Narrabri Shire Industry

Narrabri Shire is the centre of a strong and innovative agricultural community supported by innovative industries. Progressive Narrabri-based businesses and manufacturers not only sell products and provide their expertise and services throughout the Shire and region, but also export their products across Australia and even overseas. The Narrabri Industrial Estate and Commercial Estate form the dynamic heart of this vital part of our local economy. The proprietors and staff provide a pool of qualified and skilled tradespeople and professionals whose services are sought across the region. Narrabri Shire is the envied epicentre of progressive agriculture and industry.

Continental Eagle flying high after 27 years in business

Businesses survive and grow by offering service and the right products for their market.

Continental Eagle is an established business which has expanded its services, operated successfully from its Francis Street Industrial Estate premises for decades and will celebrate its 27th year of business in September.

“We have a great clientele and a great team,” said managing director John van der Vliet.

The business also ‘gives back’ to the local community through sponsorship and is a major local employer, with two new staff members recently joining the team, Ryan Jenkins and Mike McGregor.

The Continental Eagle sales and service ‘footprint’ extends across a large swathe of the northwest and western NSW and continuing to build its customer base.

“We are suppliers to the cotton ginning industry and industrial engineering materials markets,” said Mr van der Vliet.

Many local councils in the region and businesses of all sizes deal with Continental Eagle.

“We are a regional export business.”

Mr van der Vliet is an enthusiast for the locational benefits Narrabri enjoys.

“Narrabri is a natural hub for the region and even further afield.

“We need to ensure we don’t lose track of the advantages of our position, and keep promoting our benefits as a centre,” he said.

Innovation in design and manufacture at Weel

Innovation in design and construction is the hallmark of Weel Australia in Francis Street.

Weel Australia specialises in customised sheds, but has added a new line of manufactured buildings to its range, designed and built at the Francis street premises.

Recently, Michael Brooks, team leader for Namoi/Gwydir Rural Fire Service has been working with Weel Australia to fabricate a transportable toilet facility.

This important program has come about with the change in the demographics of the RFS volunteers.

There are many more females volunteering and the service is aiming to improve facilities at every station.

It was identified that a transportable toilet-amenities unit would be the most efficient way and Shane Wheeler worked with Mr Brooks to design a unit suitable for a rural setting.

Once the unit was designed Weel Australia was chosen for the contract.

Mr Brooks had a minimum set of specifications and Mr Wheeler completed the design, and much to the delight of the Rural Fire Service it is over and above the original specifications.

All units catch their own water supply from the roof, however there is provision to refill the water unit from an external source.

“It’s great for a business in the bush to get this project as it usually goes to a bigger industry in a bigger centre,” Weel Australia principal Wayne Wheeler said.

“We have used five contractors to help out, all local tradies such as plumbers, all materials have been sourced locally and of course they have been built locally.”

Seven units will be installed in stations in an area from Coolatai to Terry Hie Hie and Merah North.

Over the coming weeks another three units will be built and installed.

“The program has been so successful that the Tamworth service has been over and had a look and have ordered two units for their area,” Mr Brooks said.

“We have had strong support from the local councils in all areas.”

Wayne Wheeler can see other areas that may be able to use a fabricated transportable toilet facility.

“They could be used extensively not only with the Rural Fire Service but the National Parks and other business and organisations which require a toilet facility in a remote area,” he said.

Experience the key to local business success

he team at Narrabri Bearings and Ag Spares has collectively over half a century of experience in bearings and hydraulics so you can be sure you are getting knowledgeable service and advice every time.

Dennis ‘Skip’ and Rod Richardson offer well-informed advice and competitive prices.

The business has a large range of quality products such as bearings, seals, chains, V-belts and pulleys, Conoco and Prolube oils, Fleetguard and Sakura filters, Bare-Co products, bolts and nuts, tillage points, discs, Apollo batteries, hydraulic motors and pumps and the E-Z-GO range of golf cars, domestic and industrial vehicles.

Narrabri Bearings and Ag Spares also supplies quality sowing equipment, including seeder hoses, cups, tubes and points, and was recently authorised as distributors of Hydraulink Australia industrial hose and fittings.

Skip and Rod are there to assist with any of your queries and invite you to call into their premises on Wee Waa Road or phone 6792 6222.

Celebrate your loved one’s life as they lived it

The myth that a funeral service needs to be stringent and non-personal is a misconception.

Lyn Dawson and her staff aim to overcome this by working closely with families to ensure their wishes for their loved one can be met.

Lyn Dawson, Logan Funerals new Funeral Director and Celebrant, who has stepped into the large shoes left by retiree Tricia Hadley, has an abundance of enthusiasm and compassion for the families she works with.

“I love nothing more than to help families in our community say goodbye to their loved ones in a way that is personal and special”, said Lyn.

“Our team including Kerrie, Wendy, Philip and Vanessa all have a large amount of compassion and understanding for what families are experiencing and feel a great sense of fulfillment being able to assist people during a time that can be very difficult, confusing and stressful.

“We aim to guide and support people through the decision and information processes to ensure they are satisfied with the service, and feel they are able to give the meaningful farewell that their loved one deserved”.

Kate Logan, daughter of Tim and Karen Logan, overlooks the management of Logan Funerals, working with Lyn and the other staff to help create these lasting and special farewells.

“What I love about this industry is that you can help the family really celebrate who the person was, their legacy, and their personality,” she said.

“The days of only having the option of a simple, and quite rigid and structured funeral ceremony, is not the case anymore.

“Families want to feel closer with their loved ones when it comes to saying goodbye, and we want to encourage and support this desire as much as we possibly can”.

Some creative and unique examples of what Logan Funerals have assisted with in the past have included the option of a basket-like casket where the deceased’s much loved and treasured sewing materials such as lace and other fabrics, could be tied individually by each attendee, with notes of love and small flowers from her garden being added to provide a beautifully bright and colourful farewell.

Another funeral the staff conducted involved the family lining a long stretch of a main road with farming machinery on either side all the way to the cemetery, in honour of the person’s keen interest in these machines.

The hearse and cortege have been driven via places of cultural significance, housing communities, past once-owned businesses of the deceased, as well as much-loved family homes, and have even incorporated the deceased’s personal vehicle to act as a hearse while entering the cemetery.

They’ve Skyped loved ones who couldn’t attend physically, so they can be with their family on the day, filmed funeral services so families can look back on the memories shared, and witnessed sacred indigenous ceremonies and other related traditions.

“A funeral nowadays is about capturing the essence of the person, celebrating their life for what it was, honouring their memory and legacy, and providing peace and comfort to those left behind.

“Every day we strive to achieve this as best we can”, Ms Logan said.

The Logan Funeral Home in Narrabri includes a serene chapel that can seat up to 110 attendees, a side room for wakes with extra standing area, technology to provide a personalised farewell (for slideshows and videos) which has recently been upgraded, a professional sound system including surround speakers which can be extended outdoors for larger funerals, a kitchen for staff to prepare food for wakes, clean bathrooms with disabled access, as well as professional facilities to carry out dignified procedures necessary for viewings, and the newest addition of a cremator to

provide the option of cremation services for the community.

Logan Funerals can also help supply plaques and headstones, and design the plaques using a new online platform to make the process easier and more efficient for families.

Logan Funerals can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 0429 937 847, or visiting the funeral home at 24 Wee Waa Road, Narrabri.

For more information you can visit its website at www.logansfunerals.com

Experience at the helm of B and W Rural, Narrabri

Jamie Ross has been branch manager of B and W Rural since 2015 and brought 15 years’ experience in the agribusiness sector to the role.

Jamie, the son of Allan and Wendy Ross, was born and bred in the Narrabri Shire, so he knows well the district, farming customers and community.

Narrabri B and W opened in Francis Street Narrabri in November 2013.

A solid rural background and a strong team at B and W means Jamie is well equipped to meet the needs of customers.

B and W Rural provides the complete range of rural merchandise to its customers on the land across the region.

“Our customers are from the shire and the wider region,” said Jamie.

“We carry the range of merchandise farmers need and our stock is supplemented by the Moree B and W Rural branch.

“Our agronomists are based in Moree and available anytime with professional agronomy advice in this district.

“Our service naturally includes on- farm delivery.”

Higher with Campbell’s Hire

Size does matter when you have to reach and work high.

Campbell’s Hire has recently added a new elevated work platform to its inventory of plant to take you to work to a new, higher level.

“Our new stick boom Elevated Work Platform will reach up to 85 feet, 26 metres, high,” explained proprietor Ross Campbell.

The secure bucket atop the stick boom will carry 227 kg.

“All the controls are at hand in the bucket to safely manourvre the platform exactly where you want it and importantly, take you up and down,” said Mr Campbell..

You will need to obtain your working with heights licence to operate the EWP.

The EWP from Campbell’s Hire is the biggest in the district.

“We have had many enquiries and jobs for the 26m high EWP since we added it to our range of work platforms,” said Mr Campbell.

But if you don’t need to go as high as 26 metres, Campbell’s Hire has a wide range of knuckle booms and scissor lifts suitable for all lower heights.

Power Beyond Hydraulics is powering on

When you build a big machine, and call it ‘Nutbuster’, it has a lot to live up to – but a ingenious piece of local engineering in Narrabri is doing just that.

The Nutbuster is the actual name of a machine at Power Beyond Hydraulics.

Its purpose is to remove nuts from the ends of large cylinders.

Not just any nuts, but large ones. It recently separated a 130mm nut brought over from Tamworth.

More big numbers shortly, but the machine is the brainchild of Ted Hollingworth, senior welder and machinist at Power Beyond.

“When I first came here, we had a primitive one we used to use,” he said.

“It was two cylinders in the open and they just went anywhere.

“They needed two or three blokes to hold them.

“I designed and built this to encapuslate it all.”

After starting with a photo of an existing machine, the design was all done in Mr Hollingworth’s head and sketched out using white-out marker on a workbench.

“Apparently you could buy one from (the US) for about $140,000 but we’ve made this one for around $30,000.

The machine, which also doubles as a cable maker, is eight metres long and about 4m high.

It took about 10 months to build, largely by Mr Hollingworth himself, and has been operational for about a year.

The nut remover only works in one direction, but can be reversed 180 degrees to screw a nut back on to a cylinder.

Once the nut and cylinder are in place, a motor is started up to provide the pressure.

It is run off a portable power pack.

The capacity is about 30,000 foot/pounds, with most nuts requiring much less, about 1500-2000 foot/pounds.

Mr Hollingworth can operate it himself.

“I believe this is the only big one outside of Newcastle in rural areas,” he said.

The Narrabri business has operated over 30 years, with 20 years in the Francis Street location.

Power Beyond has provided essential services to the majority of clients with heavy plant and equipment working in the rural and regional industries throughout the district.

The original business base was expanded around the North West’s agricultural, earthmoving, rail and transport sector.

However with the advent of coal mining and exploration, the company expanded offering overall support for mining, exploration and gas utilising the same local specialised service and support.

“This has only been achievable through the assistance of our dedicated team,” said proprietor Russell Bailey.

Led by Mr Bailey the 2018 team includes Belinda Bennett and Leesa Cameron office administrators, with over 16 years of service, Dale Portsmouth – fitter/machinist, James Brooks – fluid power technician/mechanic, Barry Gillard – fluid power technician/fitter, Ted Hollingworth – specialist workshop service technician, Mark Newton – fitter/machinist and Nick Ferguson apprentice fitter/machinist heavy industrial plant.

Power Beyond controls a number of first-class authorised distributorships and franchises and is a leading supplier and stockist for global brands utilising a vast array of resources available from industry leaders.

The latest distributorship with Valvoline enables the business to now hold a comprehensive range of Valvoline lubricants and products, servicing the North West needs for motor oils, grease and lubricants.

Delta Ag services north west region

Delta Ag branches in Narrabri and Burren Junction service the farming community’s needs across the north west region.

The Delta Ag team, led by recently appointed Narrabri branch manager Pat Lash, operates from premises in Narrabri and Burren Junction.

Mr Lash has moved to Narrabri from Sydney to take on the role and has been busy meeting Delta Ag clients across the district.

Delta Ag is a dynamic and diverse agribusiness comprising a network of 28 business locations, providing independent rural services and the retail of agricultural inputs.

Delta Ag’s close focus is on customer service and the profitability of its clients.

The business has a diverse offering to its rural clients, providing the full spectrum of services including rural merchandise, agricultural chemicals, cotton and summer crop services, agronomy, animal health, seed and fertiliser, with grain and livestock marketing, real estate, insurance and financial services available to clients.

Delta Ag provides a key supportive role to its clients via its unique technical and advisory offerings.

Through the Narrabri and Burren Junction branches district farmers have access to a comprehensive rural merchandise inventory, and the advice of the district’s most experienced rural merchandise expert Arthur Miskle and specialist agronomy services.

The agronomy service provided by Delta Ag is one of the cornerstones of the business.

Delta Ag employs 40 full time agronomists, and with their combined level of expertise have one of the strongest agronomy teams in NSW.

Delta Ag is an innovator in agriculture and conducts trials, and crop and pasture evaluations across the regions in conjunction with independent agricultural researchers.

Specialist pump services, advice and products from Pursehouse

Pursehouse Rural in Narrabri is meeting the demand for agricultural specialists, products and professional product advice, and provides service, agricultural equipment and merchandise.

In the current drought, the role of pump specialist Steve Falkiner is in focus for customers.

Most brands of pumps can be repaired and pumps sales specialist Mr Falkiner said the business was a master dealer in dependable Davey water pumps and products.

Mr Falkiner has extensive experience in pumps.

He has worked with Davey products for many years and he can design and install watering systems to suit your specialised needs.

The Pursehouse Rural Narrabri branch in the industrial area at Caroline Way is in its 17th year.

If you have an extensive shopping list for your rural venture or needs at home, Pursehouse is a great place to go for a wide variety of pressure pumps, septic waste pumps, pool pumps and filters, submersible bore hole pumps, filtration and garden irrigation equipment.

Septic and rainwater tanks suitable for the region’s harsh conditions along with fencing, poly pipe for both rural and domestic use, troughs, animal health and nutrition, chemicals and fertiliser are available or can quickly be ordered from Pursehouse and delivered.

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