When Judy McDermott moved to Katherine in 2024 to take on the role of Elders branch manager, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t let pass.
Coming from an agri-finance background, Judy had spent years working closely with primary producers across North Queensland. Most recently she was an agribusiness relationship manager with ANZ in Townsville. The shift into rural retail with Elders felt less like a departure and more like a continuation of the work she already valued.
“People often asked me if it was really different going from banking to rural products and an Elders branch,” Judy said.
“But the way I looked at it, in banking, I was managing relationships and selling financial products. Here, I’m still managing relationships, just in a different way, and that felt like a really natural fit.”
When Judy arrived in Katherine, the branch had around 10 staff and faced the realities common to many remote locations, including high turnover and the challenge of attracting people who see the town as a long-term home. Katherine’s remoteness can make retention difficult, particularly for those new to the Northern Territory.
“Katherine can be a really transient place, and it’s hard to get people to see it as a long-term prospect,” Judy said.
“Sometimes people aren’t the right fit, and sometimes life just takes them somewhere else.”
Despite that, she has seen a noticeable shift over the past two years.
“What’s been really rewarding is finding people who are genuinely committed. They’re buying houses, bringing their families here and really investing in the community.”
For Judy, building a strong team culture in such an environment comes down to mutual respect and understanding individual strengths. She believes that recognising what drives each person helps unlock the best outcomes for both the team and the business.
“Everyone has different strengths and different interests, and it’s about really honing in on that,” she said.
“If someone has a genuine passion for animal health or cropping or general merchandise, that’s where they’re going to thrive.”
That approach to leadership has been particularly important as Judy’s responsibilities expanded to include the establishment of Elders’ Humpty Doo branch. Operating alongside Katherine, Humpty Doo represents a very different customer base and product mix, with a stronger focus on horticulture and lifestyle farming.
“Humpty Doo is really the opposite end of the spectrum to Katherine,” Judy explained.
“Katherine is heavily focused on large grazing operations, while Humpty Doo is much more horticulture driven, with hobby farms as well.”
Building the branch from the ground up has been a significant undertaking, supported by senior agronomy expertise and a growing retail and logistics team.
As the Humpty Doo operation grows, Judy sees proactive planning and close engagement with customers as critical to long term success, particularly given the Northern Territory’s weather variability and logistical challenges.
“Understanding what our customers are planning three to six months ahead is absolutely critical,” she said.
“That allows us to be proactive rather than reactive, especially when everything is so weather dependent. Getting the right product to the right place at the right time is what will make this business successful in the long term.”
Judy’s focus on connection extends beyond the branch network and into the wider industry. Events such as the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association conference play an important role in bringing people together across the region.
“Events like this are incredibly important for our region,” she said.
“They bring people together, support the local economy and give producers a chance to step away from their operations.”
“It’s a great way for us to give back to the industry and connect with customers in a setting that’s social, comfortable and meaningful.”
