Lending a helping hand

Josh Coombs of McLennan Electrical, Drouin, with Luke and Mel Wallace from Wallacedale Jerseys, Poowong North, at the South Gippsland Dairy Expo. They know each other because Josh did the electrical work for installing the Lely robot milking units at the Wallace’s dairy farm. Photo by Jeanette Severs

Passing by the McLennan Electrical display at the South Gippsland Dairy Expo, Dairy News Australia’s journalist noticed the marquee was branded with Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club.

At the same time, Luke and Mel Wallace arrived. There was a story to be told.

On Monday, September 2, during set up for the expo, the marquee hired by McLennan Electrical collapsed, needing replacement.

While Josh Coombs and Simon McLennan were discussing potential solutions, knowing they would need cover for expected rain over the following days, Luke Wallace phoned Simon to discuss work he wanted done in the dairy.

Simon asked Luke if he knew of an available marquee.

“I said, leave it with me,” Luke told Dairy News Australia.

“I had to check with a couple of people if the Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club marquee was available and if we could loan it to Simon and Josh.”

Luke phoned Simon soon after, offering the club’s marquee for the two days of the dairy expo.

“McLennan Electrical is also a sponsor of the Central Gippsland Jersey Breeders Club,” Luke said.

“We all look after each other in dairy.”

McLennan Electrical were able to display a range of generators, variable speed drives and motors, keeping dry during the cold and wet weather over the next couple of days.