Don Warriner

After a formal education in commerce and civil engineering, Don worked for many years with Clark Equipment, an American manufacturer, specializing in the construction equipment industry and notably Michigan branded equipment.

From 1971 Don commenced a family company part of which engaged in civil contracting as Warriner Earthmoving in North Queensland which in later years diversified to include bulk haulage and civil engineering contracts.
The company specialised in coal mining infrastructure and state government contracts including Main Roads Queensland and Northern Territory, and Queensland Government Railways.

From here, the family business Earthquip originated and carved out a new market niche, which it continues to dominate.

Don’s son David Warriner is now 100% stakeholder & MD of Earthquip PNG. Don is starting to move back, leaving Earthquip to be managed by David Border and our trained team including Brian Naismith and Steve Lissa.

David Border - General Manager

David commenced work in the banking industry, before moving to the automotive industry in 1978. He served in both manufacturing and retail spheres, culminating in the position of General Manager of a Ford Dealership. This dealership also had a Construction & Agricultural Division and it was in this role that he gained exposure to the capital equipment marketplace.

In 1998, after 20 years there David joined Australia’s largest family owned fork lift and access business, WA Fork Truck Distributors, as an associate director. There he was responsible for business Development and major accounts.

After 2001 David was seconded to the Powerlift Group in Sydney, a company owned in part by the owner of WA Fork truck Distributors, on a special projects mandate. That role took him to New Zealand running the company’s operations out of Auckland and then returning to Sydney to undertake the responsibility of developing the Merlo and Nilfisk sweeper range of equipment for the company’s Australian operations.

Since joining Earthquip in November 2005, David has further developed Earthquip’s marketing and sales initiatives around Australia.

Brian Naismith - Manager of Earthquip Rockhampton

After matriculation from high school Bryan spent five years as an apprentice truck mechanic with SA Cheney in Melbourne. He then completed a four year automotive engineering diploma at RMIT in Melbourne.

Brian has been involved in the heavy truck and earthmoving machinery industry for the last forty years. He has owned and operated several motor truck franchises. He was a dealer principal of NQ truck sales in Cairns for twelve years and branch manager of Golden City Trucks in Brisbane for fifteen years before joining Earthquip in 1998. Bryan has managed the Earthquip team in Rockhampton since early 2006.

Steve Lissa - Manager Brisbane Branch

Steve comes to Earthquip with an extensive background in our industry having been a contractor in Far North Queensland prior to taking up a position in a machinery dealership. Since joining us in April 2004 his efforts have been predominately on the Takeuchi brand where he now occupies the position as Sales Manager for the Brisbane Branch. Steve can of course assist with product advice on our entire range.

Steve Lissa is one of a handful of people in Australia with first hand indepth knowledge of the Takeuchi brand.

John Speed - IT Support / Programmer

John began the overall installation of Earthquip's Computer network and development of the accounting system.

Over the last dozen years John has replace and updated all computer equipment and software for Earthquip keeping in tune with the new technologies available.

After commencing a full time role with Earthquip in July 1994. John is currently responsible for maintaining all systems including accounting!, web servers, web authoring and email servers thus ensuring smooth day to day operation.

John's duties also expanded to include designing advertising material for magazines and publications pushing Earthquip's public image forward into the future.

John loves the challenge IT presents and is always keen to push the boundaries of information technology.

Melanie Holmes - Reception & PA

Melanie will most likely be your first point of contact when dealing with Earthquip. As such she plays a very important role ensuring customers receive a positive response and efficient service while her vibrant and outgoing personality makes her a pleasure to talk with.

Her close ties to the transport industry add to her understanding of the earthmoving industry, makes dealing with any issue a breeze.

Melanie's background also includes reception work in Cairns for a building company, raising a family, attending courses in business administration and reception.

Melanie commences employment with Earthquip in July 2000. Along with her accounting duties Melanie is also Don's personal secretary and problem solver extraordinare.

Mike Treasure - Sales Engineer

Mike was raised in an agricultural environment in western NSW. As a young man he moved to North Queensland to commence a successful rugby league career where he represented Far North Queensland. Mike then commences his selling career with Don Warriner in the marine industry and became North QLD Manager for a very successful outlet. He then moved in to the shipping industry where he managed a shipping firm in the Torres Straight for many years.

His introduction to the earthmoving industry began in NSW and spread north to Queensland and PNG where he owned and operated a vast range of plant.

After a brief return to the marine industry in NSW Mike returned to his employment with Don Warriner at Earthquip initially based in Townsiville as Earthquip's FNQ's industrial equipment representative. Recently he has been relocated to Central Qld where his early skills are employed in our newly created agricultural arm in Rockhamption whilst he still continues to successfully market our range of earthmoving equipment in this district.

Manfred Hitchins - Parts Manager

Manfred has been selling machinery parts for most of his life. He started back in 1971 with Tutt Bryant followed by Volvo Australia and since that time has worked for companys such as SGESCO, Agco, Blackwood Hodge, Morgan Equipment, International Harvester, Black Truck Sales & Queensland Diesel Spares. Selling parts for Terex, Kobelco, Detroit & Cummins, Wabco, Clark Michigan, International Harvester and even Allis-Chalmers. Infact Manfred's history with Allis-Chalmers has been reunited at Earthquip supplying parts for our Noram USA graders that are bringing the Allis Chalmers Herritage back into 2006.

Manfred is also a long term member of the Queensland Air Museum (Caloundra) and is a member of a small syndicate that own and fly a recreational aircraft.

Bob (Robert) McGinn - Sales Engineer

Robert has a lot of experience in the agricultural and farming industries both selling Massey Ferguson and John Deere from various machinery dealers and also managing rural properties.He holds various machinery licenses including Dozer, Loader and Tractor licenses and is a fitter and turner by trade. In his spare time when he is not talking about machinery he enjoys a bit of cricket or tennis.

Corey Hayward - Sales Consultant

Corey Hayward commenced his career as a diesel fitter with Cummins in Swan hill Victoria. Corey later managed and owned his (5th generation) family broad acre farm in the Swan Hill/Mallee region. He moved to Yeppoon in 2005 for family reasons.

Corey has operated and maintained agricultural machinery all of his life. This knowledge and passion for the industry has now been channelled into his role as a sales consultant with Earthquip Rockhampton.