Two of our rising stars are heading to Brisbane
We’re proud to share that Alex Sinclair and Henry Barkley have been named Regional Finalists in the 2025 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards – a program that shines a spotlight on the essential role Service and Parts Technicians play in keeping regional industries moving.
Now in its fifth year, the awards celebrate the people behind the tools – those combining hands-on expertise with digital smarts, critical thinking and a strong commitment to customer service. Finalists are chosen not just for their technical ability, but for the impact they have in their dealerships, their communities and the industries they support.
Alex and Henry will travel to the John Deere Head Office in Brisbane for a final round of real-world testing and diagnostics, followed by the official awards night in September.
We’re incredibly proud of both of them and of the work all our technicians do every day to support our customers and communities.
If you’ve ever thought about starting your own career in ag machinery, our Apprentice Mentoring Program (AMP) intake opens this September! It’s a chance to get hands-on with cutting-edge equipment, learn from experienced mentors and build a career that makes a real difference. More details here.
Scroll down to get to know our finalists – their back stories, what drives them and how they’ve earned their place on the national stage.
Alex Sinclair, Shepparton
Alex Sinclair has an impressive and varied resume from roles that are shaping him into an outstanding future parts technician. His previous experience in front-of-house and kitchen-hand roles in busy restaurants taught him to work quickly while staying calm, professional, and composed with customers. These roles also helped him develop strong communication skills and the ability to multitask in fast-paced environments.
Working with dairy and beef cattle gave him exposure to the agriculture industry and through word of mouth, he heard about a role at Haeusler’s, the local John Deere dealership in Shepparton, Victoria. His application was successful, and he started his apprenticeship in March 2024.
With John Deere’s huge range of equipment, Alex said he has learnt about everything from an S100 mower to the X9 combine harvester, and the thousands of parts that make up these machines. He uses his strong communication and problem-solving skills to help understand what the customer needs and works with them and the dealership service technicians to find solutions and the correct parts to minimise downtime.
Alex’s dedication to his role is genuinely appreciated by both internal and external customers. Brian Hayes, Branch Parts Manager, said Alex is always professional and provides customers with correct, timely solutions to their needs or queries.
Deeply committed to his community, Alex has volunteered with the Mooroopna CFA since he was 16. Over the years, he’s shown up when it matters most to the community. Whether that’s responding to fires, storms, roadside emergencies or rescuing pets from tricky situations, he’s always ready to lend a hand. Alex is also actively involved in fundraising and as a member of the CFA running team, he competes against other towns to showcase hose relaying with speed and accuracy.
Henry Barkley, Mildura
After school holidays spent helping on his uncle’s farm near the Barossa Valley and just one week of work experience at the local John Deere dealership, Henry Barkley’s decision was cemented to pursue a career in the agriculture industry.
He instantly fell in love with John Deere equipment and was amazed with how advanced it was. He immediately knew that becoming a service technician was what he wanted to do. During a school-based apprenticeship, Henry worked at his local John Deere dealership before moving from South Australia to start a role at the Haeusler’s Mildura branch in Victoria.
Now in the final year of his apprenticeship, Henry is a trusted and valuable member of the team because of his work ethic and skills, and enjoys building trust and lasting relationships with his customers by providing exceptional service.
Broadacre farmer Paul Wisneske, from Linga, said Henry shows a genuine care for his equipment and his business, and was thrilled to recommend him for the Service Apprentice of the Year Award.
“Henry takes pride in his client relationships, always provides follow-up calls or checks to ensure the work has been completed to a high standard, and that we are more than satisfied with the work that has been completed,” Paul said.
“It is a pleasure to have Henry attend any jobs.”
It’s been a big year for Henry, who is not only appearing for the first time as a finalist at the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards, but has moved interstate and just bought his first home. He is proud of how far he has come and said he will always be thankful to the people who’ve supported him along the way.