MyDealer:
John Deere Australia Media Release – August 2023
Two mechanics from the same workshop in New South Wales will be two of four finalists competing for the prized Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year title at the third annual John Deere Technician Awards this month.
Work colleagues Hayden Cox and Mark Muller, who both represent RDO Equipment in Eastern Creek will join New Zealand technicians, Nick Fargher and Mark Haughton, in Brisbane for the Award judging where they will undergo testing to assess their ability to solve on-site challenges and provide backup support using remote diagnostics.
The coveted title is one of seven awards across five categories that make up the annual John Deere program, with others including Service Apprentice of the Year, Parts Apprentice of the Year and individual country awards for the Agriculture & Turf Service Technician of the Year and Parts Technician of the Year.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, said there was a highly talented pool of technicians working across the forestry, construction and earthmoving industries and he was delighted some of the best would be recognised at the Awards.
“These industries contribute significantly to Australia’s economy and are critical to local communities, and people like Hayden and Mark play an important role in keeping forestry, construction and earthmoving businesses up and running,” Mr Chandler said.
“We are extremely proud of the work Hayden, Mark and their contemporaries do and are looking forward to recognising their dedication and talent at the Awards in Brisbane.”
Mr Chandler also congratulated the two New Zealand finalists in the Construction & Forestry Technician of the Year Award, Nick Fargher from Brandt Feilding, North Island and the 2021 Award winner, Mark Haughton from Drummond & Etheridge Rolleston, South Island.
More than 100 nominations from 62 John Deere dealerships across Australia and New Zealand were received for the 2023 Technician of the Year Awards, established in 2021 to recognise the impact and hard work of technicians and to encourage more people to apply for roles in service and parts.
The award winners will be announced at a special gala event on Thursday 24 August.
AUSTRALIAN JOHN DEERE 2023 CONSTRUCTION & FORESTRY 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.
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.
