It is easy to see the happiness in his eyes whenever he speaks about the memories of yesterday and the achievements of today. It is as though he is reliving a long journey that began under difficult circumstances and ended in a remarkable success story—one he has every reason to be proud of. He arrived in Australia carrying big dreams but with barely enough money to survive for a few days. In his first days, he spent three nights sleeping under the open sky before beginning the long journey of building a new life from scratch.
This is the story of a man who refused to let hardship define his future. Instead, he earned a respected place in Australian society while remaining deeply committed to preserving the reputation and image of the Arab community he proudly belongs to. Educated, humble, generous and compassionate, he finds genuine satisfaction in helping others and supporting those in need, away from the spotlight and without expecting anything in return.
That man is Mr Habib Al-Rachid, who transformed challenges into opportunities and turned his life into an inspiring example of perseverance, hard work and generosity. He is someone the Arab community and the media are proud to celebrate—not only for his business achievements in Australia, but also for his integrity, humanity and unwavering commitment to serving the community.
For this reason, The World Observer Newspaper met with Mr Al-Rachid to highlight his remarkable journey and present his story as an inspiration for young Arabs in Australia—a powerful reminder that difficult beginnings do not determine a person’s future, and that ambition, determination and hard work can transform the toughest circumstances into a success story worth telling.
Mr Al-Rachid recalls:
“I came to Australia as a tourist. When I arrived at the airport, I didn’t know a single person in the country, and I couldn’t speak English. I travelled to Sydney and stayed there for five days.
I spent my nights sleeping at St James Railway Station so I could survive on the little money I had left while trying to figure out what to do next.
On the third day, a woman pushing a stroller came by and was struggling to carry it up the stairs. I helped her, and she asked about my story. Somehow, I managed to explain that I was sleeping at the station and had no one to turn to. She wrote directions on a small piece of paper explaining how to get to Lakemba, where many Arabs lived.
Without knowing much, I eventually made my way to Lakemba. After searching for work, I found a job in a fruit and vegetable shop, where I worked for three months on a very modest wage. Later, I obtained a truck driver’s licence and worked for a short time driving a small truck.
I then found work on a flower farm owned by a Dutch man. While working there, I tried to learn a few Yugoslav words and phrases so I could communicate with some of the Yugoslav workers on the farm.”
After saving some money, Mr Al-Rachid leased a taxi licence and began working as a taxi driver.
“Eventually I bought my second taxi, then a third, until I owned a fleet of twenty taxis. In the early days, I would drive during the day and spend my afternoons changing oil and carrying out minor mechanical repairs on my own taxis and those of other drivers at the Sydney bus depot.”
Around 1993, he opened a mechanical workshop specialising in taxi repairs. Four years later, he established his first Ford spare parts business under the name Mr Ford.
“Through hard work and dedication, I now own six stores, and we’re continuing to grow.”
Reflecting on his success, he says:
“My success did not come through luck. It came through hard work, determination and persistence. I firmly believe in the saying, ‘Those who work hard will succeed.’ We should all be proud of our achievements, regardless of the profession we choose.”
A Final Message
Mr Al-Rachid concludes:
“Luck may play a role in some people’s success, but that is the exception, not the rule. Young people need to understand that whoever plants will eventually harvest.
I also hope members of our community always remember that Australia is a wonderful country that has offered us opportunities, peace and kindness. We owe this country our loyalty, and we must raise our children to appreciate and remain committed to this beautiful nation.
Finally, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to everyone, and thank all our customers who visit our stores to purchase Ford spare parts. You are always welcome.”
Mr Ford Spares
Phone: (02) 9793 7999 | (02) 9793 7515
35–39 Beresford Avenue, Greenacre, NSW 2190
The World Observer Media produces a daily online newspaper, a daily Arabic online newspaper and a monthly printed Arabic/English magazine and a weekly printed Arabic/English newspaper.
The World Observer Media’s mission is to entertain and educate all generation from the Ethnic Communities in Australia, who are interested in local, national and foreign information. 
