AUGUST, 2018 ISSUE 94
MURRAY REGION
Ashleigh, Colin, Karen and Chris Gamble are expanding their dairy operation to enable it to support the four of them into the future.
Farm is family affair SOPHIE BALDWIN
COLIN AND Karen Gamble are proud of the
fact their two children, Chris and Ashleigh, want to take over the family farm. They just worry what about what sort of future awaits this next generation. The rising cost of production, water availability and milk price are putting increasing pressure on northern Victoria dairy farmers, eroding confidence and decimating the industry. The couple hopes there will be better times ahead for the next generation.
“It is really special to see our kids come home to work and run the farm,” Colin said. “It just reinforces what a great way of life dairying can be. Karen and I must have done something right to have both our children wanting to be involved in our family business.” Chris, 31, and Ashleigh, 27, will be the fourth generation of the Gamble family to farm at Bamawm, although Karen made sure they both have had a life away from the farm — Chris is a qualified diesel mechanic while Ashleigh has degrees in beauty and teaching. Both always knew they would end up on the farm. “It was always my plan growing up to eventu-
ally come home and work on the farm,” Chris said. “I learnt my trade but I soon worked out there was no money working in town. I tried my hand at the mines for a while but the farm is my home and where I want to be.” Ashleigh said there was nothing better than working where you live. “I look at Mum and Dad and they are a team. I know farming is challenging and has its ups and downs but it is in my blood,” she said. The Gambles make a tight-knit family unit and they run their business by focusing on each other’s skills. Ashleigh’s passion is the cows and the young stock. She is involved with the animals from the
moment they hit the ground, she does the AI and is involved in all the breeding decisions. “I am very interested in genomic testing and if we can continue to breed from the top of our herd and cull the bottom five to10 per cent we will have a great herd in the future,” she said. “The great thing about dairying is you never seem to stop learning.” Chris is the maintenance man and grass grower and loves nothing more than looking at a green paddock with grass hanging over the fence line.
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