A Wairarapa legend, who has worked with Cat machines since he was a teenager, has stepped down for the last time from the machines he loves.

Terry Moses of Masterton has operated Caterpillar earthmoving equipment all over Wairarapa for 56 years. Contracting work, farm and forestry jobs have occupied a man who has always lived by the motto - "Go hard or go home."

Part of the appeal has been the variety of work that has required him to find "different solutions", and he has never tired of being at the controls of Cat machines - "a good product with excellent service back-up and high resale value," says Terry.

Terry was just 16 when he started driving a D47U with an angle blade for R.B. Nutting in 1952. Terry and the 7U were charged out at three pounds an hour (about $6) for work on farms in the Castlepoint, Tinui and Homewood areas.

"I always worked with another operator and we would live in a caravan on the back of the farm all week and go home at the weekend," Terry recalls. "Some farmers would bring us out some meat and one even arrived with a bath full of hot water on the back of his truck. It was much appreciated because we had no way of heating water in the caravan."

In those days most of the work was breaking in country, building dams and some farm tracks. "A dam would take 10 hours to build and cost 30 pounds! Amazing when you think of today's charge-out rate for a D4."

Terry's machine, which he christened "Muscles", was later sold to a farmer whose land suffered flood damage. "Muscles" was immersed, but was stripped and restored by Goughs Masterton branch and sold to a Pahiatua enthusiast.

In 1957 Terry joined Feast & McJorrow and operated a D47U on roading contracts. Two years later, he went to work for Bruce Unsworth where he drove his third 7U, then a D4C and a D4D. Terry was kept busy on Masterton County Council roading contracts as well as farm development work.

In 1975 he switched to Doyle & Buchanan at a time when some farmers were State beneficiaries, courtesy of land development loans to assist with bringing more acres into production.

However, sometimes things didn't go as planned. Terry worked on one big station using a gravity roller and a tow roller to get rid of scrub. Seventeen years later, he returned to repeat the work because the land had reverted to scrub.

Terry's final move was to Hooper Contracting in 1986 where he experienced the new D5H - his first machine with air conditioning, which was "marvellous".

"In the last few years we've been doing a lot of work with Juken NZ and it's been interesting and challenging building roads and skid sites, most of it in very hard sandstone country."

It was during this time that Terry gained a trusted companion, Ozzie, a red Labrador, who acted as the guardian of "the tucker bag". Ozzie endeared himself to farmers because he was "a wonderful possum eradicator". The pair worked all over the region and it was a sad day when Ozzie's heart finally gave out in 2005.

As the 72-year-old steps into retirement, he recalls some of the changes he has observed during his half century: • A reduction in time spent on farm projects from three or four weeks to two days. • Younger farmers preferring to build larger dams and reticulate from them rather than a series of smaller dams.

• In "the old days" he would build three airstrips in one summer - in the last ten years he has built only one.

He retains warm memories of many Goughs staff he has worked with over the years including: Nelson Madden, Sid McJorrow, Robin (Spike) Saxton, Peter McIntyre, Peter van Berlo, Dale Greaves, Owen Wellington, Frank Johnson, Tony Smith and Howard Berendt.

In his retirement Terry plans to keep busy with golf and gardening. With his wife, Chris, he would also like to spend more time with his two married daughters and grandchildren, all of whom live in Sydney and his son Kerry, wife and granddaughter in Wellington. He would love a big trip too to take in the Caterpillar manufacturing plant in the United States.

Goughs has celebrated 75 years as the Caterpillar dealer in New Zealand with a function at Mona Vale in Christchurch, the site of the original Gough family home.

Goughs, which has played a significant role in many of New Zealand’s major infrastructure projects, hosted staff and long-standing customers at the function.
Over 350 invited members of Goughs staff and their partners joined with Gough family members, customers and dignitaries. 

Caterpillar was represented by Vice President, Rod Beeler who spoke of Goughs contribution to Caterpillar’s great reputation, before making a presentation to the Gough family on behalf of Caterpillar. Jim Sheed, Chairman of the Board, and Bob Parker, the Mayor of Christchurch, also addressed those present.

Goughs CEO, Andrew Green said, “Goughs was especially pleased to host many long-time customers, who travelled from throughout New Zealand to share the occasion with us.  Their support has certainly contributed to the achievement of this special milestone.”

Mr Green said that for 75 years Goughs has supported a wide cross section of leading industries in New Zealand with Caterpillar machines and engines.  “Cat products have been recognised as being designed and built to be among the toughest, most innovative and most reliable in the world, while Goughs has established a tradition of honest and fair dealing – with our customers and with our staff.

“It’s through this reputation that Cat products and Goughs have both helped to shape so many important infrastructure projects throughout New Zealand’s history.”

Mr Green said the contributions ranged from the South Island hydro-electric projects to major airport and highway networks, mining and aggregate operations, to its involvement in Antarctica, and harvesting the mighty forest plantations in the Central North Island.

“Goughs and Caterpillar have been there together. As we look towards a century of partnership, the traditions that have made Goughs and Caterpillar household names will remain the foundation on which we continue to help shape New Zealand,” Mr Green said.

More information: Richard Clark, Marketing Coordinator, 03 983 2475.