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 RPM
Rural Products recently celebrated its Hattonvale centre’s
first birthday, representing a milestone for the company
which has been steadily expanding its market presence
throughout Australia and overseas.
RPM opened its Hattonvale sales and display centre in
October 2006 and believed the site would increase its
customer base due to its prime location off the Warrego
Highway.
RPM’s General Manager Mr John Linnan said the company’s
prediction was right as the Hattonvale site had consistently
eclipsed its monthly sales compared to RPM’s former
Glenore Grove location.
“Opening RPM Hattonvale has strengthened our branding
from such a high profile location, with more people discovering
our products than ever before,” he said.
“One of the things we wanted to be known for at
Hattonvale was our extensive range of steel, and that
is being realised.
“Expanding our Hattonvale facility to include a
steel fabrication unit has allowed us to grow our market
share and supply steel for projects such as the Centre
for Advanced Animal Science at the University of Queensland
Gatton Campus which will use approximately 12 km of our
Cattle Rail and 1,000 75x75 of our RediPosts.
“We have also increased our sales of fencing products
and water tanks.
Mr Linnan said the Hattonvale site allowed RPM to showcase
many of their product lines so customers could see what
they would be getting, up front and personal.
“Our new RediRange, Rose-Joint Linkage Headbail
and the Economy Crush model have been well-received and
can be viewed at our Hattonvale show yard.”
 KATHY
Duff of “Di Di” Station at Proston has been
crowned the inaugural 2007 RPM All-Rounder of the Year
at a presentation held at the Toowoomba AG-Show.
Duff defeated the two other competition semi-finalists,
Brian Egan of Dalby and Tom Brodie of Corfield, in a closely
fought ballot that was determined by your votes in Queensland
Country Life and our website over the past three months.
Kathy’s win includes an RPM All-Rounder Cattle
Crush to the value of $10,000, a Onesteel product voucher
to the value of $1,000 and a V8 Supercar Hot-Lap with
champion driver Craig Lowndes.
Ms Duff was the centre of attention at the AG-Show when
RPM General Manager Mr John Linnan and Lowndes presented
her with a framed certificate and congratulated her for
winning the competition.
Mr Linnan said Ms Duff was an all-rounder that truly
epitomised the great Aussie spirit of people living on
the land and believed she was more than deserving of the
award.
“Kathy really encompasses what an All-Rounder is,”
he said. “According to her nominator, Raymond Savage,
she has made an outstanding contribution to her community
through her work as a Councillor for Wondai Shire.”
Kathy has also been hands-on in running a successful
cattle property, establishing a thriving commercial timber
business which employs several locals and has rolled her
sleeves up when she’s been needed and has volunteered
her time helping out local community groups such as the
Proston over 50’s club which she helped to establish.
She is also a member of Durong Landcare Group, secretary
of Durong AgForce and Publicity Officer for the South
Burnett ASH Society.
Mr Linnan said Kathy had also shown her All-Rounder spirit
by volunteering her time to show societies.
“Kathy has dedicated countless hours to the Proston
Show Society, which she is also a member of. She is steward
in the Stud Beef Section, runs a Stockhorse Challenge,
organises and competes in the Campdraft, displays silver
in the pavilion and usually moves a vote of thanks at
the official opening.
“She also helps out numerous other shows throughout
Queensland by judging horses and has never charged a show
committee for her time. On top of that she started a silver
smith group with four other ladies called the ‘Silver
Belles’ and demonstrates the craft at Heritage Days
and other fundraising functions.”
Kathy said she was humbled and honoured to win the title
of inaugural RPM 2007 All-Rounder of the Year.
“I would like to thank the major sponsors RPM Rural
Products, Queensland Country Life, and One Steel as well
as Raymond Savage who nominated me and my dad, Mick Duff,
who is my main stay on our property,” she said.
“There are many All-Rounders out there and in winning
this award I hope that I can in some small way help to
lift the profile of rural women right across Queensland
who are true All-Rounders in the role they play on their
properties, in their communities and with their families.”
Mr Linnan said the RPM 2007 All-Rounder of the Ye been
a great success and RPM looked forward to running the
competition again in 2008.
Ms Jess McKinlay from Barcaldine won our $500 cash prize
for voting in August for the 2007 RPM All-Rounder of the
Year.
Ms McKinlay said she had voted for Kathy Duff and was
pleased to hear Kathy won.
“I’m not sure whether people in the bush
receive the recognition they deserve – many people
have been battling with drought, some taking off farm
work to help with the costs of running their place and
caring for their stock,” she said.
“I think it is important that people who make a
contribution to their community receive recognition.”
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