| 63 Riverton Engineering ENGINEERING Hugh de Lacy Jack of all engineering trades shines Herb and daughter Poppy Townshend on the tools. Riverton Engineering is a classic smalltown husband-and-wife business – albeit with expansion plans - that is an expression of the rural Southland community that it serves. Herb Townshend, who grew up on a sheep and beef farm just down the road at Orepuki, is a jack of all engineering trades, while wife Debs does everything from the book-keeping to store-keeping. “I take care of the business side of things so Herb doesn’t have to worry about anything outside of the workshop,” Debs says. Invercargill-born Debs has a background in logistics and retail, and has tinkered in other areas but otherwise has no formal business training, though “I can sell anything, market anything – I’m the one hustling in the background to drum up business and get our name out there.” Herb is called upon to perform an extraordinary range of agriculture-related work, from dairy-shed and farm equipment repairs, full and custom re-builds, to contractors’ repairs on equipment ranging from diggers, logging gear, grapples, digger buckets and grabs to balers, trailers, horse floats, logging and tip trucks. There’s also steady demand from within Riverton itself, from the swimming and bowling clubs to the local shops and residents who come to Riverton Engineering for everything from gates and hand-rails to their own projects that they want to bring to life. “There’s not much we can’t do here, and if we don’t specialise in it we will organise with one of the many contacts Herb has in Invercargill only 20 minutes away,” Debs says. Herb did his time at a couple of engineering businesses in Invercargill and Balclutha before he and Debs decided to buy the current business from Anthony van Uden last year. “Herb wanted to get back to his roots: this is what he loves doing and is really good at - he’s a very clever man,” Debs says. “He started in engineering when he was 15, and 20-odd years later he’s still into it.” Herb works from 6am to 6pm Mondays to Saturdays, sometimes with the Townshends’ nine-year-old daughter Poppy wandering round the workshop, and with Debs ready to don the overalls to help too. They changed the name to Riverton Engineering 2021 Ltd and completely overhauled the operation. They’ve had enormous support from the Riverton and surrounding communities, to the degree that they plan to take on one or two staff in mid-2023 – though they don’t want to grow the business too much. “It’s sort of our little dream,” Debs says, “and we don’t want it to explode because everything about it is quite personal to us. “It’s about being part of the community, with Herb’s family still farming at Orepuki.” “Also, with the way things are at the moment, we’re just being cautious.” When they do move to bring in extra staff the Townshends won’t face the frustrating scramble for workers that other businesses throughout the country are experiencing. “We’ve already approached some engineers and they’re excited about jumping aboard so we’ll have no trouble gearing up,” Debs says. “Any staff will be well looked after and appreciated.” Riverton Engineering leases its Bath Road site with Kennedy Building principals Will and Lou Kennedy, in an arrangement that further reflects the Townshends’ community involvement. “The arrangement has been absolutely magic,” Debs says. “They get their supplies dropped off here, and they just come and grab our forklift to off-load them, or Herb will get out there and help if no one is around. “When we first moved in and I needed an office, Will just built me one - nothing is ever a problem.” “That’s just the way the community is round here.” Proud to support Riverton Engineering www.ewl.co.nz | 03 218 7263 | 93 Clyde Street, Invercargill 100%SOUTHLAND OWNED AND OPERATED WE ARE THE SOUTHLAND DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE BELOW INDUSTRIAL BRANDS: magoo auto SOUTHLANDS ONLY EXHAUST SPECIALIST Our proud tradesmen have high ethics and stand by their work so we can give you the best warranty in town covering both parts and labour. Exhausts | Brakes | Lubrication | Tyres www.magooauto.co.nz 55 NITH ST INVERCARGILL 03 218 4488 Otautau -Riverton -CentralOtago -Christchurch Danyon Cleaver 0272369753 otautaufr8@gmail.com
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