Greetings from John Farrell, thanks for dropping by!

Celebrating Twenty Years at the Factory!
20th Year Celebration: 1981-2002


THE FIRST TEN YEARS: 1981-1992

In 1981, the Northern Territory, along with the rest of Australia had another one of those economic growth spurts - "Just do it" seemed the cry. Well, we did it.

Exhilarating, was the only word for it.

Our first company, Track n' Field was started by Julie Philpin, Rob Gibbons and myself, John Farrell - we started business as an agent for anything related to sport. We expanded into screen printing and lost Julie, who had great vision and went on to develop a chain of Surf stores, including Mambo and Australian Surfer HQ and Rob who went to Ingham Qld and became a happy recluse and a family man.

Nevertheless, we continued screen printing and made our name for having the best and most talented staff and luckily we were able to quickly secure an impressive client base. Darwin's biggest and most creative businesses along with a gigantic public service, everyone seemed to have a message and were trying to make an impression. Everyone seemed to be coming to us with innovative promotional advertising campaigns. It was the "noble" period: calling long hours, seven days a week - "noble".

Only the young can call it "noble".

I also remember the lazy days. It seemed as though I was always looking forward to having a few beers with the boys.

Great days, with many treasured moments, and the 'Money Gods' seemed to be smiling on us.

Then came a major turning point in our life: Our second company, Territorianna Label was born - Liam Maher came on the scene and he was Mr Territorianna. It was like a breath of fresh air. We immersed ourselves totally in the world of Indigenous art - an insight. I am proud to have contributed in some small way - three retail outlets and a factory that operated on two eight-hour shifts per day. We went for it.

A million dollar annual turnover and a major player in Indigenous wearable art. We didn't know it but the full effects of the 1992 recession were about to engulf the Territory and destroy our idyllic way of life. I clearly, remember that this next period seemed brutal, principally, because it was brutal. We probably invented the word "downsizing". Letting off staff was a disturbing period of my life – just as the thought of being financially destitute was disturbing. Every day seemed to be a never-ending series of hard decisions, and decisions had to be made, Liam chose to move on soon after Territorianna Label closed and so did the shops, but somehow we traded our way out of danger, with just a little bit of inspired luck.

I think we just laughed our way through the pain.



THE SECOND TEN YEARS: 1992-2002

We were proud that we traded our way out of that recession. I think it was a "Badge of Honour" thing.

By 1995, there seemed like a bit of light relief around the corner. The economy was starting to heat up. "Computers" was the catch cry. A new formula for success was being developed. It simply read "the more computers you have the greater your chance of success" and that's when our new identity was born - www.ttfsport.com.au - and that is our story from humble and unlikely beginnings to now.

Now you know us and how we arrived at this point in time January 2002 and this web site is the progress we have made into the world of toolbars, jpegs and control panels.

You have got to laugh, because we did.

John Farrell Managing Director - ttfsport

2002 - ONWARDS
Our third decade of doing business in Darwin

ttfsport is looking forward to another great Dry Season here in Darwin for 2002 and beyond, supplying Buffalo Sporting Goods to Schools & Communities all ove the Top End - but first, while is is still quiet in the Wet Season we are having a bit of fun and celebrating our 20th Birthday - by giving away $10 000 in Buffalo goods & ttfsport services in a series of seek and find competitions on this website.

And, more importantly, Club 77 is thinking of buying a boat this dry, drop back to the site from time to time for more about this...


$10 000 in prizes & give aways




Kids - please click here
before entering the competitions.

ttfsport encourages parents to supervise the web-surfing habits of the young'uns, and we encourage the young'uns to be safe when surfing the 'net - in particular please don't send us (or ANYBODY ELSE!) your home address. If you reckon that you have won something and want to claim your prize - ask a big person to ring us on 8981 3600.