Meet our 2023 Regional Finalists who are progressing through to the final stages of the Technician Awards program.
2023 Technician Awards Regional Finalists
C&F Service Technician of the Year Finalists
Hayden Cox, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Qualified Construction and Forestry John Deere Technician, Hayden Cox, has always been captivated by machinery and as a young boy, he would often find himself pulling things apart to determine how they worked. His enthusiasm for machinery continued throughout his adolescence, completing work experience at various mechanic workshops. Pursuing his passion, Hayden started his apprenticeship after completing Year 12 and moved to RDO Equipment in his third year, where he has been working on John Deere machines since. Hayden is proud to support the construction industry – a sector he believes is a cornerstone of the Australian economy.
A high achiever, Hayden has also completed his Certificate III in Automotive Electrical Technology and Certificate II in Automotive Air-Conditioning. During his day-to-day work, he strives to exceed expectations and works hard to build strong relationships with customers, which has earned him an excellent reputation with both colleagues and customers. He enjoys that every day on the job is different, providing him with variety and opportunity to work on a large range of machinery.
Nick Fargher, Brandt, Feilding, North Island
Born into a family of machinery owners and operators, Nick Fargher has always had a passion for mechanics and machine diagnostics. Starting his career servicing mixed brands, Nick fell in love with John Deere products and began working solely on John Deere Construction and Forestry equipment in 2020. No stranger to the John Deere Technician Awards, Nick is proud to have been named a finalist twice since the awards inception in 2021.
His enthusiasm for his work is grounded in his belief that the forestry industry is a pillar of the New Zealand economy, and he is proud of the role he plays in supporting the sector. Nick enjoys the diversity of the job, including seeing some of New Zealand's best scenery when he visits customers. He welcomes every opportunity to upskill, attending additional training offered through John Deere and learning from his fellow colleagues.
He is committed to ensuring his customers' needs are met and understands the importance service support has in ensuring operators can get the most efficiency out of their equipment. Nick thrives in a challenging environment and his technical knowledge and ability to offer guidance and support to his team has established him as a leader in the field.
Mark Haughton, Drummond & Etheridge, Christchurch, South Island
Becoming a John Deere Construction & Forestry Technician was somewhat of a calling for Mark Haughton, who has had a love for machinery since childhood. Mark began his career through an automotive apprenticeship, before travelling to Western Australia to work in the mining industry. He later returned home to New Zealand to work with John Deere.
Mark is considered one of the leaders in his field and was proud to secure the title of 2021 New Zealand John Deere Construction and Forestry Service Technician of the Year at the inaugural John Deere Technician Awards.
Mark enjoys the challenges that come with the job, with a typical day seeing him travel to some of New Zealand's most remote areas. He has exceptional technical skills and knowledge of John Deere equipment and understands the importance of providing quality service and using specialist diagnostic tools to solve problems and build trust with his customers.
Mark is proud to not only represent the John Deere brand but also support the construction and forestry industries by providing these expert services.
Mark Muller, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Mark Muller has always had an interest in mechanics and machinery, and at sixteen began his career through a forklift mechanic apprenticeship. After 15 years, he craved a challenge and almost two years ago successfully transitioned to become a John Deere Construction and Forestry Technician at RDO Equipment. Mark is proud his work provides support to the construction industry and believes the sector plays an important role in strengthening Australia's economy.
Mark is a proficient technician dedicated to driving his own professional development, through completing additional training provided through John Deere and his dealership. He is known for his exceptional customer service skills and understands that every customer requires a different approach. He takes time to precisely listen to his customers' needs and uses every tool available to ensure he provides the highest quality service.