News Release July 7 2011

Goldacres appoints National Sales Manager

Stephen Norton has spent his working life in the tractor and machinery industry, amassing a wealth of hands-on experience across three states - and overseas - in agricultural sprayer production and marketing.

Steve, 50, has just been appointed Goldacres' national sales manager, based at Ballarat, responsible for both the company's Pathway and Goldacres divisions.

Steve was born and raised around leafy Norton Summit, east of Adelaide, an area first settled by his forefathers five generations ago and named after the family.

At 16, he left school and joined an engineering company, doing surveying and drafting work, before moving on to another business which sold tractors.

In 1985, he went to work for Hardi Australia in Adelaide. In the years that followed, he filled the roles of Queensland branch manager, product manager for the mist blower range in South Australia and manager of the company's US office in Iowa.

Back in Australia, Steve looked to re-engage with the farm machinery industry and was delighted to take up the reins at Goldacres.

"I'm most excited about getting out and taking the business to the next level, particularly in terms of structuring our relationships with dealers," he says.

"I want to work in partnership with our dealers - if it's working for them and us, and the client is being well served, that's the way to establishing real longterm customer relationships.

"The things I like most about Goldacres are that the company is very focused on its products and that it is still an Australian-owned, family-owned business."

When Steve has time off, he's most likely these days to be found either wrestling a motorbike over rocks in outdoor moto trials or training primary school aged kids in pedal car racing.

Steve can be contacted on 0400 363 355 or stephennorton@goldacres.com.au