General surgeons servicing small rural communities are required to carry out a variety of procedures outside the realms of traditional general surgery. Trainees need to acquire a broad skill base, and should be competent managing surgical emergencies across all specialties. A supportive team of medical, nursing and paramedical staff are required for achieving the best outcome for patients.

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Background: Eighteen cases of auger injuries in the Wimmera region of Victoria were treated over 8 years. Methods: The records of auger related injuries presenting to Wimmera Base Hospital from March 1987 to March 1995 were reviewed. Results: Five of these were severe injuries. Sixteen were male farmers. Their fingers were most commonly injured by being caught in the auger flight. Conclusions: Augers have numerous mechanical features which make them one of the most potentially dangerous pieces of farm equipment. This, combined with human error and fatigue, results in significant but preventable morbidity in a hardworking population.