About WCT Rural
WCT was formed in Wudinna, the center of the Eyre Peninsula South Australia, in 1984 with the idea of meeting the needs of broad acre dry land farming.
Ian Willmott, the present director/owner and remaining founder after being raised on the family farm and then spending 19 years working in a stock agent company, where the focus was mainly livestock and wool, recognised the need for a company that specialised in agricultural inputs.
Back in 1984 there was a big shift in agricultural practice from the “Work Up, Work Back” sowing method to “Minimum Till” and then the progression to what we have today which is largely “No Till”.
Having sound experience in the farming industry, WCT was formed to provide farmers with a wide range of products to meet their needs.
WCT was at the forefront of providing technical knowledge on chemical applications and plant and soil nutrition and diagnosis to farmers. We were instrumental in the trials of many products before registration and release to farmers e.g. Logran. WCT which is now known as WCT RURAL continues today to conduct trial work on various chemicals and nutrients to suit local conditions.
In 2002 WCT Rural formed a branch at Elliston followed by the purchase and formation of the Ceduna branch in 2003.
WCT Rural has come along way from its humble beginnings in 1985 with three staff, to a staff of 15 people which provides a comprehensive range of products and services as well as local knowledge to the rural community.
Some of the services provided include agronomic advice, complete range of general insurance broking, livestock and wool, rural merchandise while still specialising in our core business of agricultural chemicals, fertilisers and plant and soil nutrients.
Founding Director Ian Willmott
Ian has lived and worked in farming and the rural business sector all his life. On the family farm on Kangaroo Island, then in 1968, working for Bennetts Fisher (rural merchandise, livestock, agricultural chemical & fertiliser etc).
In 1976 he gained a Real Estate license in land management and for a period held own Real Estate Company in early & mid 90’s. He has completed multiple industry qualifications over the years including courses in Wool Classification, Meat Assessment Classifications and Tier one financial services licence running his own Insurance brokerage company.
After transfers with Bennetts to Gepps Cross, Crystal Brook, Kingscote, Strathalbyn, Quorn, Wudinna & Kingston as a stock agent he resigned in 1982 having decided to stay in the Wudinna district and commenced working for himself.
He set up the first business premise in 1984 which evolved into WCT.
Ian has been the driving force behind the growth and success of WCT with many years experience and lots of hard work along with loyal dedicated staff has grown the business into what it is today. A keen business acumen combined with a genuine drive for shared support and success across the business, its staff and the local farmers and wider community.
Director Lee Paddon-Jones (Ian’s daughter)
Having completed year 12 at Wudinna Area School Lee first commenced work in Wudinna at the current Eyre Highway address at the end of 1988. She left the family business and moved to the city in 1990.
Whilst working full time she studied periodically on and off part time with Business studies starting with a General Office Traineeship at TAFE in 1989 then in Queensland completing a Small Business Management and Structure course, Cert 3 in Business certificate externally through Uni of New England, other short term accounting and business studies over the years whilst moving with her husband serving in the Australian Military.
She gained experience in administrative & accounts roles before moving to Queensland in 1992. In Townsville and Brisbane having worked for 5 years in administration and accounts management before diversifying into Importing and exporting and Inventory Management.
After transferring to South Australia at the end of 2009 after 20 years working outside the family business she once again joined the WCT team working in various roles and became a Director in 2011.
Insurance Broker Melissa Pahl (Authorised Broker No. 1276266)
Melissa is a young South African woman who migrated to Kimba on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia with her family in 2008. She has now relocated to Lock with her husband who works as a farm hand for a local farmer. She has been productive in the Lock community, by getting involved in the Swimming Pool Committee, the Lock Murdinga Tooligie Progress Association, the Lock Racing Club & the Lock Football Club, she is also a Lock Roo’s Sports Trainer.
She came on board with WCT Rural in March of 2019 as our Administration and Accounts Manager and shortly after took on the role of our Insurance Broker.
She has had a lot of experience with customer service, while working in Hospitality. She is a friendly and smiley person who loves to meet new people and see new faces, so come on in and say hi.
Livestock Agent Warren Beattie
Warren Beattie is another excellent Livestock Agent for WCT Rural; he is based in the Ceduna Area and has all the right knowledge for you. He was a shearer for 10 years, has owned his own farming property for 22 years, previously worked as a livestock agent for elders for 4 years, prior to coming on board with WCT Rural where he has worked for the last 12 years.
He also owns his own Ram Stud, “Mallee Hill Merino Stud” which has sold rams to the Eyre Peninsula for the past 13 years. Warren is a community man, being involved in the Ceduna Blues Football club, he also Sponsors the local football clubs & the Wudinna Shearing Competition.
Elliston Branch Manager Darren (Woody) Kelly
Woody was born in Elliston and then moved to the Yeelanna -Cummins District back in 1986, he has now moved back to his hometown of Elliston after 37 years and currently managing the Elliston branch for WCT Rural. ‘In this role we are about supporting and giving service to the farming districts on Eyre Peninsula.’
Woody has taken on many roles throughout his career life and worked in different industries such as Hospitality, Agricultural, and in a Flour Mill. Some of his roles include working at the Cummins airport for Aerotech Australasia as ground support staff, this role meant that he loaded spray planes and occasionally assisted with aerial support to the CFS fire bombers and helicopters during the fire season. These roles took him to many different farms around the EP, including having worked at Portana and Oakdale Sheep Stations, working on these stations it gave him a experience and understanding about the livestock industry and more importantly sheep husbandry.
Woody has completed a Certificate 3 in Business Management and along with this he has gained extensive knowledge and experience having previously owned and managed the Cummins IGA Supermarket with his wife for over 13 years, this was one of his biggest challenges, working 7 days a week and over seeing up to 30 staff during peak times so this definitely kept them busy. Woody has been in the customer service industry for over 23 years and has plenty of experience and drive. He enjoys getting out and meeting people, this has been one of his strong points.
He is now involved with the Elliston Districts Football Club after a long association with the United Yeelanna Football Club which included six years as secretary and four years as president plus many years on the executive committee.
Woody is a dedicated community man and loves to get involved wherever he can. He has a strong belief that you get back what you put into life, and nothing is forever, so its important to enjoy what you do, where you live and where you work.
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» WCT Rural strives to be the company of choice. » WCT Rural offers a truly comprehensive range of products and services covering all aspects of today's Agribusiness needs. » WCT Rural services all major sectors of the agricultural industry with a strong focus on cropping, animal health, general products and rural merchandise. » WCT Rural is more than a store - our customers can access a range of specialist services to help them improve productivity. |