Magazine - 21 Questions with Bruce Stephens from Anco Seed and Turf.

By Rob Jenkins in 21 Questions on 19th Oct 2009 8:00

For 30 years Anco has been growing and supplying quality Instant Turf to Melbourne and Victoria's landscapers, golf courses, racetracks, sportsfields and home gardens. With farms located across Melbourne at Cranbourne West, Clyde, Five Ways and Torquay ANCO is one of the biggest turf growing operations in Australia.

Name: Bruce Stephens
Place of work & Position: Anco Turf Farm and Manager

Family: My wife Denise & son Tim.
Favourite Food: Fillet steak, actually make that any dessert!
Favourite Movie: Love a good Aussie film so The Castle
Favourite Band: Santana

Teams Barrack For: The Mighty Bombers, Essendon
Favourite Sport: Cricket
Hobbies: Fishing, and cricket-I used to play cricket for a few years

Drinker: Yes, I'm a Red Man love my red wine, McLaren Vale Winery from S.A make a great drop.

Places Travelled: Mainly the U.S.A and Asia

Favourite Machine: Trebro HarveStack Turf Harvester, they are amazing
What Would make Your Job Easier: John Cotter (Director of Anco Turf) playing less golf!

Best Turf Company in the Industry: I'll give Doug a mention-Murray Valley Turf in S.A.
Industry's Most Annoying Rep: David Worrad from Robert Cooper
Industry's Biggest Cowboy: Billy Reed-he'll take that ok! Billy rides Polo Cross horses, still doing it and he's in his sixties.
Who's Your Turf God: Graeme Grant, about 10 years ago he was Kingston Heath's Superintendent
What's Been Your Biggest Cock-up: Adding a zero to the amount of seeds required at a job; I sent them 550 kilos instead of 55 kilos for an aquaseeding job. Bill Leggit rang me back asking " How do you want me to put this out?". I got on my high horse and answered back with a few expletives "How do you think I want you to put it out-you're an hydro-seeder, hydro seed it". Bill replied " I think a front end loader would be better Bruce!"
Funniest Moment You've Had in the Workplace: Driving onto a fairway in a taxi at Medway Golf Club, to borrow some money off the Superintendent to pay for the cab!

What's Your Motto: Act With Integrity

Who Would You Turn Gay For: Ellen DeGeneres.



Well done Bruce, you're very lucky we let you get away with the last answer, Ellen just scraped through on a technicality! We hope you're not cruising around terrorizing golf superintendents and their fairways in your search for taxi fares. Well done on being such a good sport.

Read more articles in 21 Questions, by Rob Jenkins or from October 2009.