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(Click a business category to find the phone, address and
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CONTACT
Ron E Bishop
General Manager
Timaru Tourist Promotions Limited
132 Gleniti Rd, Timaru
Phone: 03 686 1271
Mobile: 027 228 4756
Email Me
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Lets Talk Business in Ashburton East
Clock Tower
John Grigg
Ashburton is divided into 4 areas. Tinwald is situated
south of the Ashburton river. Riverside is an industrial park on the
north side of the Ashburton River. West Ashburton covers west of the
railway line and East Ashburton covers east of the railway line. The
railway line runs between East Street (main street) and West Street
(state highway one).
The greater part of Ashburton East is the main
shopping area where the town was first formed. Pride of place would
have to be Baring Square East. Baring Square East has been designed
around the town's landmark clock tower, various monuments and the fountain.
All this set in a semi-formal area comprising mature trees, camellias,
rhododendrons, roses and mass plantings of strikingly coloured annuals.
The town has a history of early pioneers and one most
prominent was John Grigg. This early pioneer settled at Longbeach and
began draining the swampy land, turning the estate into a model farm
that attracted world-wide attention. Grigg's drive and energy extended
around the district - he is remembered as a man of strength, physically
and morally, and a key figure in the development of the Ashburton area.
He later founded the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, which shipped
frozen stock to Britain, was chairman of the Farmers' Insurance Company,
a member of the Ashburton County Council and a member of Parliament.
After his death in 1901 a statue of Grigg was erected in Baring Square.
To read more of the towns
history click here.
More business success stories from the Ashburton
East. » Page
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Ross Smith has been in the seed
business all his working life and his two
sons Grant and Michael have followed in
their fathers footsteps. RG Woodham,
Hodder and Tolley, Yates and Elders
are all names in the seed business that
have benefited from the knowledge the
Smith family have contributed to the
cropping farmers of Mid Canterbury.
In 1990 Ross and his eldest son Grant
identified a niche in the export marketing
of seeds. They went into business
specialising in contract seed production.
Instead of just buying and selling seed
they went to the overseas market found
out what the buyers wanted then came
back to Ashburton and found farmers
who were willing to grow the seed to fill
the orders. There biggest orders are
from Asia where there is a big demand
for Peas, Vegetable and other forage.
The
work involves a lot of overseas travel servicing their clients. The company
employs 8 staff. Grant Smith (the General Manager) and his brother Mike
are the Garden Pea specialists.
Dayle Jemmett is the head Agronomist, ably assisted by Wayne McDowell
and Steve Forrester. Gary Compton is the North Island Production Manager.
While working quietly in the background offering valuable words of wisdom
is semi-retired Ross Smith. Between them the Smith family contributes
to the Mid Canterbury economy a combined total of over 90 years of experience
in the seed industry. |
Outside their Ashburton headquarters are Grant and Michael Smith with
their father Ross Smith.
SMITH SEEDS LTD
255 Moore Street (03) 308 2700
Fax (03) 308 2705
Grant Smith 027 432 8654
Dayle Jemmett 027 438 0684
Mike Smith 027 602 5647
Steve Forrester 027 241 5973
Wayne McDowell 027 247 4999
Over 60 years ago Jim Trudgeon started
in business as a painter and paperhanger
from his Ashburton home in Allenton.
His son Greg followed in his fathers
footsteps and was helping his father with
the painting by age 5. He would come
home from school and help his father
with the painting jobs. Greg served his
apprenticeship in the family business
and in 1985. He went into partnership
with his father who later retired from the
business in 1990. |
The business was first located on the
corner of Cass and South Street They
shared a building with Dominator Doors
before building their own building at 15
Cass Street.
The company now employs 12 full time
painters including 2 apprentices. The
company specialises in residential and
commercial painting, roof painting and
wall papering. Distance is not a problem
having done work in Oamarama in the
South and Wellington in the North
Island.
 Trudgeons have been registered
members of the Master
Painters Association for
over 40 years. For a
quality paint job at a
competitive price call
Trudgeons painters and
decorators today.
A Trudgeon painting team taking time
out from painting the new office building
of Stapletons Grain and Seed in
Ashburton East.
From the left are Steven Trudgeon son
of the present owner Greg Trudgeon and
third generation painter of the founder
Jim Trudgeon. Todd Reveley apprentice
painter with qualified tradesman
Cameron Stewart, Mike Kelleher and
Kev Hickey make up the team. |
