Meet our 2026 Regional Finalists who are progressing through to the final stages of the Technician Awards program.
2026 Technician Awards Regional Finalists
Service Apprentice of the Year Finalists
Ilias Apostolidis, Emmetts Cummins, South Australia
For as long as Ilias Apostolidis can remember, he's been curious about how and why machines work.
It's a fascination that was fostered on his family's farm in Greece, where he spent his youth tinkering with various pieces of agricultural equipment, before going on to study engineering after high school, and eventually owning his own business building silos and livestock feeding equipment.
Today, Ilias is a fourth-year apprentice Service Technician with Emmetts at Cummins on South Australia's Lower Eyre Peninsula, and his enthusiasm for understanding the inner workings of a range of machines hasn't wavered.
Amazed by John Deere's innovations and driven to 'learn the future of agriculture', Ilias has worked hard during his apprenticeship to develop a deep understanding of advanced diagnostics.
Ilias' farm upbringing and business ownership in Greece also instilled a firm understanding of the changing seasonal demands of agriculture and the importance of providing accurate and timely support to ensure farm productivity isn't interrupted.
While consistently seeking to expand his technical knowledge, Ilias has also built strong customer relationships and prides himself on 'acting as a partner, not just a service provider'.
Despite loving the variety each day brings, Ilias is steadfast in his approach to every job: "My goal is to handle the details and solve the problems so our customers can focus on their core mission – feeding and sheltering the world – knowing they have a reliable expert in their corner."
Ilias demonstrates a strong work ethic in his day-to-day approach, setting a positive standard within the team. He is proactive in taking on additional responsibilities and embraces new challenges with a constructive and solutions-focused mindset.
Jayden Silvester, RDO Equipment Emerald, Queensland
Third-year apprentice Jayden Silvester is well on the way to achieving two key goals – completing his trade and earning his pilot's license.
Jayden has already experienced flying in the Cessna 182 owned by his employer, RDO Equipment in Emerald, Queensland, where their furthest customer is Canobie Station, a three-hour flight north compared with a 14-hour drive.
"I'd like to be part of the team that flies out to remote John Deere customers to deliver parts, provide technical assistance, and support clients and technicians in the field," Jayden said.
He inherited his passion for aviation from his mother, who completed her commercial helicopter pilot's license early in his childhood while living on their cattle property in Central Queensland.
Remarkably, Jayden had not been around John Deere equipment until completing work experience; however, he had had developed a strong understanding of machine operation, identification, and modern farming practices through virtual farming simulation technology.
As a boarding school student in Rockhampton, Jayden would travel three and a half hours by bus from Rockhampton to Emerald each week to work at RDO on Fridays and weekends, before returning to school on the 5:30am Monday bus - a testament to his dedication and work ethic.
Although only in the third year of his apprenticeship, Jayden has already distinguished himself with a record of zero rework, reflecting his technical aptitude and workmanship.
Jayden believes agriculture offers "incredible opportunities" for those who are passionate about the industry and prepared to put in the effort.
Charlie Thurtell, Hutcheon & Pearce Cowra, New South Wales
They say pressure makes diamonds, which bodes well for fourth-year apprentice Charlie Thurtell who thrives on the intensity of high workloads and tight deadlines.
Charlie started at Hutcheon & Pearce in Cowra as an apprentice after year 10 where he joined a busy team of 19 people, which services a variety of large and small machinery from residential, horticulture, local dairies, livestock operations and broadacre cropping farms.
The Cowra branch also supports the nearby Orange workshop in peak periods, adding forestry and Construction to the scope of mechanical knowledge that Charlie has acquired.
"I absolutely love the busyness of it and tackling something new that can get the adrenaline flowing," he said.
Charlie has completed the three-year TAFE training component and is on track to be a fully qualified service technician by January 2027.
He hopes to work for Hutcheon & Pearce as a service technician for many years to come, and is determined to continue learning more about different types of machinery by taking advantage of weekend visits to his family's farm.
"Spending time on farms since I was young has definitely helped me with customer service because I can relate to them and understand how important the machinery is to their business," Charlie said.
His helpful attitude stood out at Hutcheon & Pearce from day one, with his approachable nature and willingness to go the extra mile resulting in high levels of trust from both colleagues and customers.
Kyle Burns, Emmetts Horsham, Victoria
Kyle Burns' hobby of rewiring old cars has a lot in common with his weekday job as a service apprentice, but they're light years apart in terms of engineering advancement.
"My current project is rewiring a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air for a friend, and the car couldn't be more different from the giant 9RX Series Tractors that come into the workshop at Emmetts," he said.
Kyle has always been very inquisitive and inclined to pull things apart to understand how they work, but he also recognises the importance of backing up that skill with qualifications.
He spent 20 years installing auto electrics in new emergency service vehicles, before a lifestyle change presented the opportunity to move to the country and take on new challenges.
Initially employed as an agricultural electrical technician, Kyle decided to expand his skillset and commenced a dual trade in heavy diesel.
Since joining Emmetts, Kyle has demonstrated 'outstanding adaptability' in the role.
He quickly developed the skills to operate effectively in a busy workshop, and was recently appointed Apprentice Workshop Lead for a group of five apprentices, because he's a natural mentor.
Coming from a non-agricultural background, Kyle has been struck by the importance of supporting farmers. He says being able to play a small part in helping farmers continue to operate gives him a strong sense of purpose and pride
Sam Middleton, Brandt Gisborne, North Island New Zealand
Working as an apprentice service technician has taught Sam Middleton that the job isn't just about turning wrenches.
"It's about staying patient, adapting to new technology, and supporting customers when their equipment breaks down," Sam said.
Gisborne born and bred, Sam went fencing after school, but after four years decided to walk into Brandt's local dealership and drop off his resume.
He'd already learned a lot from his father, a mechanic who became a hydraulics technician, and remembers sitting amongst the hoses as they headed out to jobs in his Dad's van.
Working at Brandt is the perfect fit, he says, with its big machines, real challenges, and customers who rely on him for help.
Sam has excellent mechanical skills, very strong diagnostic ability, and the commitment to keep going until the job is complete, resulting in some big workdays and very satisfied customers.
He enjoys leadership roles outside work, as a committee member for the local HSOB Rugby Football Club and volunteering as a local surf lifeguard, and still regularly discusses work with his Dad.
Sam would like to become involved in mentoring programs, training sessions, and community outreach, which he sees as making a real impact by supporting new technicians, giving apprentices confidence, and showing the wider industry the value of skilled, committed people in this field.
Adam Patane, Honeycombes Ayr, Queensland
Adam Patane lives and breathes the North Queensland life.
The third-year Service Technician apprentice with Honeycombes Sales & Service in Ayr, grew up on a nearby sugarcane and vegetable farm, spends his weekends fishing and off-road biking, and loves working on agricultural machinery.
Just 18-years-old, Adam started his apprenticeship after leaving school in year 10 and hasn't looked back.
His rapidly expanding skillset and growing maturity has resulted in him being trusted to undertake field site servicing on his own.
Adam said growing up on a farm means he can understand and relate to the challenges facing Honeycombes customers, and the need for equipment to be repaired quickly to minimise down time.
"My aim on every job is to arrive prepared, diagnose methodically, communicate clearly, and get the customer back running with minimal disruption to their operation," he said.
After starting in the power sports division, Adam proactively sought to transition to agricultural machinery and to pursue a career as a diesel fitter, showing his commitment to building a long-term career in the industry.
He understands that every interaction reflects not only on himself, but on Honeycombes and the John Deere brand and represents all three with professionalism, integrity, and pride in his work every day.