MEN@WORK │
Michael Macklin
Dave Crawford
Ladymead Kennels and Cattery
Bay Irrigation
35
Centre pivot irrigators A dog’s life at Ladymead is a great great Kiwi Ingenuity one. And, for cats too! D “The absolute best day at
M
ichael Macklin’s quiet, matter of fact manner is obviously picked up on by the animals around him. They sit and stare and when he approaches are keen to please. His own dogs obediently come to him and sit hopefully. Archer, Molly and Cruz appear to know they are special. They were all dogs which for various reasons, clients could not have anymore. “It’s so tempting to collect dogs, I have to limit myself,” he smiles. When Michael purchased Ladymead Kennels at Opaki, north of Masterton in November last year, he knew he had found his niche. “I’m not a particularly sociable person around people. I find animals’ company far more rewarding.” That’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy living on site with his wife, Kate and two-year-old son, Ryley. The trio make up a good team in a job which is pretty much round the clock care. In less than a year they have made major improvements to facilities, increased the car parking off the state highway and the gardens are attractively planted. During holidays, Ladymead can house up to 90 dogs, regularly there’s about 40. This includes between 15-20 ‘day care dogs’ which people drop off each morning while their owners are at work. This is a new phenomenon in kennels says Michael and one which is proving increasingly popular.
“It’s far healthier for your dog to be in the company of others. It’s so important for their sociability.” A typical day starts at 7am when the cats are fed. Ladymead also caters for cats where covered kennels sit away from the dog enclosures. They care for an average of 10 cats per day and reach up to 40 at peak periods. Between 7.30-8am, the dogs are fed, kennels cleaned and they are let into the yards. Then the day care dogs arrive. By 10am, the animals have settled and in early afternoon the dogs are returned to their kennels for rest. At 3pm, the process begins all over again. Michael grew up around dogs. His mother Sandra, breeds and shows Schipperkes – Belgian Barge dogs. She has been manager at Ladymead in the past. Michael studied accounting at university but the kennel work is where he’s happy. Returning to his hometown of Masterton, he is thrilled to be the new owner of Ladymead. He is ably assisted by Pet Carer Aoife Everton, an Irish woman with extensive kennel experience and who is studying vet nursing. Shonnie Tunnicliffe volunteers three times a week looking after arrivals.
ave Crawford is in his element. He’s working in the farming industry he’s always enjoyed but in a totally different role to the share-milking he’s done for decades. He’s a Sales and Project Manager for Bay Irrigation – a company which specialises in the agricultural irrigation field.
Bay Irrigation has its head office in Hastings where it began in the 1980s. It has formed relationships with farmers throughout New Zealand and irrigation machinery suppliers in Italy, France and the United States. Through these international connections, it imports and distributes high tech irrigation equipment with a focus on mobile irrigators, including Zimmatic Centre Pivots. Pivot irrigators have taken off in Wairarapa, according to Dave, who has just overseen another installation, this time the construction of a 406 metre long pivot irrigator, irrigating 56 hectares on a south Wairarapa farm. The technology is now so advanced that each of the 150 sprinklers on this particular pivot can be controlled individually and wirelessly ensuring water is only applied where it is needed and only in the quantities needed. To make this innovation even more special, this system was invented in New Zealand by Manawatu men George Ricketts and Stuart Bradbury.
work is when the water is turned on. Carefully planned and managed irrigation can provide a 30% increase in output from a farm.”
The technology was purchased by the manufacturer of the Zimmatic pivots in the USA. “It’s great Kiwi ingenuity that has now gone around the world,” enthuses Dave. Dave loves his role working alongside the farmers to get the best outcome for their property. “The absolute best day at work is when the water is turned on. Carefully planned and managed irrigation can provide a 30% increase in output from a farm.” And, Bay Irrigation provides a total service which men like Dave implement direct to the customers. It’s not all high end, large scale irrigators – there’s a wide range of smaller irrigators, pumps, generator sets, rain guns and booms. For all water management on the farm and large scale situations, Dave’s the go-to man.
YOUR PETS HOME AWAY FROM HOME • Long term • Short term • Daycare - every tenth visit is free! The dogs have spacious, secure, grassed areas to exercise and socialise in.
06 377 5595
OPEN 7 DAYS 8am - 11am, 4pm - 6pm
298 State Highway 2, RD 11, Masterton
ladymead@xtra.co.nz
www.ladymead.co.nz
Call us for all your
pasture, agricultural and municipal irrigation needs Call David Crawford 0800 65 55 45