Insights

Honeycombes recently had the pleasure of taking on Lauchlan Darr, Ayr State High School student, for a 9-day work experience placement. During his time with us, Lauchlan worked closely alongside Darcy Miller, one of our Ayr-based Apprentice Service Technicians and AU/NZ 2023 John Deere Service Apprentice of the Year.

Darcy showed Lauchlan the many aspects of a well-rounded John Deere workshop, uncovering the ins and outs of the role. This involved Lauchlan getting his hands dirty, helping Darcy fix up a John Deere 7810 Tractor which was in for a hydraulic fault. He supported Darcy by removing, cleaning, and refitting filters and covers onto the machine. Not only did this hands-on work give Lauchlan practical experience but also an appreciation for the care and attention to detail required in this industry.

Lauchlan was exposed to other various repair jobs whilst with us, including a major Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) failure. He observed the entire process of the machine being completely stripped down then back to looking more like a tractor again by the end of his placement. With this, Lauchlan was able to witness the strategic manoeuvring of large tracks within a confined workspace, helping him better understand the intricacies of complex repairs jobs.

Darcy’s mentorship was invaluable to Lauchlan. He took Lauchlan under his wing, sharing insights he learnt about the role when he was in Lauchlan’s position. Darcy was able to help Lauchlan leave us with practical skills and a wealth of knowledge, setting him on a strong path towards a successful career as a John Deere service technician.  

From all of us at Honeycombes, we are excited to watch Lauchlan excel in this field, thanks to the solid foundation provided by Darcy and our other dedicated technicians who helped Lauchlan.

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