WITH an unassuming street presence, a versatile Hamilton contracting business is providing various services to farmers, some of which may be of great importance if (heaven forbid) we have a dry spring.

Hamilton Bobcats started trading as a contracting business that grew out of a diesel mechanics firm owned by Hamilton’s Nigel Sparrow.

Mr Sparrow’s idea of branching out from diesel repairs began 12 years ago when he saw the opportunity to add contracting to his existing activities.

The catalyst for the start-up occurred when Nigel and his wife, Mel, went to assist with a tip truck that had broken down near Penshurst on its way to Warrnambool with a load of gravel.

As luck would have it, the driver of the broken-down truck was Wayne Hamill, who was multi-skilled, having been a plumber-turned-concreter before taking up truck driving.

Upon learning of Mr Hamill’s skills, Nigel Sparrow decided to ask if he would like to operate the multi-purpose Bobcat.

Wayne accepted the offer, and thus, Hamilton Bobcats was born.

Starting with a site clearance contract at Iluka Resources’ Hamilton plant, the business grew from operating versatile small skid-steer Bobcats to a wide range of excavators, graders, loaders, and haulage vehicles that provide contractor services across a broad spectrum of industries.

While there are still four Bobcats in the menagerie, they are somewhat dwarfed by B-double grain trucks, curtain-sided rigs for general transport, low-loaders with a 25-tonne capacity for large machinery (think headers), log trucks, rollers, and loaders (including a four-tonne all-terrain unit).

Services extend to road and track building and the business is, to say the least, versatile.

Of particular interest to farmers, especially in the present dry situation, are the grain and hay haulage services, as well as dam cleaning using the larger excavators.

The firm also has two water tankers (non-domestic) that may be of value in stock water emergencies this summer.

At a recent Victorian Farmers’ Federation meeting in Hamilton, the potential need for stock-water haulage was discussed in some detail.

For some, it may become a critical issue.

Hamilton Bobcats now has a total staff of 15, with on-site management remaining in the hands of Wayne Hamill.

So, from a broken-down tip truck, it has grown into a versatile contracting business that could well be of great benefit to farmers this season.