Bryce Dickson from Whangarei was once told he would never make a technician - now he has made history as the first person to win an international John Deere trophy three times.
Bryce Dickson from Whangarei was once told he would never make a technician - now he has made history as the first person to win an international John Deere trophy three times.
A Whangārei man has mowed down the opposition with his technician excellence, becoming the first person to win an international trophy for the third time with tractor company John Deere.
Bryce Dickson won the New Zealand Agriculture and Turf Service Technician Award at the John Deere Australian and New ZealandTechnician of the Year Awards in Brisbane last week.
Dickson, who works at Brandt Whangārei, said it was great to win the trophy for the third time. The awards programme has been running for only five years.
“It’s really mind blowing and exciting, and I love it. It’s a great competition to be involved in.”
His win is a significant achievement for someone whose high school career adviser said he wouldn’t succeed as a mechanic.
Fortunately, Dickson ignored that advice and worked in the automotive industry before transitioning to agricultural machinery during the Global Financial Crisis.
While he wished he had started in the agriculture industry straight from school, Dickson was praised for his commitment to continuous learning, keeping up with the latest technologies and his contact with customers.
Stephanie Gersekowski from John Deere (pictured left), Bryce Dickson from Brandt Whangarei, and John Pervan from Brandt Australia and New Zealand, are cheering Dickson’s historic win.
“It’s just learning about it that keeps you interested and focused.”
John Deere Australia and New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler said the annual awards was an important recognition of technicians’ skills and their vital contribution in the industries they serve.
The finals process is a rigorous test and the finalists represented the next generation of service excellence in agriculture, construction and forestry, he said.
“Once again, Bryce has shown exceptional technical knowledge, customer focus and ability to solve problems under pressure,” Chandler said.
“He’s keeping our customers moving every day and it’s fantastic to see his talent and hard work acknowledged.”
Dickson was the only Kiwi to take home a trophy in the Australasian awards.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
