The Wongan Chaser is a truly local product

Built by Walkers Diesel Services on the west side of Wongan Road, Wongan Hills, the Wongan Chaser is sold by Boekeman Machinery Wongan Hills, directly opposite on the east side of Wongan Road.

Many farmers learned a valuable lesson during the COVID-19 pandemic about supporting local machinery manufacturers where possible.

While delivery times on some new imported machines stretched well beyond 12 months, more often than not, it was trying to source a relatively minor service part for an existing machine during the pandemic that caused farmers stress and time lost on the phone trying to track the part down.

So understandably, interest generated by the first Wongan Chaser which recently appeared in Boekeman Machinery, Wongan Hills' yard has been strong.

It was the first of four ordered for this year by Boekeman Machinery, Wongan Hills and the Wongan Chaser has been built to a simple, rugged, no-nonsense specification, with 43 centimetre (17 inch) upload auger, 30.5 tyres, roll tarp, rear ladder and fire extinguisher as standard.

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Another local company, Wongan Steel, had previously manufactured the Wongan Steel Chaser Bin for more than 30 years, which Boekeman dealerships sold, Wongan Hills branch manager Dillan Elliott explained.

"They were a good seller for us," Mr Elliott said.

Walkers Diesel Services then bought the Wongan Steel premises and, as part of the deal, obtained the rights to the chaser bin, so welcomed the Boekeman Machinery order from across the road.

"Basically, we wanted to fill the gap in the market that the Wongan Steel Chaser Bin had filled," Mr Elliott said.

"The first Wongan Chaser has been delivered and has already been sold to a local farmer - we wanted to sell them close to home so we could maintain service on them.

"Three more will be delivered before the end of the year."