Gordon Eagleson shares his win at the Fieldays Innovation Awards in 1976

Gordon Eagleson proudly shares his achievement of winning a Fieldays Innovation Award in 1976.  

In December 2023, after receiving a call inviting us to meet with Gordon Eagleson at his home in Hamilton, Steve Chappell and Debby de Gouviea-Rennie set out eagerly to hear from the horse's mouth, the story of an inventor’s grand win at Fieldays all those years ago.

Walking into the room was a humbling experience, papers, photos and news articles were laid out neatly in anticipation of their visit. The certificate framed in pride of place on the wall above was in perfect condition except for some fading on the signatures of former Society board members Dr. Gordon Edgar and Vaughan Jones.

Gordon’s winning innovation was in response to the issue of buckling doors on silage trailers, with Eagleson designing a method to control the gate from within the tractor, allowing the driver to open and lift the gate, removing the risk of damage, and increasing productivity.

A lifetime tinkerer, and handyman, totally at home in a workshop, Gordon regaled the team with stories from his childhood and early working days on his uncle’s farm in the 1940s and 50s, but the thing that stuck with them most was the pride he showed for his winning invention, and his obvious passion for the Fieldays event in the years since.  

The $150 prize money that Gordon won was spent on a new sofa for the family, and the memories of his win provided a lifetime of gratification. The team felt very privileged to have had this opportunity to meet with Gordon and relive a great Fieldays moment with him.

If you have been looking for the perfect platform to launch your innovative idea, the Fieldays Innovation Awards is it. 

Entries are open, and are welcome from across the Primary Sector: Dairy, Meat, & Wool, Forestry, Horticulture (including Viticulture), Seafood (including Aquaculture and Fishing), Arable, and Agri Tech (including Food Tech and Green Tech).