 2019. Often being thrown in the deep end, Lukas learned fast. In 2022, he was officially enrolled as an apprentice.
What is normally a four-year apprenticeship (three years at TAFE), was completed in just two years by Lukas. His knowledge and skills meant he would often help and guide his classmates at TAFE.
Lukas's TAFE teachers were so impressed with him that in 2024, Lukas was nominated not just by Mudgee Honda, but also by TAFE NSW, for the Ulysses Apprentice Of The Year program.
And guess what?...
He won!!! 💪
🥇🏆🏅🎖️
2024 Motorcycle Apprentice of the Year - NSW/ACT
AND....
🥇🏆🏅🎖️
2024 Motorcycle Apprentice of the Year - NATIONAL
And in true Lukas fashion.... he's such a quiet achiever that he didn't even attend the presentation to collect his awards 😂
Lukas's incredible mechanical knowledge, skill, and dedication to his trade have also earned him many other achievements that he won't boast about, so we'll do the boasting for him.....
🎖️ Honda Certified Technician - ADVANCED - 24th August 2023
🏅 Cert III Motorcycle Mechanical Technology - 12th June 2024
🏆 Honda Certified Technician - MASTER - 19th September 2024
Lukas is highly intelligent and has a remarkable ability to understand how things work mechanically and technically. He could do anything, and work anywhere.
So when we asked him why he's stayed loyal to Mudgee Honda through some fairly tough and toxic times, his answer was simple:
👉 "The friendships with everyone at work, and learning the ins and outs of Honda motorcycles, power equipment and side-by-sides."
Well, we're going to continue valuing this friendship and singing his praises..... because there ain't no way we're letting this one slip away 🤩
Lukas is properly motorbike obsessed too....
Over the years, he's owned quite the line-up:
🏍️ 2019 CBR650R
🏍️ 2017 CRF450R
🏍️ 2019 XSR650 (Yamaha.... shhhh 🤫😂)
🏍️ 2021 CB650R
🏍️ 2018 CB1000R
🏍️ 2001 CR125R
🏍️ 2019 CBR1000RR
🏍️ 2022 CRF1100 Africa Twin
And now... his pride and joy:
🔥A brand new 2026 CBR1000RR-R SP FIREBLADE☄️
Outside of work (or should we say ‘the hobby he gets paid for’ 😜) and motorbikes, Lukas has a passion for fi****ms. He’s a licenced, registered fi****ms owner, so when he's not in the workshop or out riding, he enjoys shooting and hunting on the weekends. Our older boys are always happy to load up a Honda SXS and join him.
Family is incredibly important to Lukas too. His younger sister Zoe, who is nine years younger than him, absolutely looks up to her big brother with admiration. Lukas has always been fiercely protective of Zoe, and amazingly, the siblings have never even had an argument — perhaps a reflection of Lukas's easy-going and low-key demeanour ❤️
And amongst all of that, Lukas recently married his wife Jess ❤️
Jess pops into the HC from time to time to lend a hand around the dealership, and we're very lucky to have both of them as part of the extended MHC family.
Lukas might never seek recognition, but we think it's important to celebrate great people when they deserve it. 🙌
Read on if you'd like to know more.....
Lukas was born in the UK to his British mother and South African father in 2000. He attended a small school in Mo*****gh Village, Devon, until the age of 11.
For his high school years, Lukas was home-schooled by Estelle, who clearly did an amazing job helping shape the thoughtful, capable, and humble young man he is today.
And what a fine teacher Estelle must have been, because Lukas achieved 96% on his Baccalaureate (Home-schooling Certificate). 💫
As a UK Army Cadet, Lukas was involved in Ten Tors, a hiking and navigation challenge held on Dartmoor (The Moores) in Southwest England. Organised by the British Army, it tests the resilience, teamwork, and self-sufficiency of 2,400 teenagers as they navigate harsh terrain to visit ten checkpoints over two days.
Lukas was the ONLY teenager in 2015, to complete the challenge at the age of 15!!! 💪 😮
Also at the tender age of 15, Lukas earned the coveted Marksman badge.
The Marksman title represents the highest standard of target shooting proficiency achieved on service rifles. To earn this title, cadets must undergo structured weapon handling and safety training before demonstrating highly accurate grouping and zeroing on the range.
Lukas scored above not only his peers of the same age, but above grown men!!! 🦸♂️
We're incredibly proud and grateful to have Lukas as an integral part of the Mudgee Honda Centre family.
Thanks for your hard work, loyalty, and everything you bring to the team, mate 👏🤝
Drop a 👏 or congratulations message for Lukas below!