IAN O’ROURKE
Memories of a Tractor ManBy Terry L Probert and Ian O'Rourke
Length6h 15m
About this audiobook
Former Service Manager for Ford Australia Tractor and Equipment, Ian O'Rourke walked the tightrope between offering excellent Customer Service and managing the expectation of Detroit's bean counters. Respected by Ford Tractor dealers and their staff, Ian never wavered in his service to the company and championing it's product.
Beginning with his childhood education via correspondence to a lightening strike that nearly felled himself and a friend, this is not only an education on the inner workings of a major multinational producer of transport and farming products, Ian kindly tells us of the loneliness of growing up on a far-away farm. The emotions he felt when he was called for Army duty just as the Korean war began drawing to a close. The joy at joining Massey Ferguson before a couple of glass ceiling executives annoyed him into switching companies.
A great read for anyone with an attachment to this red soil nation built on immigration.
Audiobook details
GenreBiography and Memoir, Business and Economics
Length6 hrs 15 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 3, 2026
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1IAN O’ROURKE
61During our discussions with the dealer’s
2IAN O’ROURKE Memories of a Tractor Man
62THE BEGINNINGOF THE 8401 PROJECT
3FOREWORD
63understood the benefits of contour banks.
4David Hosking
64For me, the most intriguing aspect of the
5THE BOY FROM BURRABOI
65Again, our Worldwide Service Managers’
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6That simple message from the back of a
66After the unfortunate disclosure of the 8401
7DAD’S ACCIDENT
67The design and manufacture of this unique
8horses?”
68FILLING THE ENGINE WITH OIL
9MUM’S MELBOURNE PAPERBOY
69During our Friday meeting in our
10A NEW FARM, A NEW ADVENTURE
70DEALING WITH CORPORATE BULLIES
11Berriquin and Deniboota Irrigation schemes.
71At $12.50 per hour my claim rate could not
12DENILIQUIN HIGH, HERE I COME
72At a later meeting in Detroit, all of the
13Each Monday morning, five other children
73John Foxwell the Senior Engineer had been
14home.”
74answer for you after lunch.”
15into a shearing school at Echuca.
75BOREHAM HOUSE
16TIME TO LEAVE THE NEST
76Apparently, sometime during the previous
17Ian Testing Massey Ferguson’s prototype MF 585 Header
77With a large curved sword in hand, the last
18Whereas the North Americans and
78KEPNER TREGO TRAINING
19MF 585 HEADERS and DRUNKEN PIPERS
79HO, HO, HO, WELCOME TO TOKYO
20A DESK JOB IS NOT FOR ME
80More than once during my time at Ford, the
21MASSEY FERGUSON’S SERVICE REP
81From the entrance of the room to the bed
22Massey MF 585 Training at Hamilton Victoria
82FALLING IN LOVE WITH THAILAND
23During the harvesting period and because
83left.
24Within a few short minutes the wrinkled
84TEXAS AND ITS LIQUOR LAWS
25the pen and across to the shearing stand.
85MEETING THE REAL PEOPLE
26A FORD FUTURE FOR CHRISTMAS
86the dealer and our Ford products.
27“Outstanding,” I said.
87However, in the case of the 8600/9600 oil
28As new Ford Motor Company employees, we
88EMPTY VESSELS ARE NOISEY
29USA HERE WE COME
89RECOGNISING THE LITTLE GUY
30BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES
90chaperone this wild band of wide-eyed Aussie mechanics around Great Britain.
31FORD’S FARM
91more of them out of gaol.”
32The new tractor product names at that time
92On Saturday after a hearty breakfast, we all
33NOW THE WORK BEGINS
93The touring party SSP Tour 1980:
34across the continent.
94UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
35our car and drive him to the Echuca Hospital.
95Aside from some uneasy shuffling of boots
36After some time, the interest in the barber’s
96Over the next series of Service Meetings, I
37A PROMOTION TO ZONE MANAGER
97OIL DON’T DRIP FROM THE BREATHER
38relate to.
98the obvious overheating.
39The managers at the top end of the table
99DETERMINING LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
40LARGE AND SMALL EVENTS
100along with the Select-o-Speed gear lever assembly and cable.
41Twice a day, a heavily laden iron ore train
101ANOTHER LEGAL CASE
42patch of oil.”
102A LITTLE BIT OF SUGAR ALWAYS HELPS
43separate training sessions.
103TOURIST OR TRAVEL GUIDE
44In November 1973 and about fifteen months
104the Boeing aircraft facility.
45me quiet doesn’t last for long.
105My attachment to the Henry Ford Museum
46a short space of time too.
106CHANGES
47Over the next few weeks and, whenever he
107However, while my role within the service
48FREEZING IN DETROIT
108AN EVEN BIGGER CHANGE
49an invisible city limits line.
109Initially, we
50A COACH LOAD OF COPPERS
110RETIREES HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
51I had visited the Ford Australia Proving
111Neptune Pool Centre has grown considerably. He
52TSBs, WARRANTY and the RPM MANUAL
112number of workmates and colleagues from Australia and overseas.
53Therefore, when the new warranty scheme
113WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
54Under an Agreement with Ford, our
114One attraction on the northern end of the
55A GOOD MEMORY HELPS
115ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
56Both deep in conversation before I
116When Ford staff transferred to New Holland
57Paper.”
117sense.
58HI-HO, IT’S OFF TO FRANCE WE GO
118AUTHOR’S NOTE
59Unfortunately, and even though they
119CO-AUTHORS NOTE
60Incidentally, although we as a company
120ABOUT TERRY PROBERT
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