98 | Community focus part of success story Richard Loader The support of the local community stands as a cornerstone of success for many rural businesses in New Zealand, and in grateful appreciation those businesses support the communities in which they operate. Based in Milton, Wynyard Transport has been providing its diverse range of services throughout South Otago since Gary Wynyard and his wife Diane started the business as an owner/driver stock transport operator with four truck and trailer units, 23 years ago. “I have been part of the community for the last thirty years or so, and I feel very passionate about it,” says Gary. “The community has looked after us so well, and without the community we haven’t got a business. I’m just so grateful for their support. The community gave me an opportunity when I started the business. Providing sponsorships to local sporting groups, and other organisations, is my way of giving something back, and saying thank you. You all have to pull on the same end of the rope. We have done a lot for the area over the years, and the community has done a lot for us – that’s the way I look at it.” Gary has been involved in the trucking industry all his life and when the opportunity came along to start his own business in 1999 he made the most of that opportunity. Over the years the business has grown and evolved from transporting stock, to now embracing a wide range of operations in both North and South Islands. “We take store stock up to North Island farms and bring stock back to the South Island farms and we transport to all the meat companies in the South Island. We also subcontract to Dynes’, carting milk to factories. During the season for Renwick Transport, we cart grape marc in Marlborough to farms for animal feed. We also cart wool, balage, and spread fertiliser.” Three logging truck and trailer units cart logs all year round from local forestry around South Otago to Port Chalmers or feed into the local saw mills. Across the three businesses there are 38 staff, including drivers, mechanics and office staff. Nineteen staff work directly for Wynyards. “Our operation is pretty diverse. I didn’t want all the eggs in one basket and that’s why I covered the field – if one thing is quiet, hopefully the next things will balance it out. We also own half of Perrins Transport in Owaka and bought Hendy and Fiona Cooks thirteen stock trucks at Hyde.” Gary says he has enjoyed the journey over the last 23 years which have brought many highlights, not the least of which has been having his own family get on board with the business. RURAL SERVICES » Wynyard Transport For All Your Cartage Requirements • Stock Cartage • Fertiliser • Spreading • General Cartage Proud to support Wynyard Transport Ltd Ph: 03 415 8360 Owaka’s Cartage Specialist W.E. Perrin Ltd “My son Chris and daughter Shannon both work in the office with me and I have two brothers who drive log trucks, one being an owner/driver. Being a family owned and operated business and working with family has definitely been a high point. There have been lots of high points though, including buying new trucks, getting out and meeting our clients and finding new clients. Some of the rural clients are now in their third generation now.” Looking to the future, Gary says his biggest consideration is having to transition the fleet to electric and hydrogen, and the cost of what that will be. “That is not a matter of if, but when. It is something that we will have to do and the corporates will want to ensure their clean green focus extends to those companies carting the animals, so we will just be part of the bigger picture really. There will be a massive cost involved in that.” Reflecting on those last 23 years in business, Gary says being prepared to do the hard yards, having` really good staff, the support of the community and customers, all take centre stage in his company’s continued success. “At some stage in the not-too-distant future it will be time to pass the ball on to Chris and Shannon, and give them the chance to look for new opportunities. They have already picked the ball up pretty well, so I am pretty proud of them.” Wynyard Transport has grown from transporting stock, to now embracing a wide range of operations in both North and South Islands.
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