NEWS RELEASE July 15, 2022
John Deere Australian Construction and Forestry Service Technician Award finalists announced
Crestmead, Queensland (15 July, 2022) – MECHANICS who have been tinkering with machinery since childhood, technical experts empowering operators to get the most out of their equipment and a previous Technician of the Year winner are among the frontrunners in the Construction and Forestry Service Technician category of the second annual John Deere Technician Awards.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, offered his congratulations to the four Australian finalists: Peter Roughley, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek; Scott Jackson, RDO Equipment, Richlands; Max O'Brien, RDO Equipment, Wingfield; and, Ben Mummery, AFGRI Equipment, Albany.
The regional finalists will now contend with two New Zealand technicians for the coveted title.
"Technicians deliver services integral to the construction and forestry industry by not only providing vital backup support and remote diagnostics, but by empowering operators to get the most out of their machinery and technology," Mr Chandler said.
"Australia is fortunate to have an enormous pool of talented technicians working across our forestry, construction and earthworks sites, so these finalists deserve to be very proud for being named among the best in their field."
The John Deere Technician Awards were established in 2021 to recognise the hard work and expertise technicians provide to the construction, forestry and agriculture industries across Australia and New Zealand, and their drive to support businesses to be their most efficient, productive and profitable.
In total, more than 100 nominations from across Australia and New Zealand were received for the Awards, with finalists competing in six different categories, including Agriculture Service Technician of the Year, Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year, Turf Service Technician of the Year, Service Apprentice of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year and Parts Apprentice of the Year.
The award winners will be announced at a gala event on 5 August at in Brisbane, Queensland.
AUSTRALIAN JOHN DEERE CONSTRUCTION AND FORESTRY SERVICE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Peter Roughley: RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Becoming a John Deere Construction and Forestry Technician was somewhat of a calling for Peter Roughley, who has spent almost 40 years working in the industry. By the time Peter was 12 he was dismantling engines and gearboxes to learn how they worked. Pursuing his passion, he began his career through an apprenticeship in 1978 and was fortunate to be mentored and trained by an exceptional diesel fitter who taught him the importance of learning the intricacies of mechanics. Learning it is most vital to understand how something works, opposed to learning just how to fix it, was fundamental to Peter and is the advice he passes on to the next generation to this day.
Using John Deere's JDLink™ and Connected Support, Peter is now often turning to his computer, and not his toolbox, when diagnosing machines. The technology proved invaluable recently when he was able to diagnose and remotely fix a John Deere 672 Grader, which was working at Eden, a 12-hour round trip from the dealership. With exceptional coaching skills, Peter was able to talk the operator through the correct steps to ensure the equipment was back working at optimal performance within a short timeframe.
Scott Jackson: RDO Equipment, Richlands, Queensland
After completing his formal mechanical training and gaining years of experience in the rail industry, Scott Jackson started his John Deere technician career in 2012, initially working in the agriculture sector before transitioning to be a Construction and Forestry Technician in 2018. The career shift was made, in part, due to Scott's belief that the construction industry is a cornerstone of the Australian economy and he is proud to support the sector by providing expert backup support.
Although based in Brisbane, Scott's service area sprawls throughout Queensland and across to Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, which means he is frequently relying on John Deere's JDLink™ to monitor machines and empower operators to get the most efficiency and productivity out of their equipment.
Max O'Brien: RDO Equipment, Wingfield, South Australia
Listening to the precise needs of customers, be they a small owner-operator business running one machine, or a large-scale contracting venture with a growing fleet, has paved the way for Construction Technician Max O'Brien to become one of the best in the field. Known for bringing a methodical approach to machine diagnostics, Max has exceptional hands-on and technical skills which he continuously develops by regularly attending additional training offered through his dealership and John Deere.
Max has always had a penchant for earthmoving machinery, and when he was growing up he would pull things apart to examine how they worked. During his day-to-day work, Max still thrives on the challenge of problem solving when completing machine diagnostics.
Ben Mummery: AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia
Ben Mummery made a career transition from working in the mining industry to becoming a Field Service Technician where he now works across thriving forestry businesses. Since his career switch, the qualified diesel fitter has added a thorough understanding of John Deere's Construction and Forestry equipment to become one of the leaders in his field.
Ben enjoys the challenge and diversity of the job and is dedicated to continuously upskilling. He understands backup support underpins machinery reliability, which is crucial for all businesses, particularly in the forestry industry given the tight operating timelines.
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Scott Jackson, RDO Equipment, Richlands, Queensland
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Peter Roughley, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
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Max O'Brien, RDO Equipment, Wingfield, South Australia
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Ben Mummery, AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia
LIST OF AUSTRALIAN FINALISTS:
Agriculture Service Technician of the Year Finalists
(will compete for Australia only Award)
- Jaymee Ireland, Emmetts, Roseworthy, South Australia
- Vincent Powditch, RDO Equipment, Taree South, New South Wales
- Karl Moschella, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
- William Lawless, Brandt, Sunshine, Victoria
Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year Finalists
(will also compete against two New Zealand technicians for a combined New Zealand/Australian Award)
- Peter Roughley, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
- Scott Jackson, RDO Equipment, Richlands, Queensland
- Max O'Brien, RDO Equipment, Wingfield, South Australia
- Ben Mummery, AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia
Turf Service Technician of the Year Finalists
(will also compete against two New Zealand technician for a combined New Zealand/Australian Award)
- Cameron Black, RDO Equipment, Lismore, New South Wales
- Michael Gemzik, RDO Equipment, Loganholme, Queensland
- John Mooney, AFGRI Equipment, South Guildford, Western Australia
- Adam Kent, Brandt, Knoxfield, Victoria
Service Apprentice of the Year Finalists
(will also compete against two New Zealand apprentice for a combined New Zealand/Australian Award)
- Oliver Dean, Hutcheon & Pearce, Cowra, New South Wales
- Jack Jones, RDO Equipment, Roma, Queensland
- Josh Kramer, Emmetts, Roseworthy, South Australia
- Thomas Conroy, Brandt, Ballarat, Victoria
Parts Technician of the Year Finalists
(will compete for Australia only Award)
- Sally Clayton, Hutcheon & Pearce, Forbes, New South Wales
- Caitlin Williams, RDO Equipment, Gympie, Queensland
- Dillon James, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
- Sarah Lewis, Brandt, Terang, Victoria
Parts Apprentice of the Year Finalists
(will also compete against one New Zealand apprentice for a combined New Zealand/Australian Award)
- Kaylyn-Rose Netrval, RDO Equipment, Rutherford, New South Wales
- Lauren Cortes, RDO Equipment, Dalby, Queensland
- Mitchell Channer, AFGRI Equipment, South Guildford, Western Australia
- Matt Harvey, Midland Tractors, Longford, Tasmania
About Deere & Company:
Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, golf & turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what's possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology-enabled products including the John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor and See & Spray™ are just two of the ways we help meet the world's increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more information, visit John Deere at its worldwide website at JohnDeere.com or in Australia at JohnDeere.com.au.
Media Contacts:
Stacey Wordsworth
0438 394 371
stacey.wordsworth@bluehillpr.com.au
Hannah Hardy
0421 196 004
hannah.hardy@bluehillpr.com.au
