Luke Chandler is the managing director for John Deere Australia and New Zealand. Image: John Deere
John Deere has revealed the finalists for its much-anticipated Technician of the Year awards to be held later this year.
The company has shortlisted 24 finalists after receiving 130 nominees from 69 dealership locations. As part of the finals, the finalists will travel to Brisbane in early September for a final round of judging before the award winners are announced on September 5.
At the final round, finalists will be tested on their ability to perform hands-on diagnostics and troubleshoot and solve technical issues.
“Technicians require a unique combination of mechanical knowledge, proficiency in digital technology and advanced problem-solving skills to support customers’ operations, helping them to increase their uptime, enhance productivity and promote sustainable practices across their business,” John Deere Australia and New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler said.
“All the finalists should be extremely proud that their dedication, hard work and commitment to excellent customer service was recognised by their dealerships and congratulated on passing the first round of internal judging.
“We look forward to welcoming the finalists to our headquarters at Crestmead, where their diagnostic and problem-solving skills will be put to the test in a series of complex real-life scenarios.”
The awards categories include individual Australia and New Zealand winners for the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year, Parts Technician of the Year, and Construction & Forestry Service Technician of the Year. One award winner from either New Zealand or Australia will be announced as the Service Apprentice of the Year. Five Australian apprentices will compete for the Parts Apprentice of the Year Award.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand aftermarket and customer support director Emma Ford said there was a range of employees nominated for the awards this year.
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“Some have come from traditional farming backgrounds and always had an interest in pursuing a career in agriculture or heavy machinery, whereas other finalists have made this career choice later in life,” she said.
“Regardless of their pathway to their current role, they are all deeply committed to delivering exceptional service for customers, and to making the most of all the opportunities they have to grow their career and excel in their field.”
Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year
(will compete for an Australian-only Award)
Brady Gunter, Hutcheon & Pearce, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Karl Moschella, Honeycombes, Ayr, Queensland
Rodney Pearce, Hutcheon & Pearce, Lavington, New South Wales
Bradley Skinner, AFGRI Equipment, Esperance, Western Australia
James Smart, Emmetts, Horsham, Victoria
Zac Weir, RDO Equipment, Gympie, Queensland
Parts Technician of the Year
(will compete for an Australian-only Award)
Andrew Keller, Hutcheon & Pearce, Lavington, New South Wales
Kirsten Rush, Brandt, Ballarat, Victoria
Alex Tyler, Emmetts, Murray Bridge, South Australia
Emma Whitbread-Edwards, RDO Equipment, Richlands, Queensland
Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year
(will compete for an Australian-only Award)
Hayden Cox, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Andrew Moat, RDO Equipment, Derrimut, Victoria
Ben Mummery, AFGRI Equipment, Albany, Western Australia
Johannes Viljoen, AFGRI Equipment, Busselton, Western Australia
Service Apprentice of the Year
(will also compete against two New Zealand finalists for a combined Australian/New Zealand Award)
Owen Armstrong, Hutcheon & Pearce, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Daniel Barnes, RDO Equipment, Beaudesert, Queensland
Samuel Dyer, Emmetts, Pinnaroo, South Australia
Josh Kramer, Emmetts, Roseworthy, South Australia
Nicholas Lattanzio, Emmetts, Horsham, Victoria
Parts Apprentice of the Year
(will compete against each other for the Award)
Belinda Gade, Emmetts, Renmark, South Australia
Matthew Giuntini, RDO Equipment, Eastern Creek, New South Wales
Tracy Hogan, RDO Equipment, Emerald, Queensland
Wyatt Sciacca, Honeycombes, Innisfail, Queensland
Hannah Goedhart-Hutchings, AFGRI Equipment, Merredin, Western Australia
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