The Corrigin community came together on Wednesday night to celebrate the opening of Elders’ new branch. Elders staff from across Western Australia joined local farmers and industry representatives for the event.
Staff outside the new Corrigin branch. L-R:Roger Fris – Livestock Agent, Brooklyn Drayton – Rural Products Sales Representative, Zak Ludlow – Branch Manager, Janeane Mason – Insurance Agent, Riley Mason – Insurance Sales Support Officer, Rowena Butler – Insurance Sales Support Officer andd Reka Neszvecsko – Insurance Sales Support Officer.
Elders WA State General Manager Matt Ericsson, Corrigin Branch Manager Zak Ludlow, and local politician Lachlan Hunter spoke on the night, highlighting the significance of the new facilities.
“It’s great to be celebrating the official opening of our brand-new branch in Corrigin,” area manager Matt Beckett said.
“The branch has been designed to better service our clients, with a significantly larger shed that allows easy access for all vehicle types, a spacious showroom, and a well-appointed office for customers and staff.”
“Importantly, it signals Elders’ commitment to remaining the most trusted agribusiness brand in rural and regional Australia by continuing to invest in our regional towns and communities.”
The project planning took a couple of years, with construction completed by a builder based in regional WA.
“They’ve done an outstanding job, as anyone who visits the store will see. The project was capably executed by our State Finance and Operations Manager, Shayne Paskins,” Matt said.
The new branch offers Elders’ full range of services, including rural products, livestock, wool, agronomy, financial services, and insurance.
Sustainability was a key focus in its design, featuring a water tank, solar panels, and an electric forklift to improve environmental outcomes.
For Branch Manager Zak Ludlow, the expanded space will be a game changer.
“The new branch is modern and well equipped. The larger shed, improved access, and spacious showroom make a huge difference,” Zak said.
“It’s a much better place to work and makes things easier for both staff and customers.”
The extra space allows the team to work more efficiently and keep more products on hand allowing for anything the season may present.
“With more room, we can streamline everything from ordering stock to getting it out to clients,” Zak said.
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.
“People have been saying how good it looks and how much more room we have to work with,” Zak said.
“It’s great to see Elders continuing to invest in our local community.”