By Bronwyn Hastings

Two Horsham mechanics have been nominated for the annual John Deere Technician awards – Emmetts’ Nick Lattanzio and James Smart for Apprentice of the Year and Service Technician of the Year, respectively.

Horsham Emmetts training and apprenticeships co-ordinator Amber Peters said Emmetts had several nominations for the awards this year, which included employees from Australia and New Zealand.

“We have finalists in every category of the awards, all except for the construction and forestry,” she said.

“We have three in the apprenticeship group – we’ve got another two in South Australia, and they compete against each other as well as four others in the category, John Deere is very well represented.”

Mr Lattanzio, who is in his fourth year of his apprenticeship, did not set out to be a diesel mechanic.

“I went to university for six months and it wasn’t my kind of cup of tea, so I came back and worked around here,” he said.

“I did harvest on a farm and heard on the radio they were looking for someone here at Emmetts and I thought I’d give it a go. 

“I put my name in, and sure enough I got it – it’s been fun ever since.” 

Ms Peters said nominees were selected by a service manager, putting forward employees who have been outstanding in all aspects of their work, and who go above and beyond to support customers.

“The manager needs to believe they are the best of the best in the business,” she said.

“Once nominated, the nominee has to do a written application, with case studies and diagnostics, for example, followed by an online test.”

Ms Peters described Mr Smart as a ‘no-brainer’ nominee. He is in the running for Service Technician of the Year. 

He has been in Australia for 12 years and Horsham for two, moving from North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. 

“I started my apprenticeship in 2007 at a John Deere dealer, before I came to Australia,” he said.

“I worked on a few farms and with a few different dealerships and was meant to go back to the UK, but I didn’t.”

Mr Smart, who has worked at Emmetts for about 18 months, said there was not much difference between equipment in the UK and in Australia.

“The tractors are generally bigger here. I worked in Western Australia on some of the biggest stuff you can probably get, but Emmetts has a good mix of small and big stuff,” he said.

Ms Peters said the awards would be presented in Queensland next week.

“The nominees have a week of intensive training and competing before a big gala awards night,” she said. 

“We have so many finalists this year, we’ve had to book two tables – it’s very exciting. We’ve done incredibly well this year, we are so, so proud of these guys.”

The entire August 27, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire August, 27, 2024 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!