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Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

July 6, 2018/in News, People, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires: After 21 years of serving the business “extremely well” across a number of roles, Reesink Turfcare’s business information manager Mike Stephenson is now retiring. A well-rounded individual, Mike gained experience from every pocket of the industry over his expansive career. He explains: “After studying Agricultural Engineering at Rycotewood College, I started […]

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

July 6, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper: Deniliquin’s Tom Maw has worked and mastered the art of ‘greenkeeping’ over the past 48 years. When Mr Maw was 17 he applied for a greenkeeper apprenticeship at the Deniliquin Golf Club after his father noticed the ‘wanted’ position when playing a round of golf. He applied and got the […]

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

July 6, 2018/in News, People, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

July 6, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

July 6, 2018/in News, People, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

A well-rounded individual, Mike gained experience from every pocket of the industry over his expansive career. He explains: “After studying Agricultural Engineering at Rycotewood College, I started out as an apprentice at a tractor dealership in Yorkshire where I worked my way up to service manager.

“From there I worked in a range of engineering, sales and aftermarket positions for irrigation equipment and agricultural machinery companies, before joining Lely Turfcare [now Reesink Turfcare] as turf product manager in 1997.”

Throughout his time at Reesink Mike mastered many roles involving service, dealer support and training, all the way to aftermarket support, running business operations and project management. As a result, his skillset grew exponentially and he became an instrumental figure during many Reesink milestones.

Reesink Turfcare’s managing director, David Cole, says: “Over his 21 years with the business Mike has adeptly covered a variety of roles, starting out as turf product manager through to his current post of business information manager. His positive approach and attention to detail has served the business extremely well through many important projects.”

One such project was of course the company’s transition from Lely Turfcare to Reesink Turfcare, when Royal Reesink acquired the business in 2016. Mike deems this the biggest challenge he faced in his career: “My job during the changeover was to see the Lely business information system transition to Reesink. This should have been an 18-month project, but we had just four months to complete it – and we did! The key to success was having a hardworking and dedicated team around me.

“Another of my biggest achievements,” he continues, “was being part of the Lely Group Continuous Improvement team in 2009. For this I analysed and advised how to improve our processes around Europe. I found the role incredibly fulfilling as I was sharing the knowledge I’d gained over the years to make jobs more efficient and easier for people.”

Mike reflects on his time at the company: “Reesink has been a brilliant company to work for. My job has been varied and my role within the business kept challenging me – every day has been exciting! I particularly enjoyed my time working with Toro on our shared business information systems and helping with UK product launches. Toro is second-to-none in the industry and it was a privilege to share such a close working relationship. It’s thanks to all this, and great relationships with my team, that I always looked forward to going to work.”

David summarises: “I was involved in Mike’s original recruitment back in 1997 and have always appreciated his drive and focus for the right outcomes – and his sense of humour, which is probably a secret of his longevity.

“Our business has benefited from his exemplary commitment and loyalty. I would like to thank Mike for his contribution over the years and wish him all the best for a well-earned, fulfilling and enjoyable retirement.”

During his retirement, Mike will continue to pursue his passion for the industry as an active member of IAgrE (The Institution of Agricultural Engineers). He also plans to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying the countryside through his hobby of wildlife photography and by volunteering for wildlife charities.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

July 6, 2018/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by External Source

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper: Deniliquin’s Tom Maw has worked and mastered the art of ‘greenkeeping’ over the past 48 years.

When Mr Maw was 17 he applied for a greenkeeper apprenticeship at the Deniliquin Golf Club after his father noticed the ‘wanted’ position when playing a round of golf.

He applied and got the job, completing some formal studies via correspondence from Sydney over three years while at the same time keeping Deniliquin’s fairways and greens lush and manicured.

Mr Maw developed a love for the job. He spent about six years at the Golf Club before taking a position at Deniliquin Bowling Club under head greenkeeper Bruno Roberto, where he stayed for another six years before becoming the sole greenkeeper at Deniliquin RSL Bowls Club where he has remained for 36 years.

Mr Maw said a lot of people think there’s not much to the job but it’s not as easy at is seems.

‘‘You have to be prepared to do the hours and you have to overcome a lot of problems. The biggest problem I found was a lot of people get their ambitions and their capabilities mixed up, so they blame the greens because they didn’t bowl well! I’ve been pretty lucky with few complaints because our greens are pretty good, but there’s always someone not happy,’’ he said with a laugh.

Mr Maw’s final day on the job is today and he said he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time at the Deniliquin RSL Club.

‘‘It’s a very enjoyable job working at the RSL. I just do my own thing, I don’t have to clock on or off, just as long as the work’s done, that’s why it’s a good job.

‘‘I recently turned 65 and thought it was time to give it away.

‘‘I think I’ve walked around Australia once at least, because some days I think you could walk 20 kilometres easy. Every day the greens are mowed and sometimes you have to go over them at least six times to get the product you want, so there is a lot of walking involved.’’

Apart from the long hours and labour, Mr Maw said you have to have a ‘knack’ for the job.

‘‘You mow, roll it, fungicide it, fertilise it and water the grass.

‘‘If you have been doing it a while like I have, you tend to know just by looking at it what it needs.

‘‘I would be able to tell you where the dry patches will show before they even come up. You get to know the greens and build a relationship.’’

There have also been a lot of changes to the grass throughout his career.

‘‘When I first started there we has a thing called bent grass which is a grass that grows in England because they have a lot of moisture, however it doesn’t like the heat.

‘‘So over here you had to watch it every day or it would die, and if it died well that was it.

‘‘Then they changed over to a couch grass called Tifdwarf, which came in from America. The grass gives a much quicker bowl which meant the bowls had to be changed as well, but the most important thing was that we could sleep at night knowing the grass won’t die.

‘‘One tournament at the Deni Bowling Club over a long weekend in January we would go back to water the greens at 2am to 3am in the morning and then we would have to be back there to mow it at 5am; that went on for about a week. So a lot of things have changed in my time,’’ he said.

Now with more time on his hands Mr Maw said his first plans are to enjoy some sleep-ins, along with some travelling with his wife Chris and then trying to get his golf handicap down.

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Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Reesink’s Mike Stephenson Retires

Final Roll For Retiring Greenkeeper

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