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23/10/2024
From the frenetic streets of Tokyo, to the high seas off the Tasmanian coastline, Clarke Grogan has enjoyed an eclectic range of life experiences thanks to a healthy appetite for adventure.
“I don’t think you should ever be afraid to grab an opportunity and run – what’s the worst thing that can happen? Anyone willing to have a go, and who can grow from the experience, will be ok.”
Today, Clarke is a world away from the intrepid career he once sought, happy to be raising his family in the slower-paced lifestyle of the Burdekin.
Yet he’s retained his thirst for a challenge, embracing his latest opportunity as a Rabobank rural manager in the Ayr branch.
“It’s been two months now and I’ve enjoyed every minute so far, particularly going out on farm and meeting clients – our local producers are extremely impressive, and the passion they have for farming and business is infectious.”
All roads lead to Ayr
New Zealand-born and raised, Clarke moved to Australia when he was 18 to work on fishing boats in Tasmania’s Triabunna region.
“I really enjoyed my time on the boats, I was young and it was interesting, but I realised I wasn’t going to be a fisherman for the rest of my life – as appealing as it sounds!”
A year at James Cook University, followed by a brief stint back in Auckland to finish his commerce degree at The University of Auckland, and Clarke was back on the road.
“I spent two years teaching English in Asia, first in Seoul and then in Tokyo, which was pretty incredible – just a totally different culture to anything I’d ever experienced.”
Returning to Australia, Clarke embarked on a career as a facilities manager with a multinational organisation, based in Brisbane and eventually travelling throughout Queensland in a management role.
Upon the arrival of his first child, Piper, Clarke and wife Rebecca reassessed their lifestyle, particularly the increasingly difficult travel demands of his role.
With Rebecca’s family all based in the Burdekin, the lure of a strong support network and a slower-paced life was an exciting proposition.
“We’ve lived in Ayr now for 15 years and it was the best decision we made – we’d both had busy lives, and incredible fun when we were young, and when we had kids we realised life doesn’t have to be 100 miles an hour.”
With Piper now 16, and their second daughter Milla, now 14, Clarke is proud to have provided his girls with a regionally based childhood.
The Grogan family
“Rebecca’s from a big family, so there are plenty of nieces and nephews around, and it’s a town you can feel safe in – safe letting kids explore, be outdoors, and free to have their own adventures.”
Banking expertise and local knowledge
For seven years Clarke and his father-in-law ran a convenience store in Ayr – a venture he reflects was a “good growing experience, but one I was happy to call quits on!”
While the long hours were grueling, he appreciated the unique opportunity the business provided, helping him build a strong local network and deep knowledge of the community, and its people.
Clarke leveraged this insight to segway into banking, and spent six years working for a retail bank.
“I certainly enjoy working in the banking space, and Rabobank was particularly appealing as it’s a cooperative, so the community values align with my own. I like to know I’m working for an organisation that has a strong customer focus – there are no shareholders, so profits benefit clients and the community.”
Clarke laughs that “I haven’t met anyone I don’t like” since starting his Rabobank role, with the team united in its dedication to supporting a strong ag industry.
“As a bank dedicated to agriculture, the culture is unique, there’s an exceptional focus on the client, and an impressive ability to meet their needs and be responsive.”
“Having a dedicated, long-term manager is valuable in an industry like ag, where things move fast,” Clarke said. “In retail banking we had to gather information each time our clients wanted to make a move, yet at Rabobank we can hit the ground running when our farmers identify an opportunity.”
Clarke is enjoying the challenge of building his agricultural knowledge, particularly the complexity of sugar cane production, and he’s excited to get out on farm meeting clients and learning all about their businesses.
“If there’s anything I’ve learnt in life, it’s that with every challenge comes growth – and usually a great experience in the meantime.”
Adding value beyond the farm gate
Since his move to Rabobank, Clarke has been impressed by its commitment to community – largely through the Rabo Client Council, groups of clients who volunteer to advise the bank on where funds and support can make the greatest impact on the ground.
“It’s terrific to have clients drive initiatives from the ground up, and our local Rabo Client Council recently delivered a succession information session in Charters Towers.
“Initiatives like this can provide clients with valuable knowledge and direction on what can be a very tough conversation.”
Likewise, he believed the RaboResearch team – expert commodity analysts – provided exceptional knowledge and insights around pricing, long-term trends, and commodity outlooks.
“I don’t know of another organisation that has built teams purely to contribute to the community, and client upskilling.”
“Rabobank is generous with its knowledge and networks, all with the intention of helping farmers on the ground make decisions with confidence to help build strong farm businesses – and ultimately strong communities.
“I’m really looking forward to this next chapter and being able to join the long-term journey of the amazing producers we have here in the Burdekin, whilst contributing to the community – it’s meaningful work in a region I love.”