One of the good things about Rotary is the opportunity to visit great business operations in Mid-Canterbury.   There are many wonderful stories of success here in our own District.

Former member and past President Ray Mayne hosted us at his recently established Industrial warehouse business premises for a site visit.   From Irish farming stock he came to NZ in 1974 as a 19-year-old with just 1 suitcase of possessions, hope, a mind-set full of optimism, and resolve.

 His first job was as a menswear shop assistant at Sparrow Bros Ashburton.   An acquaintance in the stock-car fraternity led him to a role of Firestone Tyre Servicing Manager where he sold many a tyre to Briggs Bros Irrigation.   In 1982 with spray irrigation in its formative years he joined that company as it specialised in the manufacture and sale of irrigators and hoses as the Sales Rep.   That business became Rainer Irrigation where Ray continued as sales consultant in the new entity trading as a full servicing company of farm irrigation design, pumping infrastructure installation, and manufacture of Rainer Irrigators, and hose supplies.

By an opportune employment connection Ray in 1991 decided to take the road of self-employment and Ray Mayne Hose and Fittings was born with an exclusive ‘Snap-tite’ Hose franchise.   Hose supply, related products, high pressure guns, and farm service soon grew.   By the early 2000’s low pressure centre pivots equipped with GPS variable rate application technology and telemetry monitoring has led to a highly efficient irrigation industry.   In 2009 Ray added the world’s oldest and largest manufacturing company ‘Reinke Irrigation Systems’ to his supplier portfolio.

It was a pleasure to visit the new premises of Ray Mayne Hose and Fittings Limited.

The following week at Rotary we were given an excellent talk and slide show about the Ashburton Aviation Museum by Own Moore.   The Aviation Museum is a worthwhile place to take visitors to our District.   The collection of aircraft on display is surprising with several aircraft on display that you will not see in many other places and some in no other parts of the Southern Hemisphere.