Sales secure expo interest

Keen to gain as much information as they could each day of the two-day fixture, visitors from Mount Isa, Queensland; Goodooga in the North West and Taree on the coast were among the crowd, which picked up on numbers from last year.

Mixing old with new was the theme when it came to tractors, with veteran models of the 1960s to 1980s displayed by the Golden Oldies Truck Club, Dubbo, and Chamberlain collectors, the 9G Tractor Club next to the latest four-wheel drive 300-plus kilowatt powered John Deere dual-wheeled tractors displayed by Chesterfield Australia.

Good sales were reported with National Stockyard Systems principal Murray Schaefer, Rutherford, saying he received inquiry for products such as the Hicks draft/baulk combination and sold four units.

"These were in addition to a range of other cattle drafting units which we make," Mr Schaefer said.

"However, buyer emphasis was not so much on capital expenditure, but improving existing infrastructure to aid stock flow."

All-terrain vehicles were high on the buying list of some as Chris Seton of ARB, Dubbo, reported several sales of CF Moto models.

Metalcorp's NSW rural manager, Tony Fenwick, Dubbo, showed the new Volking Circular Cattle Force operating at its official release.

Mr Fenwick said after a few prototypes, the final force was solid and robust with minimal working parts giving safety and security when working cattle.

"The force is of six metre diameter working on a two-gate system and is fully sheeted to a height of 1800 millimetres and fully interchangeable with all Metalcorp panels or can be added to existing yards."

The main swinging gate allows the operator to get behind cattle after they enter the force while the spring lock single-handle system is easily used by a simple pull on handle to engage.

"A unique galvanised wall on the outer side is the actual locking mechanism which stops the gate from being forced back," Mr Fenwick said.

"A rubber-backed hose is used to minimise noise when the gate is running along the walled locking mechanism."

When it rains, Chesterfield Australia sells John Deere mowers and the Dubbo-based territory manager Todd Whalan who looks after Warren, Wellington, Coo- namble and Dubbo outlets, said his team was already preparing for next year's fixture.

"The pre-event publicity and promotion was excellent and we sold several mowers at the showground and another five or six since," he said.

"As well, we gained solid inquiry for Gator vehicles and tractors which we are now following up to secure positive results."

Mr Whalan said he was very happy with the whole promotion and would be back next year.

For Aussie Rural co-proprietor Margaret Brown the opportunity of promoting the new shop on the Mitchell Highway, Dubbo, proved wonders.

"People know our products and know how to find us electronically, but were very interested to find out about our new shop in Cobra Street," she said.