61 years in the baling business

and still going strong

Gippsland Farmer: September, 2009

1956 was a very good year for Jack and Rosy Pearson. It was the year they got married and the year they started their baling contracting business.

By then Jack had already been working as an independent baling contractor for 8 years. Rosy had worked as a switchboard operator at the Bunyip telephone exchange and as a twine maker at Miller's Rope Works in Warragul. Little did she know the young apprentice she worked alongside, named Ron Barassi, was to become the legendary footballer.
	Jack and Rosy Pearson
Over the years Jack and Rosy developed the business and in the early eighties began selling small square twine to farmers and other contractors from their Longwarry North farm. Later they extended the range to include netwrap, round bale twine, big square bale twine, silage film and pit covers. They built huge storage sheds to contain it and so that they could supply busy contractors on the spot in the height of the season.
One of these sheds now features a small lounge complete with the latest automatic coffee machine, "So customers can relax a bit and have a chat," over a cappuccino, latte and just about whatever you like. In 2008, after 60 years of contracting, Jack, now approaching 79 and Rosy, 76 gave it up to focus on the baling supplies side of the business.
	Jack Pearson (driving the Tractor) circa 1949. The tractor is a Farmall A and the baler is an International 50T.

They now supply farmers and contractors from all over Gippsland and as far afield as Orbost, the Yarra Valley, the Gippsland coast, the Mornington Peninsula and even into NSW.

Jack and Rosy confidently stand by their products, which include the latest Venus twines and pit covers and Totalcover netwrap, because "We've been around a while and tried them all", and because "We wouldn't recommend anything we haven't tried and tested ourselves."

Long after most people their age have settled into retirement, the Pearsons are still going strong … and probably will be for quite a few years to come.

For more information speak to Jack and Rosy Pearson on (03) 5629 9238 or Venus Packaging's twine and netwrap specialist, Phil Pomeroy on (03) 9428 1652. Download the Venus Baler Twine Guide.