Agriculture August 24, 2023
John Deere Australian Technician of the Year Award winners announced
Crestmead, Queensland (24 August, 2023) — Four talented Australians claimed top titles at the third annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards gala dinner in Brisbane tonight.
Lachlan Corridan and second time winner, Sarah Lewis, have been named the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year and Parts Technician of the Year respectively, while Darcy Miller took out the Service Apprentice of the Year Award. Poppy Blohm received the Parts Apprentice of the Year Award against a competitive field of Australian and New Zealand apprentices.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, congratulated each of the Australian winners and emphasised how important their work was to prosperous industries and local communities.
"Lachlan, Sarah, Darcy and Poppy have demonstrated exemplary performance among a high calibre field of finalists and should be incredibly proud of their efforts in taking home their respective Awards tonight," Mr Chandler said.
"There can only be one winner in each category, however after meeting many of the technicians in Brisbane over the past few days, it's clear we have a terrific pipeline of talent servicing John Deere equipment and supporting our customers across the country.
"I would also like to acknowledge the New Zealand winners, Bryce Dickson, Jimmy O'Donnell and Mark Haughton for their achievements tonight."
John Deere Australian Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
Lachlan Corridan, Haeusler's, Sea Lake, Victoria
Working in the heart of Victoria's Mallee wheatbelt region, Lachlan Corridan has become a specialist in John Deere's combine harvesters and self-propelled sprayers and said he was ecstatic to win his category.
"It's an honour to have been nominated and selected as a finalist, let alone winning," Lachlan said.
"I love being a John Deere tech and dealing with customers each day. It's really fulfilling to get their machines going and to develop long-term relationships with them.
"All my customers are good people and their trust and support is what I love most about my job."
Employed by Hausler's in Sea Lake, Lachlan grew up in Swan Hill and had his sights set on working in the agriculture industry from a young age. After gaining a local apprenticeship, Lachlan chose to move west to work at the Hausler's John Deere dealership in Sea Lake to gain experience working on the large broadacre machinery.
Deeply committed to his work, the award-winning technician is a strong advocate for John Deere equipment and says anyone who is offered a role in a dealership should seize the opportunity with both hands.
John Deere Australian Parts Technician of the Year
Sarah Lewis, Brandt, Terang, Victoria
Successfully claiming the John Deere Australian Parts Technician of the Year title for the second consecutive year, Sarah Lewis from Brandt's Terang dealership in Victoria's Western District said it was unique and humbling to be the first to win the award back-to-back.
"We had a fantastic group of techs this year who are also very skilled and passionate," Sarah said.
"I was fortunate enough to be the title holder for the past 12 months, so it's amazing to even consider that I'm here for the second time.
"I see this as a great opportunity to develop my skills and support our customers. There's no greater reward than providing assistance and expertise in parts to all customers, no matter the size of the equipment."
While Sarah said she doesn't enjoy being in the spotlight, she understands the important role she can play in acting as a role model to other young people and mentoring them to have a successful career in the agriculture industry.
John Deere Service Apprentice of the Year
Darcy Miller, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
Hailing from the rich and fertile soils of the Burdekin region, Darcy Miller, from the Ayr Honeycombes John Deere dealership, was awarded the John Deere Service Apprentice of the Year in a competitive field drawn from both Australia and New Zealand.
The fourth-year apprentice spent his childhood helping his Grandfather around the family cane farm and said winning the category was a big achievement for him and his family.
"I've loved tractors since I was a kid and regularly volunteered for work experience at Honeycombes before starting a school-based apprenticeship, which led to my full-time role," Darcy said.
"I've worked on mowers right through to large cane harvesters, but tractors are still my favourite piece of machinery. I just love seeing the advancements in technology that really help improve farming practices."
John Deere Parts Apprentice of the Year
Poppy Blohm, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
Second year parts apprentice, Poppy Blohm, is proof you don't need an agricultural background to make a successful career supporting farmers and keeping their machinery up and running.
After growing up in Perth, Poppy was keen to pursue a career in the farm sector, which led her to a role at the Narrogin AFGRI dealership in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region. She now enjoys supporting customers through time-critical seasons including seeding and harvest and said she was very surprised and overwhelmed to win the award given the range of skills and rural backgrounds of the five other finalists in her category.
"All the finalists I was competing against have incredible knowledge, and it's been great to see how smart and how switched on they are," Poppy said.
"My job is very insightful, and I love to see how growers work with their machinery. It is so rewarding working with people who have the same interests and making strong relationships with both colleagues and our farmer customers."
Poppy champions the critical role John Deere machinery plays in supporting farmers and their businesses, and her enthusiasm makes her a great role model for other young people considering a career in agriculture.
About the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards
Established in 2021, the prestigious awards champion the important contribution John Deere technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries, and honour the outstanding service and support highly skilled and committed techs make to the lives and businesses of John Deere's valued customers.
Mr Chandler said technicians deliver services integral to success by providing highly skilled back-up support and remote diagnostics to ensure optimal machine performance.
"With technological advances driving industry growth, future demand for technicians across rural and regional Australia continues to increase," he said.
"It is important for us to recognise and reward our John Deere technicians for striving for excellence and the important contribution they make to the industries they service."
More than 100 technicians were nominated by their dealerships 2023, with input from customers, and 30 finalists travelled to the company's Australian headquarters in Brisbane this week to be put through a rigorous assessment process, testing diagnostic capabilities, technical knowledge and customer service skills.
How to become a John Deere Technician
John Deere technicians work in dealerships located across Australia and New Zealand providing back-up support and technical expertise to the agriculture, turf, construction and forestry industries. There are many career pathways and progression opportunities, and ongoing training and support in John Deere equipment. Visit the John Deere website for more information: Dealership Opportunities | John Deere AU
FULL LIST OF 2023 JOHN DEERE TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS:
Australian Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
- Lachlan Corridan, Haeusler's, Sea Lake, Victoria
New Zealand Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
- Bryce Dickson, Brandt, Whangarei, North Island
Australian Parts Technician of the Year
- Sarah Lewis, Brandt, Terang, Victoria
New Zealand Parts Technician of the Year
- Jimmy O'Donnell, Drummond & Etheridge, Blenheim, South Island
Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year
- Mark Haughton, Drummond & Etheridge, Rolleston, South Island
Service Apprentice of the Year
- Darcy Miller, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
Parts Apprentice of the Year
- Poppy Blohm, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
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Lachlan Corridan, Haeusler's, Sea Lake, Victoria
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Lachlan Corridan, Haeusler's, Sea Lake, Victoria
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Sarah Lewis, Brandt, Terang, Victoria
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Sarah Lewis, Brandt, Terang, Victoria
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Darcy Miller, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
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Darcy Miller, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
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Poppy Blohm, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
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Poppy Blohm, AFGRI Equipment, Narrogin, Western Australia
Video package also available on request. Includes:
- interviews with award winners
- interview with John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler
- interview with John Deere Australia and New Zealand Director of Aftermarket and Customer Support, Emma Ford, and
- and b-roll of footage from the gala.
Media Contacts:
Kate Scott
kate.scott@bluehillpr.com.au
0438 389 092
Grace Wickson
grace.wickson@bluehillpr.com.au
0432 748 837
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.
