Hire and Rental News - February 2018

INDUSTRY NEWS 12 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • FEBRUARY 2018 Other regional winners, selected from among the 200 HCT Program participants included Darren Greenough from Geraldton Mower and Repair Specialists (WA), Chris Gillottie from Mowers and More (Vic/Tas), Mark Miguel from The Big Mower (NT/SA) and Anton Petersen from Outdoor Power Centre (Qld). The winners were announced by Honda’s Training Manager, Lincoln Bowdern, who said the awards are a way for Honda to show its Honda dealer network technicians how valued they are. “This award has been created to recognise those technicians that support the Honda Certified Technician Training Program, and those with an interest to further enhance their skills through ongoing product training,” he said. “It is vital we recognise and reward those technicians that strive to be the best.” The HCT Program is open to technicians working in Honda dealerships. Training is delivered directly by Honda and equips participants with specific technical skills to service, diagnose and repair Honda Power Equipment products. There are three levels of competency: Certified, Advanced and the Master level covering complex diagnostics and customer care principles. Winner Ian said he was very surprised and emotional when he was announced the winner. “To be chosen to receive the 2017 Honda Certified Technician Excellence Award has been a very humbling experience,” he said. “I have spent the past 11 years working within the outdoor power equipment industry with Dubbo Mowers and Chainsaws. I cannot thank my employers, David Brett and Peter Brett, enough as they have been incredibly supportive of me over this period.” As the national winner, Ian received $2,000 in prize money. He and the Regional Winners were flown to Melbourne for the award presentation and to receive their ‘Exclusive Finalists Package’ prizes, which included return flights plus accommodation in Melbourne CBD, a dinner in their honour, Star Honda Power Equipment HCT Excellence Award Winner The 2017 Honda Certified Technician (HCT) Excellence Awards Power Equipment Category went to Ian Hutchison from Dubbo Mowers and Chainsaws. Cash cards courtesy of Caltex Australia Petroleum, Honda apparel, trophies, and VIP tickets to the 2017 Supercars at Sandown Raceway. Their VIP experience included a tour of Pit Lane and transfers to and from the track each day. “I feel I speak for the other four blokes when I say my experience with the staff at Honda was very family-like and caring. The two days at Sandown were the icing 2017 National Winners HCT Power Equipment Excellence Awards on the cake,” Ian said. The Power Equipment Excellence Awards are held annually and Honda is looking forward to working with its Dealer Network to continue the program in 2018. Visit: www.honda.com.au Darren Simmons, General Manager of Kennards Hire NSW said the Kennards Hire branch network has helped raise awareness and funds for charitable organisations that support sick and disadvantaged children and their families, through the Kennards for Kids campaign for almost 20 years. “This year was our first opportunity to support Redkite and one the Kennards Hire team are incredibly excited about and proud of,” Darren said. “Having met the incredible Dr Luciano Dalla-Pozza, Head of The Cancer Centre for Children at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Redkite team that supports children and families through such a difficult time, I am privileged to be able to present our Kennards for Kids donation to Redkite.” Monique Keighery, Redkite’s General Manager of Marketing and Fundraising, said: “The team at Redkite are thrilled to receive the generous donation of $50,000 from this year’s Kennards for Kids fundraising campaign. These funds will make a significant difference to the lives of children with cancer and their families, and allow us to provide even Kennards for Kids flies higher for Redkite more practical, must-have support in the form of information, counselling and financial assistance.” Darren said: “It’s such a rewarding experience to help make a difference in the lives of those families with young kids going through cancer treatment.” With over $317,000 raised last year alone, the Kennards for Kids campaign is the company’s largest annual customer driven charity initiative. Visit: www.kennards.com.au During its annual Kennards for Kids campaign last year, $50,000 was donated to Redkite in NSW by the team from Kennards Hire. The Kennards for Kids campaign raised funds for Redkite