Spring 2018
High Performance Magazine
Fans out in force for the Henty field days
There’s no raining on Andrew’s Henty Parade p14
High Performance Magazine Edition 17 Spring 2018
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Contents
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For all editorial and advertising enquiries, contact:
Michael Casey Group Marketing Manager michael.casey@hutcheonandpearce.com.au
Welcome to the 2018 Spring edition
New sprayer technology on display
Fans out in force for field days
Team H&P: Built on culture
Is Lyn the biggest John Deere Fan
Industry leading manoeuvrability
There’s no raining on Andrew’s Henty Parade
General shares recipe for success
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People with cancer and blood diseases.
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Just one blood donation can save up to three lives! Ring 13 14 95 to make an appointment or visit https://www.donateblood.com.au and sign up to the Hutcheon & Pearce Community.
Welcome Welcome to the 2018 Spring edition of High Performance Magazine.
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here’s just something about Spring. Maybe it’s the warmer weather or the on-farm shift in gear that the new season brings… or maybe it’s because Henty is upon us. Whatever it is, I am sure I am not alone in feeling excited by the change in season.
John Deere Managing Director Peter Wankel with us as he attends his first-ever HMFD. He’ll be joining us to meet with the farmers of the region, and he’ll also be judging the Biggest John Deere Fan competition. And for the younger members of the family, George the Farmer is back again with some great new songs and dances in twice-daily performances.
At H&P, the excitement might also have something to do with three annual events that have held our attention and efforts lately.
As always, I’m looking forward to meeting some new faces and catching up with all our customers – whether it’s about farming equipment or family life and community, it’s always great to chew the fat with everyone.
On 15 August, we closed operations for the day and gathered all 270 members of the team in Wagga for our All Employee Meeting (AEM). It was a great day and, for me, it came with a great sense of satisfaction in bringing everyone together to refresh that sense of direction and belonging, focus on where we’re going and connect with the rest of the team, including some new faces. Our guest speaker this year was a special treat. It may be hard to believe there are many common threads between what happens in the US Marine Corps and our organisation but when the retired Lieutenant General John G Castellaw drew on his experiences leading a multinational peacekeeping effort in East Timor, the parallels were strong. His insights into leadership and teamwork were priceless. While we may have thrown him a few curly questions after his address (including what he thought about US gun control laws), I think everyone walked away a little wiser. Two key points I’ll remember: the troops always eat first; and everyone gets in and fills the sandbags. Now, we’re looking forward to a cracking year at Henty, in this the Centenary of John Deere tractors. On our biggest site to date, we’ll not only have some great new machines and spring catalogue specials to check out, there’s also a 1918 Waterloo Boy John Deere tractor for the greenblooded enthusiasts. We’re also delighted to be hosting a couple of special guests this year. It’s an honour to have
Our TOPGUN apprentice recruitment day is also a great opportunity to meet with some bright new faces. In late September, we’ll put 25 of the strongest candidates through their paces with a full day of aptitude testing and interviews to select our 2019 apprentices. With the incredible evolution of the machines and the industry, becoming an apprentice mechanic/technician with H&P presents an exciting opportunity and I look forward to meeting our new recruits. We’re very much focused on culture at H&P – hiring on attitude and training for skill – so when we find good people that fit well with the company, we want to hang on to them. Given the calibre of technicians we’ve been lucky enough to employ through TOPGUN in the last few years, I have every confidence we’ll strike gold again this year and hope to help them to grow within the company well beyond their apprenticeships. In this edition, we take a closer look at what culture means to H&P when we catch up with HR Manager, Sarah Johnson. You can also read more about the lessons we picked up at the AEM and catch up on all things Henty. And be sure to check out the article on the impressive new sprayer series. Whatever you farm, we’ll stay positive and at the ready to assist you throughout Spring. We wish you the best with the harvest ahead and we hope to see you at Henty! Arron
Spring 2018
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
Cover story
Fans out in force for field days It’s been all hands on deck here at Hutcheon & Pearce as we put the finishing touches to our plans for the Henty Machinery Field Days.
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his is a special year for us as we celebrate 100
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John Deere ever produced), which will be found on display
share with you some of the things we’re looking
with the other restored vintage tractors. These are extremely
forward to the most at Henty this time around:
rare, with only a handful of working models in Australia. This one is owned by John Kirkpatrick of Lake Goldsmith, and was
Watching a sea of green converge on The Stump for
built in April 1918, just two weeks after John Deere began
the biggest gathering of John Deere Fans on Thursday
tractor manufacturing.
20 September. Be sure to wear your John Deere gear to be part of the action! •
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Showing off our latest range of green machines – from mowers and gators through to tractors, sprayers and
Deere Tractors’ cake.
headers. New this year are our virtual reality goggles
Visiting the indoor and outdoor sites featuring a range
giving you a 360 degree virtual walk around of some of our
of restored and unrestored John Deere tractors and
products.
other vintage machinery. We can’t wait to chat to some of the Henty and District Antique Farm Machinery Club
Singing and dancing along with George the Farmer (read more about George later in this edition).
Meeting John Deere Managing Director, Peter Wanckel, and tucking into the ‘Centenary of John
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Checking out the Waterloo Boy (the original model tractor
years of John Deere tractors, so we wanted to
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members who will be manning the sites.
Checking out some of Henty’s signature events, including the Henty Machine of the Year Award and the Best Australian Designed and Manufactured Machine Award, as well as the Farmgate Produce Area.
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Seeing the Henty Machinery Field Days committee and staff using the gators we supply to get around the 105 hectare site.
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Welcoming field day goers to our biggest site ever – with a whopping 180m frontage – and watching as our around 40 staff talk themselves hoarse over the three days!
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George the Farmer fans enjoying one of his performances.
This is a special year for us as we celebrate 100 years of John Deere tractors.
Whether you’re serious about the seeing the latest machinery in action or you’re keen to catch up with friends, Henty has something for everyone.
Hutcheon & Pearce staff Cassie Shepley and Lisa Flack with George the Farmer.
Whether you’re serious about the seeing the latest machinery in action or you’re keen to catch up with friends, Henty has something for everyone. We look forward to seeing you at our stand on 10th Farm Avenue, 489-498 & 525-526 in Block M Andrew Sands drawing out a winner for the Ronald McDonald House draw.
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
Is Lyn the Biggest John Deere fan It will be a sea of green at this year’s Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD), as fans of all ages come together to to mark 100 years of John Deere tractors.
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n Thursday 20 September, the HMFD will host what’s hoped to be the biggest gathering of John Deere fans in Australia. More than just a meeting of greenblooded kin, up for grabs is the title of Mr John Deere and Ms John Deere. Both titles awarded by popular vote and with some great prizes on offer, it’s expected to be hotly contested. Lyn Fox will undoubtedly be in the running to claim the Ms John Deere crown. While she has only been a fan since 2015, it’s hard to imagine anyone topping Lyn’s love for everything John Deere. With a farm situated between Urana and Oaklands and a job at Lawson Grains, Lyn has had plenty of exposure to John Deere. We caught up with her to see what she likes about the John Deere brand and what she has planned for Henty. H&P: How did your love affair with John Deere start? LF: I moved out here to our farm - Grassmere - with my partner Ben in March 2015. At seeding time, we run two 8RTs to cart our air seeders, so after spending a bit of time in those I thought they were pretty cool. We’ve also got two sprayers and I thought they were absolutely unreal. And then obviously at harvest time, we’ve got four S690 combines and they are really neat, too. I’ve always been a country girl, but this was my first introduction to being on a crop farm, and it was like something out of Transformers. H&P: Is all the machinery on the farm John Deere? LF: Every single thing. We are very lucky. We’ve got 10 farms in our company and we all run John Deere products. Our farms and John Deere just go hand-in-hand.
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H&P: How dedicated are you to the John Deere brand? LF: Well, we had our board of directors out and I made them Lawson Grains cupcakes and John Deere cupcakes! In our family, John Deere is a very big symbol of importance. Apart from the machinery, everything has to be John Deere. We’ve got bedspreads with John Deere on it, slippers, car stickers, toys… I’ve got two boys and one on the way, and they’ve got all the farm animal sets, and headers and tractors in mini form. We have a whole room of John Deere toys and there’s our collectables as well. H&P: If you had to guess, how many John Deere branded items would you say you own? LF: Oh wow, I wouldn’t even know, I’ve got so many. Thousands! We’ve got books. We’ve got collectable tractors that the kids are never allowed to touch. Because we’re having a baby, we’ve got a cot set and John Deere dummy holder… I’ve even got the little John Deere bear on the bed and John Deere towels!
“I suppose, my love of John Deere comes from Ben’s love of John Deere. And the kids love it, too.”
H&P: What’s been your favourite experience with the John Deere Brand? LF: Last year we were fortunate enough to go to the States and have a Gold Key tour of the John Deere factory. It was amazing! We toured the Rusty Palace and stood outside the CEO’s room. At the museum, we saw how it all unfolded from that tiny little plough, to what it is today, and the technology just keeps getting better and better. We were fascinated. It was pretty special. H&P: If you had to pinpoint one thing you love about John Deere, what would it be? LF: I operate the machines and find them to be 99% reliable, very well-thought-out and made for comfort. They look amazing. And the symbol is a deer - what girl doesn’t like a deer? H&P: Would you say you have the JDNA? LF: Yeah, we all bleed green out here. My love of John Deere comes from Ben’s love of John Deere. The kids love it, too. There’s a lot of things at my house and at our farm that are green. Even our mower is John Deere. That was my Christmas present. It’s all I wanted. Most women want jewellery and all that kinda stuff, but all I wanted was a John Deere mower! H&P: How far will you go to prove you’re the biggest John Deere fan at Henty? LF: Well, normally I dress the kids in their John Deere stuff – John Deere hats, John Deere jumpers, little John Deere belts. I’ll have a nice little John Deere outfit to put the baby in, too.
Will Lyn be named the biggest John Deere fan at the Henty Machinery Field Days? If you think you can outdo Lyn, Ben and their boys, head to The Stump at 11am on Thursday 20 September for the biggest gathering of John Deere fans.
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
George is back in town As the Henty Machinery Field Days roll round again, a familiar and very popular face is gearing up for another great few days at the Hutcheon & Pearce site.
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eorge the Farmer is back with us for shows twice daily, with plenty of time to spend with his adoring fans of all ages. We caught up with George’s co-star and company co-founder Simone Kain to see what’s new in the world of George the Farmer.
bees etc. We’re at prototype stage and they are looking so cute!
H&P: It’s been a big 12 months for you since we last spoke… Catch us up on George’s world.
Simone: Yes! Just after Henty last year, I was awarded National Runner Up in the AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award. It was fantastic. I received $5,000 in additional funding toward a project which has allowed us to develop a series of curriculum guides for preschool to Year 4 to promote innovative careers in agriculture. These will also be out in the next two months.
Simone: It’s been pretty busy actually! We’ve had lots of events around the country. In fact, we’ve just come off six weeks on the road – up to Queensland and through NSW and Victoria. We’ve been to food festivals and and also performed at the AFL Country Festival at the MCG for the second year in a row. We’ve met lots of fans, which has been fantastic. Seeing the kids connect at our performances, shouting out the lyrics and dancing along is always a bit of a wow moment for us. Just after Henty last year, we released a book about bees and that has been going well. Now we’re about to release number five in the picture book series which is all about harvesting broadbeans. This will be supported by our other free guide and our Pulse Party song, which will hopefully have you putting some dip on your chip and some hummus in your tummy. George has a new song – The Chicken Song – due out in about four weeks. We have been working on a video alongside PIRSA (Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia) and Poultry Hub and have been filming at hatcheries, breeder farms and in the kitchen making homemade chicken nuggets. We are also working on a new toy range that features Australian wool knitted baby toys of all the characters plus cows, sheep,
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H&P: We understand you personally had a win last September that has been great for George.
That whole experience has been amazing. Throughout the process I’ve been invited to speak at engagements and become involved in some discussions and panels that are focused on issues important to Australian agriculture. I am now a panellist on the AgriFutures™ Ignite Network (a program aimed at connecting passionate rural leaders that have a strong interest in shaping the future of Australian rural industries), a board director for Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast and have since completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course, which put me in touch with quite a few people working in agriculturerelated fields. In fact, six of the 21 participants were from ag and it was nice to see the sector represented so well. H&P: Through those experiences, and your work with George the Farmer, you must have a strong sense for what’s happening in Australian ag. What do you think are the big issues right now? Simone: Technology and the effect on regional areas is massive. We can see how quickly things have changed over the last 5-10 years, so anticipating what might occur in the
future and working out strategies for survival is a big issue. I also think that labour shortages are something we need to work on. Getting people to consider careers in ag is important for our future. There are lots of different career options and we need to educate people about this. These have been some of the key takeaways for me from being on the panel with AgriFutures Australia and listening to what’s being done to address national rural issues.
Technology and the effect on regional areas is massive. We can see how quickly things have changed over the last 5-10 years, so anticipating what might occur in the future and working out strategies for survival is a big issue.
H&P: It must make you proud of the work you are doing with George the Farmer to play your part and educate the next generation about the sector. Can you see evidence of George’s impact? Simone: The feedback from schools has been amazing. We did a survey about a month ago and it was very encouraging. They are always asking for more books and more resources, and the feedback was 100% positive, so we feel like it is having an impact. We are now also being approached quite a bit by industry to work with various bodies to create videos and other resources and it’s nice to have their support, too. And of course, the drought has everyone thinking about the industry. Everyone is talking about the issues we’re facing and thinking about where food comes from. We’re pleased to play a hand in providing some answers. H&P: George is back at the Henty Machinery Field Days this year. What can everyone expect to see? Simone: We’re so happy to be back with Hutcheon & Pearce! The team has been so good to us and are great to work with. We’ll be doing all the classic songs that you can find on our app – like Mate, Where’s My Next Sheep and We Love Beef, plus we’ll have The Chicken Song and new dance moves, and the Bee Song and Bee Bop moves. George will also share a reading from the new bee book.
George the Farmer is back with us for shows twice-daily, with plenty of time to spend with his adoring fans of all ages
Spring 2018
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
There’s no raining on Andrew’s Henty Parade This year, Hutcheon & Pearce will showcase a huge range of John Deere machinery at the iconic field days.
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or more than 30 years now, Hutcheon & Pearce has been a part of the Henty Machinery Field Days. Rain, hail or shine, it’s a never-miss date on our calendar and despite the huge amount of work it takes to get us there, it’s more than worth the effort. For his past 12 years with the company, our Group Sales Manager Andrew Sands has been an integral part of the Hutcheon & Pearce team at Henty. We caught up with Andrew as he reflects on what going to the Henty Field Days means to him.
“The event of most interest to me is the Machine of the Year Awards, in all the machine variations. I love to see what machines are new and performing well, and to get a sense for what effect they will have on the farming landscape.
“Growing up in the Riverina, Henty Machinery Field Days have always been iconic – whether you’re from a farming background or not. As a child, I remember going to Henty because it was always regarded as the biggest and best field day around, with plenty to see and do.”
This year, Hutcheon & Pearce will have in excess of $10 million worth of machinery on display. Yet for Andrew, showcasing the product is just one small part of the job at Henty.
As an adult working with Hutcheon & Pearce, Andrew says his understanding of Henty is much the same. “There are a lot of other field days, and plenty come and go, but Henty has by far been the standout for innovation and maintaining real value for the people coming through the gate. “There’s always plenty of activities going on and it’s actually a bit unfortunate for me personally as, having been working at Henty for the past 12 years, I don’t get much of a chance to do other things away from our site.” Much like the customers he greets at the Hutcheon & Pearce stand, Andrew loves to see the new machines on display.
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Andrew showcasing a John Deere 1025R at last year’s Field Days.
Hutcheon & Pearce
“I’m just like anyone else, really. Technology has changed so much, and people can get online and look at the machines but being able to come to the field days and talk to an actual person about it, see it and touch it and gain a better understanding of the product is something else.”
“It’s not just about product and having that piece of metal on the site. The machine is only part of it. It’s really about us helping people to understand what that piece of equipment can do and how they can benefit from it. “And it’s not just about someone buying the tractor and going and ploughing a paddock. We are genuinely interested in helping people maximise productivity and profitability on their farm. “Henty is a great place to foster relationships. I love catching up with customers and being able to discuss their current practices, what’s worked, and what’s changed. And it’s important that we take the opportunity to chat and meet new people to see how we can add value to their operation. “Henty really is endless conversations and we speak to people almost continuously for three days. It’s a great experience and there are plenty of positive stories from Henty.”
We are here
You can see Andrew at the Hutcheon & Pearce stand located on 10th Farm Avenue, 489-498 & 525-526 in Block M
Growing up in the Riverina, Henty Machinery Field Days have always been iconic - whether you’re from a farming background or not. When asked about his favourite positive story to come out of Henty, Andrew doesn’t hesitate. “A definite standout year at Henty was 2013 when we ran a tractor campaign. For every tractor sold we donated to a local charity. We sold 50 tractors that year and donated $25,000 to Country Hope. “It was a monumental effort by all involved and being able to donate money to that sort of charity was a standout moment for me. I would say that for me personally, that was almost my greatest achievement in the company.” Andrew is also quick to point out that just showing up at Henty each year is an achievement in itself for the Hutcheon & Pearce team.
“Attending the field days takes a tremendous amount of effort and a lot of organisation. We have around 40 staff on site each day and we showcase millions of dollars in equipment. Logistically, it’s about a five-week lead-up to get product there, get it prepared for inspection and get our store set up. And it’s another couple of weeks winding down after the event in terms of transport and pack up. “Everyone in the team digs deep for Henty. There are plenty of people that keep giving it their best year after year and who we’d be lost without - people like our Parts Manager Vincent Leary. Vinny has been with the company for over 25 years and is a standout among many who have been part of the team’s success. “I know he’d agree with me that while it certainly takes a fair bit of time and effort, it’s worth it for us because Henty is still the meeting place and we will not miss it.” For Andrew, not even the weather can put a dampener on the field days. “Part of why I think Henty is unique is because it’s that time of the year that carries an uncertainty of whether you’re going to get a wet backside or not. I have very fond memories of being in the pouring rain and still seeing a good turn up with spirits high. It’s a challenge but it’s great. “It might sound like a bit of a cliché – but there’s nothing like it anywhere.”
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
New sprayer technology on display Local farmers had the chance to ‘ride and drive’ three sprayers at a Demo day.
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rowers from across Hutcheon & Pearce territory got to see the John Deere R4045 and the R4060 self-propelled sprayers in action, as well as the R4040i up close, at a recent Demo day in Temora.
Held at the Agricultural Innovation Centre (FarmLink) on July 31, some 70 customers joined Hutcheon & Pearce staff to learn about different spraying technology and the on-farm value to be gained. Sales Operations Manager Andrew Watt was one Hutcheon & Pearce staff member on hand to demonstrate the capabilities of the new machine. “We spent a good chunk of time talking about John Deere’s ExactApply™, which uses pulsing technology to achieve a more consistent droplet size from each nozzle. This allows you to cover more crop with better precision and reduces input costs. “The Hutcheon & Pearce Precision Ag team also led a session around data management and the services we offer to support that. Customers got to see that it’s more than just capturing the data; it’s taking it a step further to create a plan for the next season.” Farmers from Finley, Forbes, Cowra, Griffith, Wagga Wagga and Temora then had the chance to ‘ride and drive’ three sprayers including the R4060. “We think it’s important our customers get the chance to look, touch and feel the machines and see the technology in action.
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“The R4060 has a new 6,000 litre tank, a Final Tier 4 engine option, ExactApply™ nozzle technology and a carbon fibre boom. “Australian dealers have been really pushing for that increase in tank size to suit our conditions – the distance to our fill points means an increased tank size increases efficiency by having to fill up less often. When they had the manufacturing change, we had our hand up the highest to get that model here for our Demo day and were the first in the country to do so. It had only been two weeks in the country. “Demo days like this are important because our customers can see what their investment will do. It’s also important for us to demonstrate the support our customers can expect when they purchase from Hutcheon & Pearce. It’s more than just the best technology, they also get access to experts who can train them up to use it for maximum return.”
“We think it’s important our customers get the chance to look, touch and feel the machines and see the technology in action.”
“Demo days like this are important because our customers can see what their investment will do. It’s also important for us to demonstrate the support our customers can expect when they purchase from Hutcheon & Pearce.”
Head to the Hutcheon & Pearce stand to get up close to the R4060 at the Henty Machinery Field Days (September 18-20), or talk to your local sales rep to secure your sprayer for delivery next season.
spring catalogue out now!
See our lowest prices on mowers, gators, tractors, attachments and many more in Hutcheon & Pearce’s 2018 Spring Catalogue.
Visit your local dealer to pick one up today! Albury, Condobolin, Finley, Griffith, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Coleambally, Cowra, Forbes, Lake Cargelligo, Temora Winter Spring 2018
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
TEAM H&P: Built on culture Three events have the Hutcheon & Pearce team thinking about what matters most.
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or Hutcheon & Pearce, three big events have been taking up plenty of time and headspace recently. Human Resources Manager Sarah Johnson says the three vastly different events tie into a single important theme – company culture and what it means to be part of the H&P team.
The 2018 Annual Employee Meeting (AEM) “This year’s AEM went well. Guest speaker, John (Glad) Castellaw, was a real highlight. He spoke about his experiences with a focus on teamwork and accountability and the effort everyone has to put in for a successful outcome. It was a perfect fit for us, as teamwork is one of our core values. To meet the needs of our customers, it’s essential that we work as one big team. And really, that’s what the AEM is all about – encouraging everyone to step out of their own bubble and gathering together to meet and network with the people in different departments, branches and locations. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate just how big the broader team is. To see all 270 staff in one location is quite breathtaking. This event is Hutcheon & Pearce at its finest.
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TOPGUN 2019 “Our major focus in HR at the moment is TOPGUN for 2019. It has been exciting to see the applications for apprenticeships and traineeships come through and we’ve been busy planning for the September Recruitment day. Each year, we invite the top 25 candidates to meet with representatives from TAFE, MEGT and our H&P team comprised of our CEO Arron Hutcheon, our General Manager Bill Armstrong, our After Market Manager Tom Hensgen, all the service and branch managers, our HR team and HR Mentor, Matt Duffy. Every candidate has an opportunity to interview with all of these people and they also undertake a written assessment. While we need to assess the candidates’ current levels of aptitude, it’s more important that we get a sense of their interpersonal skills and attitude. For us, attitude is very important. We understand that applicants may not have any prior exposure to agriculture or mechanics, but we need to find people with the right attitude. The attitude we’re looking for is characterised by an ambition to succeed, a willingness to forge a strong career, an ability to take the initiative and, most importantly, a sense of teamwork. It’s essential that our top guns respect and embrace our strong culture of teamwork at Hutcheon & Pearce.
The three vastly different events tie into a single important theme – company culture and what it means to be part of the H&P team.
Henty Machinery Field Days “This year at Henty, we are really ramping up our recruitment activities. We see it as a fantastic opportunity for us to get our name out there as an employer of choice. We have a lot to offer and what better environment is there for us to connect with future employees than Henty where a whole lot of likeminded people come together? It’s a great opportunity for us to start a conversation now and let people know about the many opportunities that exist at Hutcheon & Pearce – not just becoming service techs, but also in sales, parts, middle and senior management. It’s also a chance for us to showcase what we do and who we are as a company and we’ll be looking to put our best foot forward so anyone considering a career with Hutcheon & Pearce can get a sense of the culture of the company, what we value and how we operate. We’re really looking forward to meeting some future members of the team at Henty this year.
For more information about the employment opportunities available at Hutcheon & Pearce, including the TOPGUN program, visit www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au Autumn 2018
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
Industry leading manoeuvrability The 5R Series is the ultimate in ease of use, especially in precise control applications.
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ohn Deere’s 5R Series is proof a compact tractor can pack a whole lot of punch. Available in a range of specifications to suit various operations, the 5R Enforcer delivers unmatchced levels of comfort and performance and is suited to any small operation including dairies, orchards and vineyards. Hutcheon & Pearce’s Complete Goods Inventory Manager, Mitch Lang says the 5R is hard to beat for power and manoeuvrability. “We know that compact tractor users often work in challenging environments, with manoeuvrability a priority around sheds, fields and livestock areas. The 5R series combines a single-piece curved frame design with a low centre of gravity to allow a turning radius of only 3.75m and front loader installation on-the-go. “Models are available from 90 to 125 horsepower, all equipped with fuel efficient 4.5L John Deere PowerTech PWX engines offering power bulge and torque reserve. So when the tractor is under load, power bulge and torque rise work together to get through the tough spots and reduce the need to downshift. This helps operators to be more productive even in demanding conditions.”
John Deere’s 5R Series is proof a compact tractor can pack a whole lot of punch. 16
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According to Mitch, additional features include an integrated joystick control – a digital cornerpost display that eliminates the need for an instrument cluster surrounding the steering column. “In addition to displaying machine information, the cornerpost display also serves as the primary interface between the tractor and operator when adjusting hitch, transmission, hydraulic and engine settings,” Mitch said. “The display includes things like information alerts, engine speed, fuel-gauge, power take-off indicator and ground speed. “Another great feature which comes standard on all 5R Tractors is the AutoClutch system which allows the operator to bring the tractor to a complete stop without clutching. “This is the ultimate in ease of use, especially in applications where precise control and more stopping/ starting is required. It allows the driver to inch or creep the tractor forward or reverse on a level surface or incline, for more efficient front and rear implement hookups.” Right now, Hutcheon & Pearce is offering the 5R Enforcers at a discounted price with extended PowerGuard Protection Plan TM five-year warranty and a Make My Day Pack, which includes a jacket, hat, stubby holder and 40 litre Engel fridge.
Hutcheon & Pearce’s Complete Goods Inventory Manager, Mitch Lang says the 5R is hard to beat for power and manoeuvrability.
5 reasons to choose the John Deere 5R: 1. Easy to use transmission: Two fully electronic transmission options allow the operator to switch gears and ranges with a simple toggle of the gear shift lever. 2. AutoClutch: Say goodbye to the days of needing to use the clutch. Automatically stop and reengage the tractor by simply pressing the brake. 3. Manoeuvrability – Working in confined spaces? The 5R series has an 8% tighter turn radius than others in its class without the use of turning brakes due to the shorter wheelbase of 2250 millimetres. 4. Premium panorama cab: Upward visibility improved 80% making simple work of bale stacking and loading mixing wagons. 5. Operator comfort: A high back swivel seat with thicker cushions, larger armrests and integrated joystick controls optimises your time in the seat.
For more information on the 5R Series Utility Tractors, visit www.deere.com.au or see your local John Deere dealer.
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High Performance Magazine Spring 2018
General shares recipe for success The most important characteristics of an organisation are relationships, strong leadership, sharing common goals, diversity and trust.
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t’s not every day you get to hear a retired United States General talk about teamwork. So it was a true privilege to host Lieutenant General John G Castellaw at our recent All Employee Meeting in Wagga Wagga. Lt General Castellaw – or Glad as he is known – is now CEO of Farmspace Systems, a precision agriculture company helping farmers to use technology to work smarter, make better decisions and bring in better yields. Graciously accepting the invitation to share his insights into what makes a good team, Glad kept our 270 staff enthralled for more than an hour. Through the lens of his experiences in East Timor in the 1990s, he shared with us how a multinational force came together to support the peacekeeping efforts in a desperately fractured community and how he came to be great mates with then Australian Commander and now Governor General, General Peter Cosgrove. Here are our key takeaways from his address:
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Hutcheon & Pearce
A quick history lesson
Three important qualities
“East Timor fell apart in the 90s after the Indonesians sponsored a website where East Timorese voted for independence.
“There are three qualities that I value most in an individual: initiative, aggressiveness, and a sense of responsibility.
“After the vote, the pro-Indonesian militia rioted. They burned the towns down and drove more than 250,000 people into West Timor. So, the UN said, ‘we need to act’, and the Australians stepped forward and said ‘we’ll do it’ and the United States raised their hand and said, ‘we’ll be part of it’.
“I had lunch yesterday with the Governor General (General Peter Cosgrove, then Australian Commander) - by the way he regrets not being able to be here because of his schedule and he said those were the things that he too values most in individuals.
“What we found when we went into East Timor was the country was devastated. There was no organisation running the country, the towns were still burning, the people were gone. Desolation. “Looking over my career, that was actually the highlight of it, being a part of that operation, which did restore peace and security to East Timor, and laid the foundations for it to become a nation.”
It’s taking the initiative knowing that something needs to be done, that somebody needs to do it, and being aggressive about getting things accomplished. “Then, to me, the most important is being responsible. If you’ve got individuals in your organisation with those three principles guiding them, you’re doing really well.”
Lt General Castellaw is now CEO of Farmspace Systems, a precision agriculture company helping farmers to use technology to work smarter, make better decisions and bring in better yields.
“You always have challenges, but you have the basic elements in there that are the characteristics of a first-class organisation”
The characteristics of a team To Glad, the most important characteristics of an organisation are relationships, strong leadership, sharing common goals, diversity of experiences and viewpoints, and trust. Relationships and strong leadership: “I first met General Cosgrove on a golf course. You know, the golf course is one of the best places in the world to establish relationships with people. He was almost as bad as I was playing golf. Then he came and visited us in Okinawa where I was headquartered, and we started developing respect for his leadership. “He had a relationship with a variety of countries and he wasn’t a hard guy. He was very open, courteous, and respectful, but he communicated forcefully. When he was in a room, he demonstrated a sense of confidence that inspired people to trust and want to follow him. I would put him in the first rank of military leaders of this generation. “Here we are, now 75 years after WWII. During times of chaos, what keeps the solid relationship between countries? It’s relationships like I have with Cosgrove. Relationships that are personal and meaningful. And that is what will get us through.”
Sharing common goals: “In East Timor, the common goal was to restore peace and security. And whether you were a Thai Marine, or a Jordanian infantryman, a U.S. communicator, Singaporean, Malaysian, or whatever, everyone knew that that was our goal. That was our goal so that we could bring the people back into their homes, to resume their lives. To prevent them from being threatened by those militia and other forces that wanted to do them harm.” Diversity of experience and viewpoints: “In terms of diversity, there were 22 countries. Can you believe Jordan came from the Middle East to do this? Kenya? Germany and France, Denmark. Canada and the US and UK. “Generals get an aid, and my aid was Vietnamese and his ability to relate to Asians, to be able to in some cases talk their language, is one of the great benefits that I had communicating. A Thai aid was the number two to General Cosgrove, and provided a different aspect on how to deal with some of the challenges we had. This diversity was a very important element.” Trust: “You had to build trust in the Timorese, that we were there to help them, and not harm them. And then you had to build trust between the various
civilian organisations. A lot of NGOs are suspicious of military operations and what’s going on. You had to prove to them, to convince them, to work with them, and to communicate with them in order that they understand that you have the same goal as they do, which was to help people.”
A final word After spending some time with staff, Glad made some observations of the Hutcheon & Pearce team. “The other day I went down to see Brett at the Wagga Wagga branch, and I walked into the headquarters here. I rode in your vehicles and I listened to people today. “I really enjoy walking around, not listening to what you’re saying, but how you say it. And looking at how you congregate in groups. “I’ve got to tell you, this is a great organisation. You always have challenges, but you have the basic elements in there that are the characteristics of a first-class organisation, so I salute you.”
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