As a young farm boy, Leon Boneham had no idea that one day he would be the mastermind of an invention that would change the farming industry.
In 2008, Leon and his farmer friend Greg McCarten invented the Auger Eye. Two years later, they were named the winner of a national inventor’s competition. They were recognised for their simple, yet effective invention that alerts a farmer when a grain silo is full. It not only saves time, but most likely saves lives too.
Born and raised on a farm in a little town called Kildary, Leon was no stranger to hard work.
He spent hours after school and on weekends clearing paddocks, sowing seeds and preparing sheep for the sheering season.
When he was old enough, Leon and his brothers were often called on to perform the arduous and often dangerous task of climbing up the stairs on the outside of a 5 metre silo, to check the wheat levels.
“I didn’t really think about the danger at the time, but I do remember on some occasions having to climb up four or five times in one day in the hot sun,” Leon reminisces.
It was more than 50 years later when he joined forces with Greg and invented the Auger Eye, which meant climbing the outside of a silo was a thing of the past.
The invention was cutting edge in the farming industry. An electronic device – the eye – attached to an auger signalled when a silo was close to being full.
“To me it was the ultimate way of giving back to the farming community.”
Leon Boneham
This was no fast feat with the development taking two years from design to production. Leon worked alongside Greg, combining their knowledge and skills to create something incredible. Leon mainly worked on the electronics, while Greg led his mechanical knowledge to the two-man team.
Once the Auger Eye was in production and trialing on a few farms in the Riverina, it was time to spread the word. Leon and Greg packed up the Auger Eye and hit the road. First stop, farmer field days.
The Australian National Field Days in Orange, NSW, was one of many stops on their journey to promote their invention.
They were the talk of the field day, with many stopping by to inquire about the farming tool. It ended with success when they were awarded second place in the field days’ new inventors competition.
“We had a great couple of days at the field days talking about the Auger Eye and even getting some inquiries for our first few orders,” Leon recalls.
“When we returned home, we began thinking about where we wanted to go next, when out of the blue we got a phone call from a producer at the ABC.”
They were flown to Sydney to compete on the ABC New Inventors show. The Auger Eye was showcased to a national audience and was awarded first place.
Leon lit up with excitement recounting this memory, as he reflected on an invention that changed the lives of Australian farmers.
Who knew that two mates that forged a lifelong friendship through farming would have a winning invention on the national stage?
“My farming days were well and truly behind me, but it was an absolute honour and privilege to win an award for something that my mate and I invented.
“To me it was the ultimate way of giving back to the farming community.”