There was a feisty spirit in the air when Massey Ferguson employees, customers and enthusiasts from Australia and New Zealand paid homage to one of the world's most widely-sold tractor brands.
At a champagne evening in Melbourne's docklands, about 600 people came to pay tribute to the shortening of the Massey-Harris-Ferguson name to the more manageable Massey Ferguson - a milestone event which took place 50 years ago in 1958.
Vice president and managing director of Agco's East Asia Pacific division, Warwick McCormick, was in an upbeat mood, recalling Australia and New Zealand's long history of association with Massey products – one that goes right back to the late 1800s with the stripper harvester of HV McKay which preceded the company being granted the exclusive Australian distribution of Massey-Harris machinery in the early 1930s.
"But thinking back to 1958, we can picture the hustle and bustle of ships being unloaded at these very docks and wharves where the tractors came in from the UK in those days," Mr McCormick said.
As well, he acknowledged there had been massive changes in the world of farm machinery, including "some pretty tough times" during last couple of years but the business was now going "extremely well" and looking forward to growing over the next 50 years.
In recognition of the launch of the MF 65 tractor in 1958, and a year after the first appearance of the famous Massey Ferguson triple triangle logo, Agco Australia recently purchased one of the earliest models to be imported into this country, collaborating with enthusiasts to bring it back to pristine condition.
"Later it will be auctioned at no cost and all the proceeds will go to CanTeen – a children's cancer support group – and a worthy charity," Mr McCormick said.
Agco Australia also displayed a model 435 tractor and Titan 8300 front end loader which is destined to help in the clean-up process following the devastating earthquakes that have rocked China's Sichuan province.
Mr McCormick said Agco's ambition was to bring Massey Ferguson back to its rightful place as the best selling range of farm machinery - not only in Australia and New Zealand - but right around the world.
"It's a position we enjoyed until recently and we certainly want to get back there," he said.
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