Year in Review: Cambridge diesel mechanic ships dad’s Ferguson TEF tractor over from Wales to restore

Peter Rogers and his daughter Isla with her grandfather’s Ferguson TEF, 'Wombat'. Photo / Catherine Fry

The Country looks back at some of the biggest and best stories of the past 12 months, including readers' favourites, news events and those yarns that gave us a glimpse into rural lives and livelihoods across the country.

Originally published September 8 in Coast & Country News. By Catherine Fry.

In 2014, two Ferguson TEF tractors embarked on an eight-week journey from Wales to New Zealand on a container ship, and are now securely stored in a Cambridge garage.

Their owner, Peter Rogers, is slowly working to restore both tractors to their former glory.

“I’ve been living in New Zealand since 2001 with my wife, Elen,” Rogers said.

“When my father, Edgar, passed away in 2014, I brought over his TEF, affectionately named Wombat by the family, along with a Midland Industries Ltd loader and another project TEF he had been storing for me.”

He described the preparation for the long voyage as “quite a mission”.

The vehicles required steam cleaning and a coating of red oxide paint to prevent rust during the sea journey.

They had to be carefully wrapped, and once in the container, all oil was drained from their engines.

“I used Wombat to clear up my father’s property, but when it was time to leave, he wouldn’t start,” Rogers said.

“It was almost as if he was protesting at leaving Carmarthenshire.”

Peter Rogers will return the tractor to its Ferguson grey when he restores it. Photo / Catherine Fry

Wombat is a 1954, four-cylinder, 26hp Ferguson TEF general farm tractor with four forward and one reverse gear.

It’s one of the first diesel Fergusons produced.

“Edgar had owned Wombat since 1987 and was still used for weekend tasks and vintage shows.”

Rogers has named his own 1951 model TEF Edgar, in honour of his father.

Edgar Rogers (left), and Peter Rogers with Wombat in Wales. Photo / Supplied

Raised on a dairy farm until he was 8, Rogers developed a keen interest in tractors from a young age, with his first word being “tractor”.

He recalls receiving farm toys every Christmas, dismantling them, and then struggling to reassemble them, often resulting in tears.

As he approached the end of secondary school, a career in art and design seemed likely.

This TEF is one of the first diesel tractors Ferguson produced. Photo / Catherine Fry

However, between finishing school and starting his course, he began restoring the TEF with his father and discovered his passion for it.

“I started my art course, but after nine months, I switched to a diesel mechanic apprenticeship, and I’ve never looked back.”

Rogers continues to work as a diesel mechanic and is well-equipped to restore his beloved TEFs.

He planned to meticulously restore Edgar to “showroom condition” and restore Wombat to “good working order”.

Wombat is being used in its existing state at Waikato Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club Inc. meets.

“I have a two-furrow Ferguson plough that can be attached for ploughing competitions and a Ferguson sickle bar mower.

“Once I’ve restored it, I can also attach the MIL loader and use that.”