Thursday 12 June, 2008.

Queensland farming family ploughs into the record books

The tractor roared at full throttle as it came over the horizon with the Australian flag flying in the final seconds of a Queensland farming family’s Guinness World Record wheat planting.

Westmar district farmer, Phillip Coggan, was all smiles as he opened the cabin door at five minutes to noon on Thursday to the cheers of a crowd that had gathered to see the conclusion of the 24 hour attempt to plant the largest paddock of wheat in the world.

In the early hours of the morning his 61 year old father, John Coggan, had been at the wheel when they secured the world record by passing the 500 hectare mark. “It was two minutes past one and I realised we now had a chance to set a Guinness World Record that would take some beating.”

The Coggans have unofficially set the record at 905.48 hectares. Independent adjudicators have verified the final figure and confirmed all the conditions of the Guinness World record guidelines have been met.

Independent witness Jerry Lynis, who is a JP, has signed off on the documents and is confident of Guinness World Record approval. “This will be an official Guinness World Record for sure. It’s only a matter of paperwork warfare from here in.”

Chief scrutineer, AgForce Grains President, Lyndon Pfeffer agrees. “It demolishes the unofficial 571.9 hectare record set in the Ukraine and also passes all the benchmarks to become an official record.”

John and Phillip Coggan say it was a team effort that created the success. The two men were joined by their workmen, Les Bruce and Stephan Wall, to make up an experienced and dynamic team. “We were filling up with seed in six minutes flat. That’s pretty quick,” says Phillip.

There were a few issues such as flat tyres and the need for a quick oil change but Phillip Coggan says they’ve found a way to conquer the challenges and only lost around half an hour. “The machinery has performed really well. The whole rig has been a great advertisement for Australian made products.”

The Coggan’s planting rig consists of a non modified 120 foot Multiplanter. One of the largest of its type in the world it is manufactured by Multi Farming Systems at Banana in Queensland. It is coupled with a 12000 litre Simplicity Air Seeder made in Dalby and pulled by one of the largest John Deere Tractors, a 9630T, which has 530 horsepower.

John Coggan is proud to have set a Guinness World Record but even more pleased that the event has raised awareness of organ donation and raised money for the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation to fund further cutting edge critical care research.

Three years ago John Coggan underwent a life saving heart transplant at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane and the Guinness World Record has been his family’s way of saying thank you for his second chance at life.

The event has created a deal of excitement and camaraderie as people have rallied together to support an amazing feat and a good cause.

The Coggan family would like to thank their major sponsors Landmark, John Deere and Chesterfield Australia, Rabobank, Simplicity Australia, Multi Farming Systems, and the Queensland Country Life.

The Coggan family would also like to thank other companies and individuals who have donated generously. They include the Brassey family, McIntosh and Sons, Alands Chartered Accounts, Beasley’s Hydraulics, Lachlan and Fiona Hill from Meandarra Aerial Spraying, Queensland Partners in Grain, Janine Finlay from Finlay Grains, harvest contractor Brett Drysdale, Elders Insurance, Gary Turner Goondiwindi Communications, Telstra Countrywide, Agforce Queensland, Dalby Town Council, Phillip Brodie Grains, EB Cam, Lowes Fuel, Farmarco and the ICPA.

People can still donate to the Coggan’s Guinness World Record fundraiser at any Rabobank branch or cheques made out to the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation can be mailed to Rabobank, PO Box 1671, Toowoomba 4350.

Money can also be directly deposited into the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation bank account BSB - 633 000 Account - 121 857 106.

Meanwhile, for the Coggan Guinness World Record team the fun isn’t over. After a quick nap its back out in the paddock. They still have another 10,000 hectares of wheat to plant.

“This Guinness World Record was just a warm up,” grins John Coggan.

Donations to the Guinness World Record fundraising attempt can be made at any Rabobank branch or cheques made out to the Prince Charles Hospital Foundation can be mailed to Rabobank, PO Box 1671, Toowoomba 4350.