WIRED
Issue 24 December 2011
PublicationofofthetheFencing FencingContractors Contractors Association of New Zealand Publication Association of New Zealand
Issue 2332ďż˝ September 2011 Issue December 2013
IN THIS ISSUE: Field Days Review PSA Risk Management Protocol System Stays Profile on McLenaghan Contracting Good v's Bad Northland Basalt
THIS ISSUE...
Accredited Fencing Contractors Elephant Protections Fencing Competition Results plus much more...
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PAGE 1 Subscription $50 per annum (4 issues) - Free to FCANZ members FCANZ, PO Box 19-389, Hamilton, 3244 New Zealand. Ph 0508 4 FCANZ (0508 4 32269) www.fencingcontractors.co.nz
FCANZ, PO Box 19 389, Hamilton, 3244 Ph 0508 4 FCANZ (0508 4 32269)
PRESIDENT’S REPORT Hi all, Welcome to the last issue of WIRED for 2013.
FCANZ would like to acknowledge the significant financial contribution that WIREMARK makes towards meeting the costs associated with the publication and distribution of WIRED.
Sincere thanks to our contributors:
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Mike Billinghurst Kiely Buttell Fairbrothers Farm Equipment News Paul Fitzsimmons Gallagher John Noakes Cherie Tomlinson Rural News Weekly Debbie White
Most of us have experienced a very changeable spring, with big winds throughout the country, especially the Canterbury region, heavy downpours of rain, and some hot days along the way. Hopefully the weather is settling down and doesn’t become too hot, too quickly. I have been lucky enough to visit a couple of different parts of the country and catch up with people from different walks of life. To me, things seem a little more positive out there. Talking with merchants, other fencing contractors, rural contractors, and builders, many more seem to be experiencing a good steady workload.
The Golden Pliers and Doubles Fencing Competitions were held in October, at the 150th Hawke’s Bay A & P Show. Congratulations to NZFC for organising this event. Special congratulations must go to Shane Bouskill for winning the Golden Pliers Trophy, along with winning the Doubles competition with Gordon Hansen. Jason Van Beers won the Bill Schuler competition; good to see the next generation coming along. Being there was a great opportunity to catch up with members and our Strategic Partners, and have some informal but informative conversations. As usual, this issue is packed full of articles and information that I’m sure all will enjoy. There’s more on the competitions,
and Accredited Fencers. By the way, if you are uncertain of where you stand with regard to training or being accredited, please contact Mike Billinghurst. We have the wheels in motion and are working towards setting standards for industrial fencing. Don’t forget the benefits of being a member of FCANZ; use them to your advantage. Remember the fencing calculator, as this is a great tool. Also, we are working on getting some quick startup guidelines out to you to make things easier. Support the industry, and enjoy a few days off with Christmas fast approaching. From the Board, have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Disclaimer: WIRED takes all due care in the preparation of this magazine but is not responsible or liable for any mistakes or omissions. Articles that appear in WIRED do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FCANZ. WIRED welcomes contributions but reserves the right to edit. Material sent in will not be returned unless requested and we are sent a self- addressed stamped enveolope to help with processing.
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FIELD DAYS 2011
Accredited Fencing Contractor
by Mike Billinghurst
People often ask what FCANZ is going to do for them when they become Accredited. I think there needs to be a change of mindset, to, ‘How can I use accreditation to improve my business outcomes?’ Becoming an Accredited contractor will alter the way people and businesses view your business. You are the one who can drive those changes. Be positive about the industry you work in. Take some time out from your daily grind, and attend things like the Association Days and the annual Conference which can help you make huge gains in your productivity. Alter work plans, make simple changes to certain tools, network with fellow contractors and come away with simple solutions that work for them—these are all easy ways to help your business.
Every one of you will know of at least one or two contractors who are not members of FCANZ. Go out and ask them why, and tell them some of the benefits of joining. Personally, I think that for the minimal cost of membership they are mugs if they don’t want to be on board with this Association. Not everyone wants to know who their competition is in their district, but actually it is better to know who you are quoting against, and how they work. Sometimes you can even work in with others to get the job done. If you can, tell your client why they should employ you as their contractor instead of the next guy, and that you have a few extras to offer them, such as: - Being Accredited, - Having an up-to-date Health and Safety Policy (this could actually save them a lot of hassle
if there was an accident), - Having public liability insurance, - Having a proven work record, & - Having staff who are trained for the specific job they do. These are all extras that help get you the contract. Becoming Accredited has pushed me to become a smarter business person. I know that there are not a lot of Accredited fencers out there, so I utilize the tools to help make my business hum. Keeping tools and machinery up to date and safe saves time and dollars in repairs and downtime. The criteria to becoming an Accredited contractor are fairly simple. - You need to have a minimum of Level 3 NZQA Fencing, which equates to basic chainsaw safety and a general knowledge
It may be time to let go of some of the small gripes we might have, and look at the bigger picture.
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I recently spent a few days at the Golden Pliers with FCANZ, and just seeing all the different tools and methods the various fencers used was eye-opening. Talking to some of these guys and asking about their methods on the fence line is one way to make your job more efficient. Everybody has their own ways of doing things; sharing these is a great way to get to know others and pick up ideas.
A vast amount of highly modified tools
of good, safe and tidy fencing work practices. - You need to have proof of at least three years in business; a letter from your accountant or bank manager will suffice. - You need three trade references from clients stating that you have done an excellent job on their fence site. - You need to hold employment contracts for your staff (available from Federated Farmers as an associate member with your annual FCANZ subscription). - If you employ sub-contractors, you need to have a signed form stating that they have been inducted into your safe work practices and have been shown all hazards. - You need to have a minimum of $1 million public liability insurance. - You need to hold a current first aid certificate with a minimum of one year left to run at the time send in your documents. - You need to have a signed ‘working’ Health and Safety Policy, specific to your business. A working policy means that you regularly check it and keep it up to date, ie. when new staff come on board, or when any new machinery is acquired the Policy is checked and any new hazards itemised. - You need to sign a declaration to state that you have a high regard for Health and Safety and employment issues in the industry. Cont...
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Most of these requirements are ‘must haves’ for any contractor who takes his business seriously; every FCANZ member should have a Health and Safety Policy, public liability insurance, first aid training, and staff contracts. In the few months since I have been on the Board, I have found that we have a great structure, and great partners and sponsors. The community is really taking note of us. We are being acknowledged by businesses and associations, both here and overseas. We are still in the growth stage, but it’s snowballing. GET ON BOARD! As an industry, we are in talks constantly with large corporate firms and regional bodies to give public profile to accredited members. To do this we need to have more of you willing to take it on, and keep at it!
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Our partner, Cyclone, has also given us the go-ahead to use the Master Fencer title, so that’s in the pipeline. We will be sure to make the title achievable, but it will take a lot of hard work, dedication, knowledge of fence systems and structures, soils, and quality control for starters. Watch this space!
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Product Review – Lincoln Power Mig 180C by Paul Fitzsimmons
We own three of these welders, one is around 5 years old, the other is a year old, the third is brand new, and they have been absolutely fantastic.
Operators do not require extensive training, and we have found our staff have been able weld gates on with minimal teaching. The machines can also be used with gas shielding, and are supplied with an Argon regulator, but we have not used this. Also available is a spool gun attachment for welding aluminium, but we have not tested this either, as we don’t deal with aluminium.
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Whilst these welders have proven to be extremely reliable, we have We run 1.2mm Lincoln Innershield (flux-cored) wire, so no gas required, had issues with slag getting into mainly site welding galvanised pipe. the trigger on the torch, which We have tried wire from other manu- has required dismantling of the facturers, but the Lincoln wire seems torch to rectify the problem. to be superior for what we are doing. We also have had to replace a Generally the welders are run off one primary lead due to breakage of of our 8kVa generators, and they are the conductors where the lead rated for running off a 60m extension enters the machine. This is due to excessive bending and flexing of lead. the lead, and can be minimised with care. Initially I was concerned as to the cost of consumables compared to arc Also an issue has been the brake welding, but as it turns out we use very little wire, and the machine runs system on the wire spool retainer. This has a moulded plastic lug best at a very low wire speed. which is meant to engage into a Being a MIG process, there is very little contamination on the weld, and usually all that is required is a light wire brushing prior to dry galving.
hole in the wire spool. Unfortunately this lug is too short to work effectively, and we have rectified this by sanding it off, drilling it out, and replacing it with a bolt, which solved the problem. At 30kg, the machine can be difficult to get into some sites, however we solved this problem by mounting one on it’s own trolley. PROS: - Very easy to use - Fast to set up. - Simple controls - Can be used gasless or with shielding gas - Can weld aluminium with optional spool gun - Generator compatible (requires 8kVa +) - Good backup service from Denis Cunningham Ltd in Christchurch CONS: - Relatively heavy – 30kg + - Lightly constructed torch - Brake system on wire spool poorly designed - Primary lead cable prone to fracturing where it enters the machine.
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Gallagher Energizers Provide Effective Solution for Elephant Protection Gallagher fencing technology is helping to solve a major ecological problem in Sri Lanka, by keeping elephants safe from humans and humans safe from elephants.
elephants into conflict. Traditional elephant migratory paths were blocked by this development, and elephants started encroaching on farmland.
Situated off the southern coast of India, Sri Lanka is home to an estimated 4,000–5,000 elephants, one of the densest elephant populations in Asia. Revered as a national treasure and a symbol of pride, Sri Lankan elephants are a protected species under the nation’s Wildlife Conservation Act.
To solve the problems faced by both farmers and elephants, the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka (the institution responsible for the development of the river basin) needed to ensure that man and elephant could co-exist peacefully. When the Authority was looking for a solution in the late 1980s, Sri Lankan technology company Sunpower Systems (Pvt) Ltd introduced the concept of nonlethal high-voltage electric fencing.
PAGE 10
But in the 1980s the development of new agricultural land surrounding Sri Lanka’s Mahaweli River (335 km) brought humans and
The company initially designed, supplied and installed two 30 km sections of fence which were powered by Gallagher Energizers, for the Mahaweli Authority. Once implemented, the responsibility for maintenance and set-up of these fences was handed over to the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC), which is entrusted with the task of minimising human/elephant conflict. The concept proved a huge success and today there is an estimated 3,000 km of elephant fencing throughout the region. Building a fence to control an animal that typically weighs around 2,500 kg is no easy task,
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and masts too! www.revolutionpostdrivers.co.nz especially considering the difficult jungle terrain and hot, humid conditions. Ravi Weerasekera, Managing Director of Sunpower Systems, says the fences are mostly installed in linear sections, each up to 20 km in length. Standing up to 1.82 metres high, fences typically consist of three wires, two of which are live. When an elephant touches the fence they get a short, sharp shock and this deters them from pushing against the fence again. Ravi says elephants are highly intelligent animals that learn from observation. They approach the fences with caution. At some wildlife parks, for example, people will try to feed the elephants from behind the fencing and “a whole herd of elephants” will be lined up along the fence at a measured distance, waiting for food to come through. “It’s quite a dangerous situation and feeding
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the elephants is certainly not encouraged, but it does show the respect elephants have for these fences.” He says the fences are powered by Gallagher energizers which are sited in control rooms in the middle of each 20 km section. Local villagers are trained to maintain the fences and this includes keeping the fences clear of vegetation. They also learn how to use the solar powered equipment and perform voltage checks. In the early stages of fence development the fences were powered by B1200 Gallagher energizers, “which performed very well in tough conditions”, but in recent years these have been replaced by MBX 2500 and MBX 1500 energizers. These energizers monitor the fence status and correct any fluctuations automatically. They
also generate an alarm when manual intervention is necessary. Ravi says the energizers are very popular with the people who look after the fences. “They make fence maintenance easier due to the amount of fence performance information available on the energizer itself. They are also very reliable.” He says Gallagher energizers are used throughout the region, and that Gallagher electric fencing products are also used widely throughout Sri Lanka in pastoral farming and security applications. Many pastoral farms in Sri Lanka require perimeter fencing to keep predatory pests like leopards and wild boar away from livestock. The newly built international airport in the southern region of Sri Lanka also has a Gallagher electric fence to prevent elephants from wandering onto the runway.
Caption Competition Come up with winning caption for the photo below and you will win a Wiremark/FCANZ singlet, FCANZ cap and a Gallagher SmartFix Voltage & Current Meter. Your winning entry will be shown in the next issue of Wired as shown on the right. Send your winning answer to operations@fencingcontactors.co.nz or text it to 0274 322 033 with the heading CAPTION
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO YOUR NEW OPERATIONS MANAGER
PAGE 12
I thought I might be able to escape from putting a piece in this issue of Wired. However that was a no, as you can tell.
the other is sheep and beef with a bit of trucking thrown in for good luck. So I kind of understand the rural background of a range of people.
I am filling the shoes left by Suzy and I hope I am able to do it up to In more recent times I have her standard! worked a variety of roles in both New Zealand and the UK, from I originally come from a West administration & HR work to Coast dairy farming background signwriting, design and finally and fortunately (or unfortunately management. depending on how you look at it!) on one side of the family I have a Outside of work there is enough deer farming background and on to keep me occupied between
animals, house rebuild (thanks to the earthquake) and we also have a few vehicles that go to various displays & runs. So yes, I have half a foot in the petrol head camp as well (thanks for pointing that out Paul!). I am here to help FCANZ and it’s members so let me know how!! I look forward to meeting you all. Cherie Tomlinson
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airbrother Industries Limited, maker of Kinghitter postdrivers, is sponsoring a Speed Fencing Competition to be held at Grasslandz on 30-31 January, 2014. Grasslandz will be the first of a series of speed fencing competitions, which will then be held at all major field days throughout the country. The (world’s) first competition will set the world record, and at all competitions thereafter competitors will be aiming to beat the record. Entries are for teams of two competitors working on their own Fairbrother Speed Fencing competition line. Competitors will place 30 battens on a ninewire fence over a length of 30 metres. There will be up to four teams competing against each other in the heats and there is up to $2,000 prize with money to be shared amongst competitors. Teams will be able to use their own fencing tools but a full range of tools will be available if required. The quality will be judged by official referees who will be clearly stated in a pre-published programme. A miss on the quality will incur a time penalty. This competition aims to attract younger farmers and contractors who may not want to enter formal fencing competitions, but are keen to give it a go. The competition will provide a stepping stone should anyone wish to take their skill further. The dynamic event will both be fun for both competitors and spectators. Fairbrother Industries is proud to be sponsoring the Speed Fencing Competition as it believes fencing is an essential element of modern-day farming, and this is a great opportunity for those in the agricultural industry to showcase their high level of skill. Kinghitter is a trusted name in postdrivers, and all its products are designed and manufactured to New Zealand conditions. For more information email sales@fairbrother.co.nz
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FCANZ Accredited Fencers Contact
Phone
Mobile
Website
Barakat Contractors Ltd (Te Kauwhata)
Dale & Raewyn Barakat
07 826 4461
027 473 5513
dale@barakatcontractors.co.nz
www.barakatcontractors.co.nz
Ben Haugh Contracting (Geraldine)
Ben Haugh
03 693 8088
021 523 291
benhaughfencing@farmside. co.nz
Central Fencing (Canterbury)
Nigel Broadbridge 03 325 7779
021 433 623
central.fencing@xnet.co.nz
Contract Fencing and Earthworks Ltd (Manawatu)
Andrew Cave
06 376 5992
027 296 3504
andrew@cfe.kiwi.nz
CPC Contracting (Kerikeri)
Phil Cornelius
09 407 1160
027 274 4188
cpccontracting@xtra.co.nz
Craig Sergeant Fencing (Waipukurau)
Craig Sargeant
06 858 9759
027-243 7334 sargey@xtra.co.nz
Fencetec 2012 Ltd (Te Anau)
Chris and Steve Daley
03 249 9205
027 439 0234
chrissarah@xtra.co.nz
Glentui Farm Services (Feilding)
Mike Billinghurst
06 328 8118
027 695 662
billinghurst@farmside.co.nz
Grant Macdonald Fencing Service (Tauranga)
Grant Macdonald
07 5433486
027 494 2251
grantmacdonald@mclarenfalls. co.nz
Greg Burton Fencing (Cambridge)
Greg Burton
07 827 8765
027 427 8765
mazgreg@xtra.co.nz
Gregg Holmes Contracting (Papakura)
Greg Holmes
09 296 9984
027 440 4247
oakend@xtra.co.nz
Ground Up Services (Katikati)
Darryn Astill
07 552 0238
027 586 9227
darryn@groundupservices. co.nz
Ground Up Solutions (New Plymouth )
Clayton & Sue Horton
06 758 2217
021 710 712
clayton@groundupsolutions. co.nz
www.groundupsolutions.co.nz
High Country Fencing (Darfield)
Geoff Rogers
03 317 8028
021 640 748
info@highcountryfencing.co.nz
highcountryfencing.co.nz
Higgins Fencing Contractors (Wakefield)
Philip Higgins
03 541 9292 021 222 5033
info@farmfencing.co.nz
www.farmfencing.co.nz
Jeff Joines Fencing Contractor Ltd (Raumati South)
Jeff Joines
04 905 1013
027 484 4481
jeffjoines@paradise.net.nz
John Baldock Fencing Ltd John Baldock (Katikati)
07 552 0763
021 176 4719 john@johnbaldockfencing.
Lake Contracting (Omakau)
Ken Lake
03 447 4031
027 224 0302
Phillips Contracting (Edgecombe)
Joshua Phillips
07 322 2993
027 587 3551
PAGE 14
Fencer
co.nz
phillipscontracting@xtra.co.nz
www.cfe.kiwi.nz
www.johnbaldockfencing. co.nz
FCANZ Accredited Fencers Fencer
Contact
Phone
Mobile
Renner Contracting Ltd (Seddon)
Terry & Karen Renner
03 575 7080
027 226 7238
rennerfencing@hotmail.com
Neil & Raymond Roberston Fensin (Taupo)
Neil & Raymond Robertson
07 825 5747
027 474 6335
robertson.nd@xtra.co.nz
Samuel Fencing Ltd (Alexandra)
Mike Samuel
03 448 6949
0275 2454090 mikesamuel@clear.net.nz
Steve Locke Fencing Ltd (Blenheim)
Steve Locke
03 5781927
021 37 1971
Steve Williamson Fencing (Timaru)
Steve Williamson 03 686 4779
shwilliamson@actrix.co.nz
Todd Sherburd Fencing (Morrinsville)
Todd Sherburd
07 887 5549
todd@fsw.co.nz
West Otago Fencing 2001(Tapanui)
Grant & Wendy Harris
03 204 8285
027 286 6576
harris@esi.co.nz
Wilson Fencing (Havelock North)
Brendon Wilson
06 877 9844
027 657 4588
b.m.wilson@xtra.co.nz
White Fencing Ltd (Papakura)
Tony White
09 292 8064
027 495 7868
admin@whitefencing.co.nz
Website
steve@stevelockefencing.co.nz
www.stevelockefencing.co.nz
www.whitefencing.co.nz
FCANZ-NOV13
For details on completing the National Certificate Fencing—Lvl 3 and Lvl 4, please contact Lance or Tracey Hare—lock your place in before the end of 2013 to be sure funding is available for your training & assessing. A small Admin/Set‐up is now applicable to cover our administration costs, but ALL TRAINING/ASSESSING COSTS ARE COVERED BY FUNDING.
Spill kits $91.60 for 25l, $187.74 for 80l, $582.19 for 240l. First Aid kits, Spill Kits, Fire Extinguishers available. Quad-bike kits $26.00 Ute/Tractorkits $36.00 Lone-worker kits $ $26.87
All prices are LB & T Hare Ltd exclusive of GST PO Box 45, Carterton Ph: 06 379 8567, Fax: 06 379 8587 Mobile: 0273 660 011 or 0273 660 012 E-mail: lbandthareltd@xtra.co.nz
POST OF CHOICE
2013 NZ FENCING CHAMPIONSHIPS
PHONE ORDERS WELCOME 0800 2 GOLDPINE (0800 2 465 374)
AGM & Fencing Competition
from the Top of the South by John Noakes
Hi, all Fellow FCANZ Members. I must say, it’s great getting back to full noise again after shoulder injuries. ACC’s support for the rehabilitation process has been great, but a word to the wise: make sure you have the right processes in place in case you need them e.g. ACC Cover Plus. Some form of Income Protection is also very helpful. Big thanks to the other fencing contractors who helped me out.
credit to all the NZFC members who made it happen in such a short timeframe.
PAGE 16
All the preliminary fencing competitions held on Tuesday included some young new entrants, along with the very experienced competitors. It’s great to see these young guys getting stuck in and setting standards for others to look up too. It was an actionpacked four days, with the Bill Schuler round on Wednesday, Golden Pliers on Thursday, and I was lucky enough to be involved Doubles on Friday. with the NZ Fencing Competitions (NZFC) at the 150th Hawke’s Bay A & P Show. It was a very well organised event, and it was a
RESULTS: BILL SCHULER TROPHY Runner-up - Chey O’Dey Winner - Jason Van Beers GOLDEN PLIERS Runner-up - Paul Van Beers Winner - Shane Bouskill NZ DOUBLES Runners-up - Tony Bouskill and Jared Nicolson Winners - Shane Bouskill and Gordon Hansen It was great to see two FCANZ Board Members competing, and Mark Latham, aka ‘Tractor’, getting through to finals!
Winners - ??, ??, ??, ??, ??
Without sponsors the competition couldn’t have been held, so our thanks go to: STRATEGIC SPONSORS Wiremark and FCANZ
And a big thank you to Kathy Newdick and her team—they kept the hungry fencers well fed with venison steaks, sausages, onions, eggs, spuds and salads (I’m starting to feel hungry again!). That venison was really something; it had the X Factor!
GOLD SPONSORS STIHL, Hurricane, Steel and Tube, STOCKade, GoldPine, Strainrite, I recommend FCANZ members Cyclone, and KingHitter attend these fencing competitions. The knowledge you pick up is BRONZE SPONSORS invaluable—or, better still, have a Porter Group, Euro Corporation, go! East Kaweka Helicopters Plans for the FCANZ Conference A big thanks, also, to Richard and AGM for 2014 are all startBroughton and all the judges. ing to come together. It’s being And for helping with the big held in Masterton in the lower clean-up afterwards, pulling fences North Island on 25–27 July 2014 down, filling in all the holes, etc, at Copthorne Hotel and Resort thanks to Shane Bouskill, the Solway Park. Masterton is a great Smedley Station Boys and othplace, with plenty of things to see ers. I don’t think people realise and do, sitting to the east of the the amount of work that goes into Tararua Forest Park. To the north these events. is the Mount Bruce Native Bird Reserve, with a number of breed-
ing programmes. Martinborough is not far away, with vineyards and crafts, and Wellington is to the south. It wouldn’t take much to fill in an extra few days. Keep an eye out for a questionnaire on the Ladies Programme. We will keep you posted on the rest. If you have any particular requests, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Cheers Noksee
more photos over page....
PAGE 18
More Golden Pliers shots...
Photos that shouldn’t have been taken!!
Thanks Noksee
It’s my elbow that did it! I swear!! Well, back in my day.....
PAGE 20
Is it left foot first, or right foot? Bah, who would pole dance!!
Wishing it was beer!
Hand is working faster than the brain!!
Pow wow time!
Doing it right? ‘Course I’m doing it right!!
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Gripples
Bill Schuler Results 1 st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Jason Van Beers Chey O’Dey Simon Mathis Daniel Kirk Jamie Graham
November 2013 Newsletter
Best 1st year entrant
NZ Fencing Championships
Chey O’Dey
150th Hawkes Bay A & P Show
Golden Pliers Results 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th th 6 7th 8th
Shane Bouskill Paul Van Beers Tim Stafford Gordon Hansen Jeff Joines Mark Lambert Matt Jones Nick Liefting
Strategic Sponsors
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Best Quality Shane Bouskill
Doubles Results 1nd 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Shane Bouskill Gordon Hansen Tony Bouskill Jared Nicolson Jeff Joines Mark Lambert Wayne Newdick John Steedman Paul Van Beers Jason Van Beers Tim Stafford Matt Jones
Bronze sponsors
PAGE 22
New Zealand Fencing Championship Results 2013
You’ll Only Need One For professional service and expert advice on Outdoor Power Equipment, contact your local STIHL SHOPTM or STIHL Servicing Dealer
www.stihl.co.nz 0800 4 STIHL
Blast from the past from Farm Equipment News July 2000
NORTHLANDERS FIRST PAST POST By Roger Bourne A farmer, a fisherman and a fence sounds like an unlikely combination, but in 12 months farmer John LeGarth and fishing skipper Marc Pawley have taken a pencil drawing on a piece of wood in a cow shed and turned it into a product which could take a lot of the hassle out of fencing. The Northland business partners have come up with an idea that they think will solve the problem of foot posts lifting out of the ground over time. John LeGarth has been farming the rolling hill country of Tangiteroria for years.
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He’s lost count of the number of fences he has put up and prefers not to think of the number he has had to go out and repair because of foot posts lifting out. John LeGarth demonstrates how to fit the post feet with the nails provided. He came up with the idea after deciding conventional footing methods were too time consuming and did not last.
Johan and Marc say that there are three problems associated with these methods; time, money and durability. Put simply, two posts meant twice the cost and twice the time. “Farmers are beginning to realize that their time is worth money,” says Marc. A selection of post feet after testing. Even in very hard ground the feet remained intact.
It’s the bane of the fencer’s life, putting in posts that, over time, have to withstand carious forces such as vertical, rotational and unbalanced pull plus load bearing.
where needed, upright and firmly in the ground.
If the post is not firmly held in the ground, then season changes in the soil structure can combine with one or several of these forces. The result – fence failure.
The steep country John farms meant that he often had posts that needed footing, but the methods he tried weren’t strong enough.
John and business partner Marc have worked hard to solve this problem and it seems they have succeeded. The result of their efforts is the LeGarth Post Foot, a clever wedge made of super-tough injection molded plastic which, when attached to the base of a post, considerable increases the post’s ability to remain right
The story of the LeGarth Post Foot development goes back many years.
“Every farmer foots posts” says John, “But most methods just won’t last.” Common methods of footing posts include concreting them in position or placing another post deep in the ground and wiring the two together. Waratahs are often used for this purpose.
“This is especially so when you employ a contractor to fence for you. Time is a big factor in cost.” Besides time John found durability a real problem with the two-post method. The posts must be wired together, but inevitably the wire corrodes and the posts start to move. “The very nature of fencing’s conventional footing means wire and staples are used under or close to the ground where they inevitably rust fast, says Marc. “Some farmers will say that solution is to use stainless wire, but we did the sums and it is still expensive.” says John. John tried all kinds of methods over the years, finally hitting on the idea of using two wooden wedges to hold the fence in the ground like the barb on a hook. John figured other farmers
might want to share his idea and thought about marketing his product. He knew that Marc Pawley, a professional fishing trawler skipper, who lived locally, had marketed a possum trap a few years earlier. John decided to seek Marc’s opinion. “I was doing some welding for John” says Marc. “We were having a coffee and John asked me, if someone had an idea, how could they go about developing it, and getting it to the marketplace, while not risking having the idea stolen by someone else.” The result, Marc took the idea to a patent attorney and the LeGarth Foot Company was born.
“There’s a eucalyptus mill just up the road, and we initially thought we could have the post feet made up from the off-cuts.” says Marc. Further research showed that wood was not going to be strong enough, the post feet were meant to be used with a driven post, and there was too much risk of them breaking when hitting a stone. John and Marc approached Fairbrothers, makers of the King Hitter post driver. Fairbrothers like the idea, but wanted to see the product, not a drawing, so the two set about exhaustive research into a plastic product.
John and Marc wanted to keep any production in Northland so they approached Whangarei plastics company Hansens. Hansens wanted to support the idea, so they suggested Marc and John contact Auckland plastics company, True Design. True Design Plastics not only offered to produce the post feet, but also to help improve the design. “The help we received from True Design was phenomenal.” says Marc Pawley. Another company, Wire Plus, came to their aid by making a special 90mm spiral twist nail especially for them. After several hectic months of design work the pair were ready to produce samples for testing. John LeGarth says: ” When the tension is on, each wire is lifting the post by about 35kg” So a 10-wire fence is pulling at a post with about 350kg, more if it’s a severe footing. Even in good conditions a standard post will start to life at around 400kg.”
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John and Marc used a winch and tractor loader, combined
with some electronic scales, to test the force needed to remove a post fitted with LeGarth feet. The result? In most cases up to 1500kg of upward pull was required to lift the post. The feed worked so well that often a large area of soil was lifted with the post. Techlink funding was applied for through Technology New Zealand. A grant was issued to cover the costs of an engineer verifying the pair’s results. The findings of that report are to be released shortly. Meanwhile, testing was started on the strength of the plastic feet. Even in stony ground the feet were in good conditions once removed. “It’s a consumable. We believe the farmer will drive it in and never see it again, but, if it gets washed out you can just pick it up and use it again,” says Marc. As for corrosion, he says “John had a post washed out in a flood a couple of years back. It had had four-inch nails in it for 12 years and they were fines.” he says.
Marc says that he and John wanted to be certain of the product’s strength in all situations. “We drove them to destruction during testing, but they will cover 99% of fencing situations.
should be available in late May from farm retailers or direct from John and Marc.
They are not suitable for large boulder or rotten rock country, but in most cases they will walk the post off a rock.”
Fairbrothers has also offered its marketing experience in overseas markets to John and March who hope their product will soon be available in Australia and North America.
While the feet were designed for use with drive posts Marc and John say that there is no reason why they can’t be sued for a frilled post or a hand-dug hole. “It’s simple, it’s fast and you don’t have to worry about it.” says Marc. “We are giving the farmer the complete package.” The feet, which will come in packs of 10, including nails, John LeGrath and Marc Pawley use a loader bucket and chain to remove a post fitted with LeGrath feet. Earth lifted with the post shows the strength and grip of the feet.
They will be officially launched on the Fairbrothers site at the National Fieldays in June.
Newsflash from Rural News Group Weekly MP applauds fencing efforts WAITAKI MP JACQUI Dean is
The Government is also investing
Growth Partnership projects,
pleased with the efforts of farmers
heavily in research to tackle the
along with research to lessen the
around Otago in fencing water-
environmental impacts of agricul-
environmental impacts of farm-
ways, as Fonterra announces that
ture, focussing on cutting nutrient
ing.
20,000kms of waterways across
loss on-farm, improving effluent
the country now exclude stock.
management and developing more “It’s an on-going battle, but one efficient irrigation.
“I’m really encouraged by these
that we must put our best efforts into as we move to protect our
figures. Farmers acknowledge the
She says this includes over $100
importance of sustainable envi-
million jointly invested in Primary economic growth.”
environment, while promoting
ronmental practises and fencing waterways is a step in the right direction. “As caretakers of the land, farmers know that they need to take good care of it. “Whether it’s more efficient irrigation systems, or improved effluent disposal, farmers are aware that water resources need to be better managed.”
Image from Primary magazine
Why a website is important for business, no matter how small Having a website doesn’t need to cost the
3. Your business is promoted 24 hours a day
earth or be a job to put in the ‘too hard basket’. It should be an essential tool for any business
Your website will be working for you while you sleep.
to have. How many people do you know who use google to search for products and services online? Googling has now become so common
4. An easy way to provide more
it’s made the oxford dictionary!
information
A website is like a brochure in the sky,
Using online searching is not limited to just
giving your customers the information they
computers and laptops, it is huge via mobile
need.
phones, estimates suggest 70% of people research things on their smartphones before going out to buy. That is a lot of untapped potential just waiting to search for you. Need more convincing – here are five reasons you should be online: 1. It is easier to remember a website address than phone number.
If your website address is your business name even better, all people have to do is type such and such fencing into the search bar and voila there you are!
2. A website enables your potential customers to get to know you first
You are building their trust and confidence before they call.
continued...
5. You have more credibility by having an internet presence
Would you deal with a business who didn’t have a phone number or
physical address, if you aren’t coming up in the search engines you aren’t being seen?
So are you ready to get online?
On behalf of the FCANZ board we would like to wish our members, partners and advertisers a very safe and wonderful Christmas & New Year.
We are offering FCANZ members a fourpage website with keywords and content for only $775 plus GST including oneyear domain registration. The website will be yours to own, edit and develop as you like. Interested? Give Kiely a call on 0800 122 889 or email Kiely@virtual-assistant.co.nz www.adminandmarketingsupport.com
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