LIKE Torque, Boekeman Machinery Dowerin branch manager Colin Riggs has no thoughts of retiring.
Arguably the oldest and still employed fossil in the WA machinery dealer industry, young Colin started his career in February 1970 with the then Northam Machinery, as a mechanic.
Then in 1976 he took on a position with Dowerin Machinery, which at that stage was an International Harvester dealer.
In 1984, the budding Boekeman Machinery group bought Dowerin Machinery and Colin stayed on in his mechanic role.
By the 1990s, Colin had been promoted to service manager, a position he held for 15 years before assuming the role as branch manager, 10 years ago.
“I’ve witnessed the greatest evolution in agricultural machinery’s history,” he said. “And it keeps getting better.
“Some of the seats in the headers, tractors and sprayers are better than a lounge room seat at home.”
Now there’s a giveaway for a present when Colin finally retires – a reclining rocker.
And while Colin might describe himself as being in the twilight of his career, the branch’s salesman Leith Johnson is just settling in.
A mature age appointment last year after a wide-ranging career in ag sales, this ex-South Australian from a family farm is “picking them up and putting them down”, so to speak.
“It’s a great industry to be in and there are plenty of career moves you can make,” he said. “I encourage youngsters looking at a career, to visit their local dealership and learn about the various job positions.
“It’s a very rewarding industry with some great people and you are always learning, so every day is different.”
The Boekeman Machinery group are great supporters of promoting careers in the farm mechanisation industry, along with all members of the Farm Machinery & Industry Association (FMIA).
There may be a tinge of nervousness in the bush at the moment but the positives of an industry that has survived two world wars, the Great Depression, numerous droughts, financial collapses and the Global Financial Crisis, can’t be swatted away.
Incidentally, the above is a good argument when next talking to your financier, who probably has an intense look right now, evaluating your five year finance record.
Tell ‘im he’s dreaming.
