Magazine: Hats off to Hatton Part 2: The Recycling Revolution and “Lefty Socialist” Geoff!
By Sarah Gibson in Best of the Rest on 3rd Feb 2010 20:00
Geoff Hatton is one of the most recognisable figures in our industry, he’s a straight talking man with a wealth of experience. Catch up with the last of our two part special with the story continuing from the year 2000 to now.
If you missed Part1 Click Here : Hats off to Hatton! Part 1: Early days to the Olympics
Part 2
The Sydney Olympics in 2000 was touted as “the green Olympics”, reflecting what was happening in the world generally with the push for recycling and concern about natural resources. Geoff took this on board and began to steer his company to develop the idea of “sustainable turf” in Australia.
Geoff states this concept has had a rocky course and has not been easy to establish here. There are a number of reasons why, the primary one Geoff believes is due to the “vigorous turf” in Australia. Grasses such as Couch and kikuyu make it extremely difficult to rub back down or “recycle”. Having cuts in your turf is like small trenches on top of the field, this is unacceptable to turf managers despite the fact the cuts are usually only 15mm deep and grow in. The patented developments Geoff has perfected for the top dresser has now almost eliminated any minor depressions.
Geoff’s own experiences drove him towards the recycling method. Most council fields around Australia are built on old tip sites or foundations of old buildings. When digging down into the soil of depth of up 200mm Geoff and his team were bringing up all sorts of debris from old fish heads to car axles. There was a lot of damage to the gear, one machine was almost destroyed and had to be rebuilt. These experiences prompted Geoff to use the Koro system of shaving out the thatch and then recycling the top-dress. He explains they can now dig down to a depth of over 120ms in fields.
Yet despite these great results, people prove hard to convince. Geoff admits getting councils to accept this method of Koro renovation is an uphill battle, despite the proven results. Geoff’s seen if you strip the grass, be it kikuyu or couch right back, its stronger and more resilient come the following season, with more resistance to the cold- as Geoff reiterates “it’s the new growth factor!”.
Geoff is clearly a strong advocate for the “Koro concept” and believes that when the idea is accepted and put into practice, the results speak for themselves. Some in the industry are willing to try the Koro method. Morphettville Race course in Adelaide Eagle Farm and Doomben in Brisbane are an example, Geoff stating they’ve had “a fantastic result.” But there’s a way to go and the recycling revolution still meets with resistance in Australia.
These machines are a rarity at the moment with only five other recycling top-dressers in the country. However, there have been many imitations according to Geoff. Field top makers are more prolific, with about 16 spread across Australia and four in New Zealand. From all reports the machines are scoring top marks and are a continuing success.
Geoff’s company is very much a family business. Phyllis, Geoff’s wife is co director of the company. Geoff Junior, Geoff’s eldest son is General Manager of the company, Grant Thomas is the Company Representative and there’s also a team of guys operating the machines and farm. Each staff member brings a wealth of experience. Geoff’s company is still expanding. Phillip Toy of T-link looks after Geoff’s branch of Sustainable Turf in Adelaide.
Geoff’s’ years of experience in the industry has enabled him to try different techniques, resulting in industry firsts. Geoff was the first to stolinise creeping bent on new greens using the nobbly tyres of a bunker machine to impregnate them into the soil. The technique was also used when applying seed on new green via a Fertispray (a venturi system on a hose). Geoff in
troduced the Cambridge roller to this process when he realised the superior quality plant material obtained when using the Koro Field Topmaker. The great plant quality harvested by the Topmaker and then stolinised ensured faster regeneration for larger areas of green. It’s a technique that is still used today. Cambridge rollers are a range of high quality hydraulic folding rollers.Sprigging is a method of laying the vegetative material into the soil in a uniform manner. It’s a useful method to use on large areas were there is plenty of irrigation available, and an economical option over installing solid turf. Because the quality of planting material is superior, Geoff’s experience has been that this method closely matches the results of the very expensive washed turf method. Root and fine root hairs aren’t damaged, resulting in a flatter, smoother surface than washed turf. This results in a reasonably short grow-in time. Geoff’s job at Energy Stadium showed that the surface was ready for play 8 weeks from planting.
Geoff is kept busy with plenty of council work, often picked up through word of mouth recommendation. Looking at the long term, Geoff sees a big future for Koro and Sustainable Turf now that the patented modifications have been perfected for the Australasia region.
Geoff believes his continued success is due to sticking to what he‘s good at throughout the many years of his business, this has seen him through tough times, and the recent down turn in the economy.
Sustainable Turf, is what the company is all about. The prudent use of water and chemicals, the strengthening of the grass, even the material that’s shaved off with the field top maker is ideal for re planting, nothing goes to waste. The strength of the company lies in its diversity and this is something the company has embraced; diversifying it’s services in a time when natural resources such as water are severely under pressure from an ever growing population and poor dam levels. Geoff is very excited and passionate about this arm of his business.
Reflecting on his fifty years in the industry Geoff has worked in a various areas “wearing many hats”. His machinery golf construction turf farm and oval construction work have kept him extremely busy.
Geoff has also had an opportunity to play key roles in some of the turf industry’s organizations and bodies. He sat on the original Golf Course Managers Association back in 1972, later becoming president in the late 1970s and early 80s. During his time, Geoff attempted to register the organisation as a national industrial body to give them recognition in the federal courts. He felt this was an important step for the industry. Geoff explained he believed his fellow colleagues were being steam rolled by committees. However, this didn’t s
ucceed as no other state apart from Queensland wanted bar of it, and it was not popular with some figures in the industry. Accusations flew, Geoff recalled with a wry smile how he was branded a Socialist and a “lefty” for trying to achieve this objective! “If we’d had had one other state with us be it SA or Victoria, we would have been nationally registered" .Just like the secretary managers at the time, Geoff saw the association in the same league as a professional body, with the federal law as their strength. Yet Geoff’s not one to hold a grudge, and sees this episode as ancient history.
Geoff is not shy in offering his opinion on the industry. Geoff understands the budget restraints councils and other government funded organizations have and the need for them to often select the cheapest rate tendered and the fierce competition to offer the lowest rate. He believes contractors today are decimating sections of the industry.
In any industry, contractors can get a bad rap, labeled as cowboys who can charge extortionate prices for their work, although it would be unfair to tar them all with the same brush.
Geoff has a lot of passion about the rights of Greenkeepers. He believes the apprenticeship system in some instances results in workers being exploited for cheap labour, referring to the pittance most apprentices are paid and the long hours they do to get by. Geoff recalls from personal experience of colleagues the difficulties and constraints Greenkeepers can face when working with low budgets, and the pressures this puts them under. However, Geoff still believes the Turf industry is a great one to be in.
Geoff explains the pride he feels when he re visits the courses he has worked on, especially Penrith. After not playing golf for 20 years he is now a member of Penrith Golf club and in his characteristic no non nonsense style, Geoff says the Greenkeeper does a great job there “and if anyone wants to have a whinge in my ear about it- they get no reception, I don’t put up with any bitchin”. On reflection, Geoff certainly has no regrets about leaving his job as a Super all those years ago and branching out on his own.
There are aspects of Greenkeeping Geoff does miss, such as the feeling of pride when sighting the course in the early morning, with the sun streaming down, and the sprinklers going. This feeling of a job well done is replicated when he and the team complete a project on a sports field be it big or small. When they’ve done a great job of levelling and the turf looks good with the budget that’s been provided, if the client is pleased with the end result, Geoff’s a happy man.
Strolling round Geoff farm, it’s clear to see it’s an extensive well planned plot of land.
Three varieties of turf are grown at Cobbity farm; kikuyu, Sir Walter buffalo and Conquest Couch. Geoff did his research before selecting Conquest as the variety he wanted to use on the farm, finding this to be one of the most versatile grasses available.
The farm is mowed twice a week with a big six metre Saliba Mower, he has a staff of four on the farm, which can increase if need be during busy months. Even the Sales Rep rolls his sleeves up and helps maintain the farm, if they need a hand, no one’s above mucking in and helping where needed. Very little fertilizer is used on the grass; small amounts of poultry fertilizer and often. The soil at the farm is Alluvial with silky sand flats. It’s a young fertile loam, brownish black in colour and widespread in New South Wales. Geoff finds it quite a heavy material. The upper two hectares of the farm are gravelly Camden grey soils, and while not being the most fertile soil, they can still produce good turf.
The farm has drainage throughout, with as Geoff explains an innovative system that allows all water from the farm to settle in small sediment ponds; they were the first turf farm to do this in the 1990s. Irrigation on Cobbity has been nine year project. It started off with old fibro main, with traveling irrigators that used to blow up on average about once a week! They now have a pop up watering system from sprinklers Geoff’s gathered over several years. They’re spread over a 17 metre square pattern all over the farm, with a 32 station Hunter controller, and run in blocks of three four and five. They’re in the process of changing them over to I-41 Hunters which Geoff believes to be a very good sprinkler. The Hunters have a high pop up, and don’t get in the way of the equipment; the Brouwer Harvesters can jump over them.
The biggest problem the farm has is frost due to the low lying ground, but Geoff remarks they’re lucky enough to have a temperate micro climate. They have very good water control and are self regulatory; if the river drops down a metre everyone goes on voluntary water restrictions “The Government doesn’t need to get involved, we’re very proactive!” This practical system appears to suit everyone in the locality, for example if someone’s doing a planting job, the other farmers will allow them to water in the day, and certain veggie growers are allowed to do this too.
Mowing heights sit at 28-30mm depending on the variety of grass. Eleven hectares are devoted to Sir Walter, 1.5 hectares to Conquest and the remaining five to ten hectares are assigned kikuyu. Geoff mentions they’ve leased 10 hectares on a neighbouring land for production. Purity of strain are important factors in a grass for Geoff prompting him to select Conquest. It’s had proven results at sites such as Trinity Grammar in Sydney and Energy Stadium home of the NRL’s Newcastle Nights.
Geoff is adamant that in his experience Sir Walter is the best and most robust turf grass, saying he’s tried everything. “It just seems to bounce” back in his opinion, can take what you throw at it, withstanding drought. A big bonus for a lot of Australia’s drought stricken regions.
Geoff doesn’t beat round the bush on any of his opinions and dismisses the “Billy goats” who think selecting a grass gives them the right to call themselves a breeder. Geoff says breeding grass is about putting the grass through the mill and seeing how it reacts under stress then submitting a comprehensive report. Geoff gives the thumbs up to Sir Walter customer service they have an excellent support system in his experience.
Geoff Hatton is one of the most recognizable faces in our great industry, his tireless work ethic and hours devoted to industry shows as a speaker around Australia have made him one of those big characters that are one in a million.
It’s hard not to be encouraged about our industry when you hear Geoff speak, his love for his work and passion for improving the way we maintain turf are inspirational. Simply speaking, when Geoff speaks you listen.
Since the Australian Commemorative Sports medal for a life time dedication Geoff has added another 10 years of hard work and is showing no signs of it ending anytime soon. He might spend a little more time on the golf course with his sticks but he remains as dedicated as ever.
Pitchcare thanks Geoff for the insight into his working career and his ability to tell it like it is.
Cheers Geoff!
| There are 1 comment on this article |
17 Feb 10 by Cees Pijl
Great article about the man and his family who tought me a lot about Australia and how to grow and maintain grass in particular....
Regards,
"Big Clog"
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troduced the Cambridge roller to this process when he realised the superior quality plant material obtained when using the Koro Field Topmaker. The great plant quality harvested by the Topmaker and then stolinised ensured faster regeneration for larger areas of green. It’s a technique that is still used today. Cambridge rollers are a range of high quality hydraulic folding rollers.Sprigging is a method of laying the vegetative material into the soil in a uniform manner. It’s a useful method to use on large areas were there is plenty of irrigation available, and an economical option over installing solid turf. Because the quality of planting material is superior, Geoff’s experience has been that this method closely matches the results of the very expensive washed turf method. Root and fine root hairs aren’t damaged, resulting in a flatter, smoother surface than washed turf. This results in a reasonably short grow-in time. Geoff’s job at Energy Stadium showed that the surface was ready for play 8 weeks from planting.
