High Performance Winter 2018 by Hutcheon and Pearce

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine

100 years of JD tractors Celebrate with us at Henty

High Performance Magazine Edition 16 Winter 2018

Contents

A word from our CEO

Centenary of John Deere tractors

Apprentices in the spotlight

New approaches to recruiting the very best team

Warning from our WH&S Manager

Comfort and versatility

Support team relocates

South African couple joins our Coly team

For all editorial and advertising enquiries, contact:

Michael Casey Marketing Manager michael.casey@hutcheonandpearce.com.au

Welcome to the 2018 Winter edition

Wide open spaces set to benefit TECSight customers

Henty marks 100 years

Jump starter safety warning

Evan named best of the year

New Gators have arrived

New tactics for new recruits

Joe and CharmĂŠ have the JDNA

In Australia, one blood donation is needed every 24 seconds.

Giving blood feels good. The Hutcheon and Pearce Community can really show that they have the JDNA by visiting their local Blood Service Centre. 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 and Pearce Community.

Hutcheon & Pearce

Welcome Welcome to the 2018 Winter edition of High Performance Magazine.

ince our last edition, there’s been many great things happening at Hutcheon & Pearce and we’re getting set for some equally great things ahead in the next few months.

On 26 May, we held eight demo days across our region to get interested customers up-close and personal with the machines they have been eyeing off. Personally, I gain so much confidence by demoing before committing, so it was great to see others taking advantage of the opportunity, including some retired farmers in the market for new tractors that I know would have found it confronting to otherwise come into the dealership and request a demo. We’ve received some great feedback, so stay tuned for more demo days this Spring. Coming up on 15 August, we will have our third annual All Staff Meeting (AEM). This a fantastic opportunity for staff across all branches and arms of our business to come together, realign with our company strategy, reflect on what we’ve learned and achieved over the past 12 months, and set the direction for the coming year. I am looking forward to having everyone in the one room and getting to know all the new faces. As we are continually adding staff, it’s very important that the newcomers have this chance to see what Hutcheon & Pearce is all about and gain a sense of just how well supported they will be by joining the H&P family. Our special guest this year will be ex White House Chief-of-Staff who served four US presidents, Lt. Gen. John G Castellaw USMC (Ret). John will share some of his hardearned insights heading up an operation in East Timor bringing Australian and US defence groups together as a team to serve the greater good. A reminder that all our branches will be shut for this event on Wednesday, August 15. While we hate to inconvenience our customers, it’s an important day in our calendar and we’re back on deck the very next day. Another event on the calendar that has us excited is, of course, Henty Machinery Field Days in September. This year is shaping up to be huge, as we celebrate 100 years

of John Deere tractors. Hutcheon & Pearce has an even bigger site than usual with some great things planned for the whole family, once again including the very popular George the Farmer. We have also been working very closely with the HMFD Committee to run a John Deere biggest fan competition and stage an exhibition of some vintage John Deere machines, including a very rare 1918 Waterloo Boy tractor. As always, we’re looking forward to meeting H&P customers and friends, and this year perhaps some passionate enthusiasts and diehard John Deere fans who bleed green like we do. I hope you enjoy this edition of the magazine. This time you can get the lowdown on the latest XUV Gators, compare ride-on mowers versus zero turn, and learn more about our changing approach to staff recruitment. You can also read about one of our top apprentices, Evan Garagaro who recently picked up an Apprentice of the Year award at TAFE NSW Riverina. I congratulate Evan on his fantastic achievement and remain very proud of our apprenticeship program. Matt Duffy works very hard with TAFE to improve the calibre of training and I cannot even draw a parallel between my apprenticeship and the program now. Our apprentice mechanics are now technicians, and some equipment has more technology than the first Apollo rocket! An apprenticeship today is highly appealing and very rewarding, and at Hutcheon & Pearce, it’s not just a qualification but the start of a very long career path with us. I should also mention that we’re working towards our 2019 intake and about to kick off recruitment and interviewing. If anyone is interested, head to www.hutcheonandpearce. com.au/careers-employment. Before I sign off, I want to assure everyone that while the Temora upgrades are taking a little longer than expected, the new workshop will not be far away and it is business as usual in the meantime. Hope to see you at Henty! Arron

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Cover story

Henty marks JD tractor centenary Celebrate the centenary of John Deere tractors with the biggest gathering of JD fans in Australia.

lanning is well underway for one of the biggest events on the agricultural calendar, the 2018 Henty Machinery Field Days (HMFD). And this year, it’s a green affair celebrating 100 years of John Deere tractors.

“We invite fans of all ages to come along dressed in their favourite John Deere cap, vest, shirt or jumper.

The HMFD attracts more than 60,000 visitors each year and Hutcheon & Pearce is never shy in rolling up its sleeves to ensure everything is ready for September.

“Promoted on social media, people will be able to nominate themselves as Australia’s biggest JD fan.

With the centenary of tractor manufacturing at John Deere celebrations front and centre, this will be a particularly big year for us at Hutcheon & Pearce.

“Our top five male and female fans will be interviewed at The Stump by our MC about why they love John Deere, and the crowd will vote on Mr John Deere and Ms John Deere, with some pretty great prizes on offer.

As HMFD media manager Kim Woods explains, John Deere fans and vintage tractor enthusiasts will have plenty to celebrate throughout the field days. “We were looking for a theme for the year and I realised it was the 100-year anniversary of the manufacture of the Waterloo Boy. I thought, ‘Well that’s a great idea. Let’s run with that.’ “I approached Hutcheon & Pearce and they quickly jumped onboard. “We will have an indoor and outdoor site dedicated to marking the centenary of tractor manufacturing, manned by Henty and District Antique Farm Machinery Club members, and featuring a plethora of restored and unrestored John Deere tractors.

“At 11am on Thursday (September 20) at The Stump we will celebrate the centenary with the biggest gathering of John Deere fans in the one spot in Australia.

Hutcheon & Pearce

“After this, we’re going to have a centenary cake, organised by Hutcheon & Pearce. This will involve VIPs from John Deere Australia, including John Deere Ltd managing director Peter Wanckel, and obviously Mr JD and Ms JD. “Our VIP luncheon at noon will be addressed by John Kirkpatrick, a Ballarat district wool grower and owner of the rare 1918 Waterloo Boy tractor to be on display at Henty.’’ Kim said John Deere has supported the HMFD for decades. “John Deere is one of the major manufacturers and they’ve been supporting us for over 50 years and of course, when you think John Deere in these parts, you think Hutcheon & Pearce. “Hutcheon & Pearce is now our biggest exhibitor on the biggest individual site. Their site this year is enormous,

“Hutcheon & Pearce is now our biggest exhibitor on the biggest individual site.”

“We’ve been working with the committee for at least six months to plan this year’s field days. We were hoping to mark the 100 years of John Deere tractors in some way, but Kim just came out of the gates with heaps of ideas, and we’re really excited to be involved.’’ Other highlights for 2018 include the Henty Machine of the Year Award (presented on Tuesday 18 September), the Best Australian Designed and Manufactured Machine (presented on Thursday 20 September), the Agri-Innovators Awards (presented on Wednesday 19 September) and the Farmgate Produce Area. “We call it an agribusiness supermarket, with about 14km of shop frontage,” Kim said. “Whether you’re nine or 90, there’s something for everyone at Henty.” Vintage tractors The vintage machines contributed by the Henty and District Antique Farm Machinery Club will include: with a 180m frontage, and they are a terrific drawcard in themselves. They go to a terrible lot of trouble to make the site look fantastic every year and we anticipate this year will be no different.” Sales Operations Manager Andrew Watt said more than 50 Hutcheon & Pearce staff will attend this year’s field days. “We’ll have a working Waterloo Boy tractor, which is the original model tractor John Deere ever produced, on our site. These are extremely rare, with only a handful of working models in Australia. This one was built built in April 1918, just two weeks after John Deere began tractor manufacturing. “We’re also looking forward to having George The Farmer with us again this year, and we’ll have some virtual reality goggles there so people can do a 360 virtual walk around of some of our products. “While we’re still finalising the exact equipment we’ll have on display, we’re hoping to have a new self-propelled sprayer there in the 6000 litre size. We’ve never had anything that big on our site before, but it seems the year to go big.” Andrew is full of praise for the HMFD Committee. “We have a close working relationship with the committee and each year happily supply all the gators for the committee and volunteers to use during the event – with 105 hectares and 1200 sites to cover, they’re a necessity!

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a 1926 steel-wheeled John Deere tractor, owned by Arnold and Jonathon Schulz from Jindera

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a 1929 steel-wheeled John Deere tractor, a 1937 John Deere tractor (fully restored), a 1946 two-cylinder D model and

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a 3130 manufactured in 1973, owned by Len Schlig from Albury

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a Lanz Bulldog, manufacturer under John Deere in 1958, owned by Ross McDonald

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a 1946 G row, 435 Crawler tractor

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a 1964 six-cylinder John Deere tractor (restored), owned by Colin Eulenstein

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a single-furrow John Deere plough, owned by Ian Ballentine

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a 730 John Deere tractor (unrestored)

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a 640 John Deere rake

If you have a vintage machine you’d like to display at the Henty Machinery Field Days, please email michael.casey@hutcheonandpearce.com.au to find out more.

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Apprentices in the spotlight

Evan named best of the year Evan describes the training he has received throughout his apprenticeship as “unbelievable”.

ur very own Evan Gargaro has been recognised as the cream of the crop at the 2018 TAFE NSW Excellence Awards held in Wagga on April 6.

A fourth-year apprentice attached to the Griffith branch, Evan received an Automotive Industry Achievement Award and was also named Apprentice of the Year, competing against all other Riverina Institute TAFE Campuses and trades. Evan attended the ceremony knowing ahead of time about the automotive award but having no idea about the Apprentice of the Year Award. “I was a bit shocked with that one. The overall award announcement was just crazy. I did not expect it at all.” Evan describes the training he has received throughout his apprenticeship as “unbelievable”. “The best thing about my TAFE studies is the teachers. A lot of them have done a mad variety of work. Small motors, big motors, boat motors, tractors, trucks and you just learn so much off the mechanics there, the stuff that we need to know. “And I’ve learned so much on the job. At Hutcheon & Pearce, one day you can be doing electrical stuff, and the next day you can be fully stripping down a motor. My job takes me all around the Griffith and Hay area and I really enjoy the variety.” HR Mentor Matt Duffy said Hutcheon & Pearce is proud of Evan’s efforts. “While Evan wasn’t recruited under our TOPGUN recruitment process, he has grown through three very important years of

Hutcheon & Pearce

our John Deere specific TOPGUN training program. It started with a TAFE-owned tractor and an older model donated by Ted Hutcheon. We now have those two machines as well as two tractors that John Deere change out for us yearly. “What sets Evan apart is his natural mechanical ability and he’s like a terrier who simply won’t give up – he’s confident in his ability and his thought processes and is also smart enough to know when to ask for help when needed.” Matt said awards like these are important recognition for Hutcheon & Pearce. “While the awards are between TAFE and Evan, it reassures us that we are providing good quality training throughout our apprenticeships and traineeships. Changing how we think about our part in the training has improved the level of tradesman that come out of our branches, and that’s a very good thing.” Due to finish his apprenticeship later this year, Evan is keen to stay on as part of the Hutcheon & Pearce family. “I grew up in Hay and I moved over to Griffith for the apprenticeship. Now I’m based back in Hay as a mobile mechanic and work from Hay most of the time just because there’s so much work over here at the moment. “After my apprenticeship, I’m hoping to stay around this area and keep swinging spanners for as long as I can. “I’ll definitely be continuing with Hutcheon & Pearce. They’ve looked after me and helped me out and taught me a lot of things, so I definitely want to stay around.”

Are you our next TOPGUN?

Evan Gargaro has been recognised as the cream of the crop at the 2018 TAFE NSW Excellence Awards.

At Hutcheon and Pearce, we have a proud culture of training and development to support the continuous growth of our people and our business. Each year, we search for the best of the best to take part in our TOPGUN recruitment program from which we employ at least 12 new apprentices across all branches of our company. Recruitment into the 2019 TOPGUN program has already commenced, with HR Mentor Matt Duffy attending career expos in Young, Forbes, Dubbo, Bathurst, Wagga, Leeton and Albury. School visits are also planned. “Among next year’s applicants, we’re hoping to recruit our first female TOPGUN Agricultural Mechanical Apprentice,” Matt said. If you or someone you know has what it takes to join TOPGUN, more information is available at www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au/careers-employment. All questions can be directed to our HR team by emailing hr@hutcheonandpearce.com.au

Autumn Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Ride-On vs Zero Turn Mower 5 key factors should influence your decision: speed, versatility, visibility, slopes and operator skill.

fter purchasing a bigger home, building on a large block or when you’re just updating the old Cox, a common purchasing decision comes to the fore: Should I buy a conventional ride-on mower or go for a zero-turn?

This question comes up time and time again as our expert salespeople guide homeowners, landscapers and contractors through their options, so our resident lawnmower man, Andrew Watt, has put together some key points to help you find the right mower to suit your needs. Five key factors should influence your decision: speed, versatility, visibility, slopes and operator skill.

1 Speed

can be as tight or as wide as you like. No reversing means faster turns, and over an acre of lawn, this could save you up to 20 minutes of mowing time. This speed does come with a drawback: If your lawn has a few holes, tufts of grass, or is more of a mix of weeds and rocks than turf, you will find the suspension of a zero turn mower more like a bucking bull than a C-class Mercedes.

2 Versatility Being built for speed and manoeuvrability reduces the number of tasks you can perform with a zero-turn versus a ride-on mower. As a rule, a ride-on mower will be more versatile, as they are capable of pulling larger loads in trailers and attaching to more implements like front and rear blades, tillage tools, sprayers, aerators, dethatchers, spreaders, rollers and sweepers as well as the ability to fit baggers and catchers. Although zero turn mowers are able to do some of these things, they are not designed to pull loads so they do have their factory-defined limitations.

3 Visibility

Speed, or more specifically mowing time, is usually the reason someone will opt for a zero-turn mower. Generally, a traditional ride-on (or lawn tractor as we call them) will mow at speeds up to 9km/h whereas a zero-turn (or EZTrak) mows at speeds up to 14km/h.

The design of an EZTrak puts the operator lower and further rearward in the machine when compared to a ride-on mower. This places the edges of the deck in great view, not to mention having no engine, bonnet or steering column in front gives you great forward visibility all the way to the front of the machine.

This extra speed does cut down mowing time from a pure ‘point A to point B’ perspective, but the real reduction in mowing time comes from not needing to stop and reverse at every corner. For a regular 90-degree turn in a lawn tractor, you’ll need to reverse at least once to do a typical 3-point turn. An EZTrak, by comparison, has a motor driving each rear wheel working independently of each other, meaning turns

Along with increased manoeuvrability, this visibility allows you to get up close and personal with garden beds, around and under trees, closer to the clothesline and reduces the amount of whipper snipping required. A ride-on mower still provides great visibility to the edges of the deck but you will find good use of the optional front bumper bar should you like to ‘touch park’ close to fences and shrubs!

Hutcheon & Pearce

Andrew Watt, has put together some key points to help you find the right mower to suit your needs.

4 Slopes When it comes to slopes, there’s steep and there’s STEEP. Both a ride-on mower and zero turn mower will handle any slope up to about 10%, or a 1m rise over a 10m distance. For slopes greater than 10%, two main deciding factors come into play: mowing direction and your climate. If your slope is okay to drive across sideways but you often have to mow when the grass is wet, then opt for a ride-on mower as the front wheels have more traction than the front casters on a zero turn mower. If the weather is not a problem, then the EZTrak is the best choice as they have a lower centre of gravity. If your slope is not okay to traverse sideways and you can only mow up and down, then the EZTrak may be a better option. SAFETY TIP: never drive forwards up the hill, only reverse up the hill and mow forwards back down the hill. This will prevent a zero turn mower flipping up backwards as all the weight is in the rear of the machine. If the weather normally forces you to mow wet grass, the EZTrak in this instance will be your better option as the extra weight over the rear tyres will add more traction when reversing up the hill when compared to a ride-on mower.

5 Operator skill… and confidence It’s no secret that the steering on a zero-turn is great fun but can also take some practise. It’s very important to understand who is going to be operating the mower and their ability to learn new skills. If you balk at the thought of handling the EZTrak levers to control both speed and direction, then it is probably best to stick with a conventional ride-on mower. If the thought of a new challenge excites you, then there are some easy ways to get acquainted with the controls. Start in a wide-open area, get used to the speed control then slowly turn left and right multiple times. Sit a plastic bucket in an open area and practise turning around it until you can get as close as possible without touching it.

Change the bucket out for a bag of dogfood or fertiliser and try to avoid ripping it open. For the first few mows, make it a rule not to go faster than half speed, and only a quarter speed on the first lap. This should help get you comfortable with an EZTrak. Another important thing to remember is that an unskilled operator can do more damage to your lawn with a zero-turn than they can with a ride-on mower. This is because the EZTrak will turn sideways quickly and the side of the deck and deck wheels can dig into the turf if you’re not careful. A ride-on mower’s deck always follows the front wheels and is less likely to have the same problem. An experienced operator on a zero-turn will remember to continue forward motion as they turn to avoid potential turf damage or scalping.

Summary As you can see, the decision between a ride-on and a zeroturn can be a tricky one. That’s why we recommend looking at your own requirements to make the right choice. For me personally, I’ve chosen a Z355E EZTrak for my 1 acre of lawn because I wanted to “mow well fast” and don’t mind pushing the wheelbarrow, spreader and sprayer around by hand. Should I have been closer to retirement age and not in my 30s, I would have opted for the John Deere D130 or X384 ride-on mower to have more versatility.

Limited time offer Right now, John Deere is offering $500 off the complete range of D-100 Series ride-on mower. For more information contact your local Hutcheon & Pearce sales representative.

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

“ We’re continuously challenging the status quo, so that means looking at different industries and for people with different skillsets that might lend themselves to the role we’re looking to create.” Rachelle Auld

Hutcheon & Pearce

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

New tactics for new recruits Hutcheon & Pearce is putting new tactics in place to attract the very best.

t Hutcheon & Pearce, we operate in a niche industry. This can mean it’s difficult to attract the right people with the right skills and experience.

Add to this a national skills shortage of qualified technicians plus our insistence on only hiring high performing staff, and you can see why we take recruitment seriously. HR Manager Sarah Johnson explains Hutcheon & Pearce is putting new tactics in place to attract the very best staff. “Currently, many of our branches have vacancies but that’s really the nature of the business we’re in. Candidates need to not only understand the agricultural sector, but also the products we sell and service and our customers’ needs. “At Hutcheon & Pearce, we also explore every avenue possible to make sure we’re recruiting the best candidates that fit in with our high performing culture, and are really driven by the values we hold dear. “So, when it comes to recruitment, doing things how we’ve always done them is probably a very dangerous road to tread. “To challenge ourselves, to change and grow, we have to adopt new tactics. We’ve recently brought Rachelle Auld on board as HR Administrator to ensure we’re exploring every opportunity out there. This allows us to recruit the best employees to service our customers.” Attracted to Hutcheon & Pearce because it’s a local, familyowned business with a strong background and reputation, Rachelle explains the need to look beyond more standard recruitment practices, like advertising in newspapers. “Obviously, as things change with recruitment, our tactics need to change as well. “I’ve developed contacts at Regional Development Australia, which is focused on getting people back out into the rural communities, where a lot of our branches are based, to keep them thriving. “We’ve also approached many of the councils within our area who have their own initiatives to increase populations. Then there’s recruitment via Facebook, with jobs boards set up by local councils or business groups and other websites where people register that they’re looking for a job and we can go and see if they’ve got the skills we’re looking for.

“We’re continuously challenging the status quo, so that means looking in different industries and for people with different skillsets that might lend themselves to the role we’re looking to create. We’ve had a few recent appointments where the candidate hasn’t come from a typical agricultural industry and they’re doing really well in their roles, which helps breathe new life. “For example, we have two technicians who have relocated from the Army. They have ties to the community here and I think had reached a point living in the city that meant it was no longer feasible. Having a close knit community, without the long commute and expensive mortgages of the city, just offers a whole different way of life, which is appealing.”

Showcasing capability Sarah points to the TOPGUN apprentice and trainee recruitment program as another key initiative for Hutcheon & Pearce. “A number of our branch managers and functional managers started their career as an apprentice or trainee, so we absolutely know the value of growing our own. “We also think it’s important to let kids know that not everything stops with university. There is a lot of pressure to do well in the HSC and get an ATAR, but what we want to do is give kids other options to develop a life-long career. There is so much progression that can come from an apprenticeship, and as the industry changes, this is only going to continue and increase. “A lot of these kids are happy to stay local – they are not enticed by the big lights of Sydney, Melbourne or Wagga for that matter. They have a strong connection to the agricultural industry, and family means a lot to them. Being able to work for a company that places such a high value on family and develop a career in their location of choice is vital. “We see recruiting locals and keeping them in town as part of our contribution to keeping our regional communities alive. Giving back to the towns in which we’re based has always been important to us.”

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Wide open spaces set to benefit TECSight customers ®

Now, with access to 400 acres out at Bomen, the TECSight® team plans to make the most of its new location by focusing more on research and development and staff training.

he TECSight® team provides over-the-phone product and technology support and precision ag services for Hutcheon & Pearce customers.

In early May, our five-strong team of expert technicians made the move to a much larger site in Bomen, on the outskirts of Wagga Wagga. We caught up with TECSight® Manager Sam Horan to discuss the benefits of the move. “The Shared Resource Office (in Johnston Street, Wagga Wagga) was at maximum capacity, with so many different people and different departments, so it made sense for us to move to a more viable location for what we do. “Another department of Hutcheon & Pearce was moving out to Bomen and I thought it was a great idea, so I put it to everyone else and within about four hours of me mentioning it, the decision was made. “It has freed up a lot of office space in town and also given us more room to work with as we move forward.” Sam said that the new TECSight® office is twice the size, with additional space to test equipment and custom build harnesses for different implements, like spreaders and seeders. “The main benefit to the customer is that we now have the facilities to test equipment. Until now, we had to drive out of town to test GPS receivers and GPS RTK radios. When something comes in for testing now, we just go outside and test it from the car park, so the turnaround time is a lot better.

Hutcheon & Pearce

“It has also cut down the turnaround time for custom made harnesses because we now have workshop space to do that.” Now, with access to 400 acres out at Bomen, the TECSight® team plans to make the most of its new location by also focusing more on research and development and staff training. “We’ve never previously had the room for R&D before, so we’re hoping to do a bit more proactive stuff out here. “We will also be able to train our team as a single unit. Before, in-house training could be quite difficult as you couldn’t have all of the team out of the office at once. Now, we can put our headsets on and still have a fully functioning call centre, and all go outside for training. It will just make sure everyone is on the same page at the same time. “Training is big for us. We always make sure our staff are well trained in things like GPS and John Deere precision farming technologies. Our next training day will be using T3RRA Cutta, third party land levelling software that’s connected into a John Deere 1100 application controller, to make the John Deere iGrade system a full 3D land forming tool. “We didn’t have anywhere to do that before, but now we’ll start out with just a tractor and a bucket and we will step through all the harnessing, the controller, the GPS receiver setup, screens activations, and then we’ll go outside into one of the open areas to do all the calibrations.”

“From a customer perspective, the real benefit is that at any one point in time all staff will be able to talk them through how to set up and use products over the phone, and they’ll all be well trained to go out and do the set up and install on-farm. It won’t matter if any one person is on holidays, we’ll all know how to do it.”

To contact our TECSight® solution specialists, (02) 5924 5111 tecsight@hutcheonandpearce.com.au

Streamlined support TECSight® has recently streamlined its subscription model, from three levels to a single $500 charge per annum. This subscription includes GPS and machine support. “If the issue cannot be fixed over the phone, it will be diagnosed prior to Hutcheon & Pearce sending a technician out. It saves the technician having to come out twice as they know what they need to bring before they leave the workshop,” Sam said. “We’ll also do a bit of APEX farm management and My John Deere support over the phone, setting up accounts, merging profiles and much more. Customers can also ask us to proactively monitor their machine red alert codes and call them any time an alert comes through.”

TECSight® Manager Sam Horan

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Jump starter safety warning A

t Hutcheon & Pearce, the safety of our customers and staff is paramount.

That’s why, when safety issues come to our attention, we want to spread the word as far and wide as possible. Our WH&S Manager Peter Goodsell recently emailed all staff about an issue with portable car jump starters. Peter issued the warning about inferior compact jump starter units after one ignited while on charge in a vehicle. “We don’t sell these units, but a staff member had brought one in and was recharging it using the cigarette lighter. “The unit overheated and ignited the console and part of the driver’s seat. Fortunately, no one was injured as the vehicle was empty at the time.” For Peter, the safety message is clear: do your research. “Some of these units have inferior internal parts and substandard safety features. The unit in question was a Chinese import that doesn’t meet Australian safety standards.

“The unit overheated and ignited the console and part of the driver’s seat. Fortunately, no one was injured as the vehicle was empty at the time.”

Hutcheon & Pearce

Please do your research. If the unit you’re looking to buy isn’t Australian safety rated, don’t buy it.

PRECISION MAKES A GREAT FARM EVEN BETTER

PRECISION PAYS

Not every grains farmer sees precision ag the same way.

Watch their story at JohnDeere.com.au/PrecisionPays

When you’re looking to take your farm’s productivity to the next level, we know there is one thing everyone wants. Answers. It’s different for everyone, so to answer a few of those questions we got a group of Aussie grains farmers to try our latest PA technology for themselves.

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

New Gators have arrived As Hutcheon & Pearce Small Ag specialist Greg O’Brien explains, the petrol-powered XUV835 and diesel-powered XUV865 represent advances in comfort, versatility and durability.

ohn Deere has taken the comfort and quality you’ve come to expect in a JD cab and applied it to two new XUV Gator ranges, released this year.

As Hutcheon & Pearce Small Ag specialist Greg O’Brien explains, the petrol-powered XUV835 and dieselpowered XUV865 represent advances in comfort, versatility and durability. “The new XUVs are full-size utility vehicles designed for primary producers and those with large territories to cover to help them maximize productivity and comfort in all types of conditions and terrain.” “The first-ever factory installed cab is available, with heating and air conditioning providing comfort in all seasons, and the new models are more ergonomic in both open station and cab configurations, offering plenty of room for three adults.” Other features of the XUVs include:

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More power – going from 52HP to 54HP in the XUV835

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Increased fuel capacity – going from 27.6Lt to 42.4 Lt

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Increased payload – from 635kg to 680kg

Hutcheon & Pearce

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Increased towing capacity – from 680kg to 907kg

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Longer wheelbase – from 2007mm to 2146mm

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Better stability with wider wheel track – from 1300mm to 1341mm

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More comfort with increased cab width – from 1571mm to 1618mm

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Better ergonomics – the gear lever and diff lock has been relocated to the dash and the park brake is now foot operated

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Full 3-seat capacity, with more legroom, adjustable driver’s seat, adjustable tilt steering column and 3-point seat belts

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More storage – 57Lt under the passenger seat and in the enclosed glove box.

Greg said the launch of these new models also begins the transition of current models into new naming conventions, with all XUV models to be designated as “E”, “M”, or “R” to bring them into line with John Deere labelling on ZTrak Mowers, Compact Utility Tractors and larger tractors.

“These three new models are available to fit a wider range of preferences and budgets. “The letters correspond to the level of comfort and features. The higher the letter, the more features included, and this is reflected in the price. “For example, the XUV835M and XUV865M models have power steering, while the E models do not. “The R model features a premium cab with tan cloth interior, attachment-ready wiring and LED headlights, and the factory cab in both the M and R models comes with a standard HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning), pressurised cab and wind down windows on the doors.”

These XUVs are available in three levels to fit a wider range of preferences and budgets.

The new XUVs are available now. Contact your local Hutcheon & Pearce sales representative for further information.

Winter 2018

High Performance Magazine Winter 2018

Joe and Charmé have the JDNA Johan (Joe) and Charmé Van der Walt make the most of life in Australia.

n 2015, Johan (Joe) and Charmé Van der Walt were travelling around Australia on holiday from their life back in South Africa. When Joe caught up with their mate Carel and heard about his then service technician role at Hutcheon & Pearce in Cowra, he was completely sold and sent his résumé straight in. In a matter of days Joe was interviewing with Hutcheon & Pearce and within five months he and Charmé had returned to South Africa, packed up, and made their way back to Australia to start their new life. Today, Joe is the Leading Hand/Service Technician at the Coleambally branch and about a year and half ago, Charmé joined the team as the Service Administrator. The couple makes a popular addition to the local community and Branch Manager, Brendan Prentice, says they are a great example of Hutcheon & Pearce’s determination to recruit people with the right talent and fit for the company. “Johan and Charmé are a delightful couple and we’re really happy to have them on the Hutcheon & Pearce team,” Brendan said. “Joe’s qualifications and experience made him an excellent candidate for the job and we’re all about making sure that we recruit the best, no matter where they live. Of course, his professional credentials is the first consideration but we’re also very keen to recruit people that we think are a good fit culturally with Hutcheon & Pearce. Both Joe and Charmé share the same values as the company and are really decent and hardworking people that have a love of the land and country life.”

Hutcheon & Pearce

For their first nine months in Australia, Joe and Charmé lived in Finley while Joe learned the company ropes and in January last year, they relocated to join the Hutcheon & Pearce team in Coleambally. “It has been an amazing experience! We have the quality of life here that we always wished we could have had in South Africa, so we feel very lucky to have found what we’ve always dreamed about,” Charmé said. “With around 1000 people in Coleambally, it’s a small and peaceful country town but really busy and we’re working with farmers that are grateful for the backup and support that the Hutcheon and Pearce Coleambally branch provides. Since the reopening of the Hutcheon & Pearce workshop in Coleambally just over a year ago, the couple has been welcomed into the community with open arms.

“There’s been a great need in the area so people are really happy to see us offering support right here in the town”, Joe said. “As it is a small group here in Coly, there is a great atmosphere. It’s like a family here and people welcome the great service and support we strive to offer. The door is always open for customers to pop in for a chat or an update on their machine.”

Growing up around farms, Joe and Charmé have an understanding of what farming life is like and are thrilled to be part of the John Deere support family. “A farmer works until the job is done and our team is here to support them to reach their goals. The team is committed to giving our customers the support they need and deserve as they are all hardworking and at the end of the day they are the ones putting food on our tables,” Charmé said. “Growing up in South Africa around our family’s farms, John Deere was the best and almost legendary. Driving through the gates here at work every day and seeing all the green and yellow is fantastic. We’re proud to be part of a brand that has been with farmers more than 100 years and we strive to make sure that Hutcheon & Pearce is the company of choice.” After working for Hutcheon & Pearce for the past two years, Joe has no doubt that he now carries the JDNA. “I feel like I can easily support our customers and know that Hutcheon & Pearce and John Deere has our backs and will give us all the support we need. We feel very well looked after and we want to make sure our customers feel that way too. “I just have to make sure my accent doesn’t get in the way!”

petrol gator run out!

999* $15,c. GST in

FREE!

ROOF, BULL BAR & TOWBAR (worth over $1,000) OR UPGRADE TO POWER STEERING

999* $18in,c. GST

9* $12c,.9G9ST in

XUV590i

XUV825i *Price shown in Australian dollars including GST. Price does not include freight and other dealer charges. Images are for illustrative purposes only. Prices are while stocks last, or until October 31st 2018.

XUV560

ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST *Terms and conditions apply. See in store for details

Hutcheon & Pearce whatever the job, get it done. ALBURY PO Box 823 Hume Highway Lavington NSW 2641 Phone: (02) 6058 6800

COWRA PO Box 160 64-68 Young Road Cowra NSW 2794 Phone: (02) 6341 4800

COLEAMBALLY 32 Bencubbin Way Coleambally NSW 2707 Phone: (02) 6954 4280

FINLEY 16 Riverina Highway Finley NSW 2713 Phone: (03) 5883 1655

CONDOBOLIN 1a May Street, Condobolin NSW 287t7 Phone: (02) 6891 2222

GRIFFITH 98 Oakes Rd Griffith NSW 2680 Phone: (02) 69695300

www.hutcheonandpearce.com.au

LAKE CARGELLIGO PO Box 2013 Lake Cargelligo NSW 2672 Phone: (02) 6898 1305

TEMORA 101 Kitchener Road Temora NSW 2666 Phone: (02) 6977 1100

ORANGE 26 Scott Place Orange NSW 2800 Phone: (02) 6362 9988

WAGGA WAGGA PO Box 5485 57 Moorong Street Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6933 7900 TECSightÂ® Support Centre (02) 5924 5111

FORBES PO Box 17 56 Angus Clarke Drive Forbes NSW 2871 Phone: (02) 6862 1666