48 | Skills from Saudi Arabia to New Zealand Russell Fredric Sri Lankan Ravindra Maddage Don has been on quite a journey to end up being named last year’s Dairy NZ Northland Dairy Manager of the Year. Before emigrating to New Zealand in 2011, Ravindra worked in the area of animal health on high-input dairy farms in Saudi Arabia. With extended family in New Zealand, he had the knowledge he could have a better life and was able to immigrate following the offer of employment. “They said there was a lot of opportunities. I was lucky enough that David Webster from Dargaville offered me a job. That was the starting point of my dairy farming career in New Zealand, Ravindra says.” He describes himself as a quick learner and has gained Primary ITO qualifications. After working on one farm for three-and-a-half years, progressing from farm assistant to herd manager to the farm manager and went on to work at two other farms in the Dargaville area, moving two seasons ago to a 210ha farm near Whangarei which milked 420 cows. He took on his present farm manager position on a 160ha, 400 cow farm at Tokoroa in July last year after he had won the award. The farm has good infrastructure including a 36 a-side herringbone shed with in shed feeding and automatic cup removers, employs one other staff member and runs a system 3 to 4 operation. It is complemented by a 90ha run-off which grows winter crops as well as supporting young stock. He was encouraged to enter the Dairy Manager of the Year Award by his previous employer, but initially questioned if he was qualified enough. However going through the award process, the opportunity to meet and network with new people and the feedback he got was a great confidence builder, he says. While most others had entered in the awards before, it was Ravindra’s first time and the announcement he had won came as a great shock. “I was totally mind blown, I had no words to say.” RURAL PEOPLE » Rollett Farm Ltd More recently, Ravindra has taken on a voluntary role as team leader for the Central Plateau Manager of the Year Awards and is very passionate about having the opportunity to be a mentor to others who are going through the process. “My role is to lead the dairy manager of the year sub-committee to deliver a successful awards programme to the required standard. “I’m really happy I can share my knowledge, what I gained over all those years and from the Steve Bowe 027 487 8981 OR Grant Bowe 027 220 2010 www.bowespreading.co.nz RD4 Cambridge For all your lime and fertiliser needs Obligation Free Quotes • Pressure Pumps • Trenching • Pool Products • Water Filtration • Effluent Systems • Water Blasters • Bore Lifts 07 886 0271 15 Campbell St, Tokoroa 3420 www.swws.co.nz DESIGN • SUPPLY • INSTALL Our Business is Pumping SouthWaikato Water Solutions Ltd 2 Satco Drive, Tokoroa PH. (07) 886 6413 TOTAL ANIMAL CARE FOR THE SOUTH WAIKATO 75 Tirau Street, Putaruru PH. (07) 883 3018 109 State Highway 30, Whakamaru PH. (07) 882 8685 FARM ANIMAL SERVICES • SMALL ANIMAL SERVICES • DAIRY RESOURCES ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION • FARM SERVICES • ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE 07 886 7356 www.stevenselectrical.co.nz office@stevenselectrical.co.nz Ravindra took on his present farm manager role on a 160ha, 400 cow farm at Tokoroa July last year. manager of the year in Northland.”I am grateful to the dairy industry award program because of the recognition I received and would also like to invite all the people who are in the industry enter into the awards in 2023”. Ravindra is planning to become a contract milker, then a share milker as a means of working towards his ultimate goal of farm ownership. “I’ve already had a couple of contract milking offers but I’m waiting for the right offer.”
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