COME May 30, Brandt employee, John Deere salesman, Colin Stubbs will be retiring after working in the one job for over 50 years.

“I’ve principally only ever had one job,” he said.

“I left school (in 1974) and took that job and basically been in the role ever since.

“I actually started at the original branch at Windmill Ag - it was actually called Windmill Service Station at that stage which was a BP service station in 1974.

“The owner was Menno Peltzer who was a hockey player like me, but he happened to see my mother down the street and said, ‘does Colin want a part-time job’ and at that stage …  employment was pretty hard.

“I was actually doing a plumbing apprenticeship at the Tech school, and I jumped at the chance to earn some money after school.

“I used to ride my bike from Baimbridge (College) out here - I’d get out here about twenty past four and work ‘til 6 o’ clock.

“In those days, some people would remember, Menno used to make his own batteries - we used to sell hundreds of car and truck batteries.

“My job was to sweep down the drive driveway, serve petrol, fill up batteries with acid and basically get them all charged up and ready to go.

“It was quite safe - you had to be careful with acid obviously, but it wasn’t dangerous.

“The other thing we used to do was sell Michelin tyres … he was the only one in the Western District side of it to sell them - I learnt to fit them.”

Colin recalled that after doing that for about 12 months, Mr Peltzer then asked him if he would like to do a mechanics apprenticeship.

“We were doing tractor servicing and repairs,” he said.

“I enjoyed what I was doing so I said ‘yes’ - I finished my apprenticeship in 1978 and then I continued being a mechanic for nine years.”

He said he was grateful for the background in being a qualified mechanic when he changed over to being a salesman.

“When you understand how the machine works and when someone is trying to buy, it’s a huge advantage to be able to do that - it has helped me through my whole life as a salesman,” Colin said.

Colin got to experience the highs and lows of working in an agriculture business over the decades and keenly felt when times were tough.

He recalled being laid off for a period in the 1980s during the drought.

“I was laid off for a few months - things were pretty bad in the ag industry in the mid to late 80’s,” Colin said.

“I left for a few months but then was asked to come back - I jumped at the chance.

“I came back and worked as a mechanic but then I put my hand up to be a salesman.

“One of my workmates suggested it and I’ve been doing it ever since.

“I’ve been selling for nearly 40 years.

“I’ve met some amazing people and had some fantastic experiences, the friendships that I’ve made over the 50 years in this business.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have seen three generations on farms because I was starting with grandparents, then (the next generation) and now the with kids that are coming back on the farm.”

But Colin’s life hasn’t been entirely consumed by his love for his vocation.

Outside of work, he also had an illustrious career in local hockey and the one-time Glenelg Region Hockey Association president was made a Life Member in 2013.

That’s where he had met Mr Peltzer.

“It was through hockey that we got to know one another, in fact on one occasion I gave Menno a black eye,” Colin said.

Colin said he was also grateful to the business for the experience of being able to travel overseas and through Europe to visit John Deere factories three or four times.

He also reflected on the major advances in technology he has observed over his time and recalled the first tractor he worked with.

“The David Brown 880 - the price of it was something like $2200,” Colin said.

“It didn’t have a roll frame, it was a very small little tractor, you literally just hit the key and selected a gear - just like driving a car.

“When you think back to that little tractor to what we’ve got now - to tractors that literally drive themselves.

“Now I’ve got the ability on my phone to track the hundreds of tractors that I’ve sold over the years, I can tell you how many hours they’ve done and how much fuel they’re using and so forth all from here (office).

“They’ve got to the stage now with technology, if there is a one leaf plant in the ground, they can spray it.

“They won’t spray anything else but that one plant - the technology is just mind blowing.”

Colin became a little emotional when asked what he would miss about his job.

“When you put all your heart into it and enjoyed it as much as I have – you get to the point where the end comes…

“I’ve got a month left.

“It has been my life - I’m going to miss everything.”

He then quickly added what he wouldn’t miss.

“I’ve driven up the same hill for 50 years,” he laughed.

He shed a couple of tears reflecting over the years and the number of friendships he had made and was especially grateful to the late Mr Peltzer who gave him his first job.

He also made mention of Phil Van Wegen a one-time boss, but again, became a little emotional when he thought of the numerous people he would like to thank.

The next stage in Colin’s life won’t be complete retirement.

“I’ve actually got it all planned out,” he said.

He is currently in discussions with RIST about using his many skills and experiences and taking on a training role.

“They’ve asked me to use my experience to talk about machinery and safety,” he said.

“It’s really exciting.

“I need something to do - I’m not the sort of person that can sit down and watch TV through the middle of the day.”