growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

in Australia), when it finally erupted into life, the shotgun-like
explosions were routinely accompanied by bolting horses and
disappearing dogs, and could also create heart murmurs in the
aged.
But the little Bulldog was blessed with an unparalleled
characteristic which endeared it to my heart. Its fuel consumption!
It would work all day pulling a trailer, or a grain auger or empty
mobile grain bins at harvest, and consume around a mere two
cups of diesel – all day! And there is more! Owing to the fact that
being a low compression semi-diesel and therefore unable to burn
all the fuel passing through its combustion chamber, there was a
detachable little cup-sized bowl that collected the unburnt fuel,
rather than have it emitted through the exhaust stack. This was
drained, if one remembered, and poured back into the fuel tank.
Now that is what I call recycling!
The Fiat
The Fiat 70 Ci crawler was equipped with a rugged dozer
blade and although not a big machine, was capable of work far
beyond its size would suggest. It was used to push over and clear
around 200 acres of scrub and thus convert relatively useless land
into high yielding wheat country.
But there was one problem with the Fiat. The steering was by
two hand clutch levers and two foot brake pedals – and I simply
could not reach the pedals! My legs were too short. Even with
cushions at my back, I could only tippy toe the pedals and was
therefore unable to exert the considerable force required to apply
the turning brakes. However the problem was quickly solved.
Stuart, the elder of my two sons, had long legs – and he just
loved that Fiat!
The Massey Ferguson loader/backhoe
Which leaves the Massey Ferguson loader/backhoe. How any
farmer can run a property without owning one of these versatile
machines is beyond me. It was used for everything, including
handling bulk grain, pressing steel posts into the ground, grading
The Massey Ferguson loader/backhoe was indispensable
on the property, being able to perform a myriad of labour
saving tasks. (Photo IMJ archives)
the trails, burying dead livestock, digging pits for garbage
disposal, loading gravel, carting fuel drums, lifting things to
heights in lieu of a crane, raising me onto the roof when leaks
were discovered, straightening gate posts, and it was ideal for
blocking cattle ramps when Jeffrey our bull exhibited amorous
intentions towards our neighbour’s heifers.
But it too had a problem. I observed one day from the
homestead kitchen window, the loader/backhoe being driven
flat out, indeed recklessly, with my younger son Grant at the
wheel, rushing along the road and obviously in a hurry to knockoff
for lunch. As he crossed the ramp near the house – well he
didn’t! The edge of the front bucket collided with the corner post
bringing the flying missile to an instant halt. Stuart, who had been
grimly holding himself onto the rear backhoe seat, did not come
to an instant halt! Instead he continued on his journey, doing a
respectable interpretation of Peter Pan flying through the air, that
is until he landed some twenty feet ahead of the stricken rig.
Surprisingly, Stuart picked himself up with only a minor
scratch. Grant was similarly OK but his self esteem went into a
steep decline. The Massey Ferguson was the one that suffered.
The main loader frame was twisted and out of plumb by several
inches and would have required the services of a giant press to
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August–September 2012 The Australian Cottongrower — 51