Droughtmaster Australia Life Members

GWYNETH WARREN

GWYNETH WARREN , first permanent secretary 1954 – 1964 and the first Life Member of the Society worked strenuously to ensure the new breed Droughtmaster was officially accepted at a time when considerable antagonism was expressed by breeders in more temperate areas who were not forced by necessity to make a decision with such impact as that to evolve a breed suitable for the environment.

In the eleven years she administered the secretarial affairs of the organisations, firstly the Australian Zebu Cross Beef Cattle Breeders Association (whose name was changed to the

Australian Tropical Beef Breeders Association in 1956), and eventually when the Droughtmaster breed became autonomous, as the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society in 1962.

Mrs Warren had her own Bronte Droughtmaster stud and she acted as associate judge at Brisbane Exhibition in 1959.

At the 10th anniversary dinner held at the historic Queens Hotel Townsville on July 4, 1962 a wooden sculpted replica of a Droughtmaster bull in polished Queensland Maple carved by Gwyneth Warren was presented to breed and Society founder Monty Atkinson, in

recognition of his service to the breed’s development and ten years’ service as president.

She was also noted for her oil paintings and sculptures and one significant painting of Bernborough, the famous Melbourne Cup winner painted from a real-life observation, was hung proudly in Monty Atkinson’s home.

Mrs Warren was admired and respected by those who were fortunate to come under her influence and direction but unfortunately, she suffered ill health that resulted in her resignation in 1965 and she passed on in November that year.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

ROBERT LAMONT (MONTY) ATKINSON

(1902 - 1986)

A MAN OF VISION , honesty and simplicity. A superb horseman and cattleman, acute observer of all things in nature and recorder of his life and times, Monty was one of the innovators of the North Queensland cattle industry. His early observations of possible benefits of crossbreeding Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle led him to become proactive and to be at the forefront of the development of the Droughtmaster breed. He was a true pioneer, and together with a few other innovative cattlemen and cattlewomen, they succeeded in developing our great breed, at times scorned by a notoriously conservative industry.

Monty’s first encounter with Zebu cross cattle was in 1921, 101 years ago. While riding from Cashmere Station, on the Herbert River, to Bluff Downs Station north of Charters Towers, Mont observed crossbred Zebu cattle on Christmas Creek Station, on the Burdekin watershed. He immediately noticed the sleekness of their coat and the hardiness these cattle exhibited, compared to the British cattle in the same mob. In 1922, Monty visited Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney where he saw a young red Zebu bull that impressed him so much, he purchased it for 20 Guineas for Cashmere Station. Unfortunately, the young bull died during the sea voyage to Cardwell, which delivered a blow to Monty’s breeding ambitions. It wasn’t until 1932 that Mont and his wife Ruth, began breeding Zebu cross cattle on Glen Ruth Station, previously known as Cashmere. They purchased two red Zebu cross bulls which were descendants of the bull Mr William McDowell of Christmas Creek Station had acquired from the Melbourne Zoo prior to 1918. These two bulls were crossed over Devon/Shorthorn cows.

A major genetic step was taken in 1941 when progeny of Zebu cattle imported in 1933 by a CSIRO authorised syndicate, were released for the wider cattle industry. Mont’s brother Ken, who founded the Wairuna Brahman Stud, had secured the imported grey Nelore bull, Abel. Mont was able to buy some red, half-bred bull calves from Ken to continue his breeding programme.

The grading up of the Cashmere and Glen Ruth herd took another leap forward when, in 1944, the property Mungalla near Ingham, was purchased. It was fertile coastal country, suited to more intensive breeding programmes and reliable road and rail transport.

In 1952, Monty and some other cattle breeders experimenting with Zebu crossbreeding formed the Australian Zebu Cross Beef Cattle Association. Mont was elected President. Among the first members were, Ken Atkinson (Wairuna), Maurice de Tournouer (Wetherby), Hugh Innes (Walla), Lionel de Landelles (Cherokee), Bob Rea (Kirknie), Frank Fraser (Burnside), John Murray (The Orient), Harry Collins (Kelso) and H. Hawkins (Colbrae).

Then in 1956 each member had decided which particular cross they wanted to breed, so the Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association was formed. Monty was elected President. Three distinct types were emerging. The reds were called Droughtmasters, the blacks were called Brangus and the Hereford cross, Braford. A separate register and Standard of Excellence was developed for each breed.

In 1962, all three breeds formed their own individual associations. The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society was confirmed at a meeting in Townsville’s Queens Hotel, on July

The man who made it all happen, Monty Atkinson showing jubilation and appreciation in receiving an Honorary Life Membership of the society in 1971 from Bob Russell president 1970 - 74.

3rd of that year. Monty was the inaugural President (1962-1963).

Mont’s two sons, Rob Snr and Alan, together with their respective families, played significant roles in the establishment and development of the Droughtmaster breed.

Mont was influential and respected by his peers. But one of his greatest legacies is his influence over the generations that followed. The registered family studs still recording Droughtmasters today are Mungalla, Glen Ruth, Cashmere, Valley, Farnham, Lamont and Durack.

Robert L. (Monty) Atkinson was recognised by Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society (DSBS) with Life Membership for ‘Service to the Breed’, in 1968.

He was Patron of the DSBS from 1966-1985. 1952-1956. President of The Australian Zebu Cross Beef Cattle Breeders’ Assoc. 19561962. President of The Tropical Beef Breeders’ Assoc. 1962-1963. President of The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society 1966-1985. Patron of The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society 1965-1985.

Contributed by Rob Atkinson

Monty and Alan Atkinson, Townsville Show, 1949/50

Monty Atkinson, Risdon Sale 1953

CHARLIE WALLACE

(1894 - 1979)

WALLACE VALE & KANBRAE, FOUNDATION STUDS.

CHARLIE WALLACE was a remarkable man of wisdom who operated Butcher Hill to the hinterland of Cooktown which he bought in 1931 from the Earl Estate. He was awarded an Honorary Membership of the Australian Tropical Beef Breeder’s Association at its AGM July 8, 1957, then an Honorary Life Member for the Droughtmaster Stud Breeder’s Society in 1971.

He founded Wallace Vale stud with Bill Edmonds at Gordonvale, but the partnership was dissolved in 1964 when Charlie

and Mrs Wallace concentrated their interest on developing Kanbrae stud at Mt Molloy.

An unpretentious, soft-spoken cattlemen with the respect of his peers, chosen for his practical assessment, effective eye appraisal and general knowledge as a successful judge of quality cattle, Charlie Wallace was entrusted with classifying foundation stock that set the standard for the involving Droughtmaster breed under the auspices of the committee of the Australian Tropical Beef

Breeders Association in 1957. As the numbers grew over the years he was assisted by Monty Atkinson and Bob Rea and Noel Perry accompanied him in the early days as a junior classifier.

Butcher Hill was sold in 1964 but Charlie promoted the Droughtmaster breed with excellent results at Cairns show in the post-World War II era 1948-1964 by seldom being beaten in the pen of three chiller steer class sponsored by AMAGRAZE, Queerah meatworks.

Extract from Tsunami in the Bulldust, by John Boydell.

Charlie Wallace receiving an Honorary Life Membership of the Society from Bob Russell in 1971

GRACE SEARL

MRS GRACE SEARL was the first salaried officer of the Society in 1966. The Society had opened an office in a suite at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown (in 1970). Under Grace Searl the breed took on a new profile in southern environments where membership growth outweighed that of the grass roots foundation era in north Queensland.

Grace Searl was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Society in 1972 for her tireless work in organising the new office and placing its administration on a professional basis under one roof (1969 – 1972).

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

Mrs Grace Searl, Honorary Life member and former secretary of the society who opened the office at Indooroopilly in 1971 with her late husband Des, taking an interest in judging at the 1992 Brisbane Royal

ROBERT (BOB) REA

(1914 – 1994)

KIRKNIE, FOUNDATION STUD. Patron: 1986 – 1994

ONE OF NORTH Queensland’s most respected cattlemen, Robert (Bob) Rea, founder of the

Kirknie Droughtmaster herd near Home Hill, was without peer.

This quiet spoken practical figure set about his endeavour to produce a breed suitable for the environment at Kirknie on the southern bank of the lower Burdekin River in 1946, and he was without equal in knowledge of livestock genetics learnt the hard way.

Bob was a member of the ZebuCross Beef Cattle Breeders’ Association from its inception in 1952 and served on various committees through the changes of name to the Australian Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association in 1956, onto the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society in 1962. He served in various capacities until 1975.

He took the Droughtmaster and Kirknie name to the Smithfield markets in London in 1959 with his champion K Wagon* class carcasses where final judging took place on the hook. In 1962 Kirknie won the K Wagon class with an exceptional score. As early as 1964 Kirknie Droughtmasters had won five out

of seven K Wagon competitions run in conjunction with Townsville Show and sponsored by Queensland Meat Export Co, who processed the carcasses after the hoof judging at the show, then displayed them for public inspection before shipping them off to London for the final judging.

Following those early days Kirknie Droughtmasters dominated prime cattle and carcass competitions. In recognition of his contribution to the beef cattle industry of north Queensland the Beef Cattle Classic incorporated a Bob Rea Memorial Carcass Competition.

In 1986 he was appointed Patron of the Society following the passing of Monty Atkinson, a position he held until his own death in 1994. Throughout his involvement with the Droughtmaster breed he was supported by his wife Mrs Dorothy (Dos) Rea. Bob was made an Honorary Life Member of the Society in 1973.

*The K Wagon class was for 18 prime cattle based on the well known rail wagon.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

HUGH INNES MBE

AN ORIGINAL MEMBER of the Zebu Cross Beef Cattle Breeders’ Association who gave support to the Droughtmaster breed for more than three decades, Hugh Hector Innes MBE, Walla, Gin Gin, was nature’s gentleman with an insatiable sense of humour.

He served on the Society Committee – followed by the Board – for 22 years representing the Central Zone, but his close involvement began in 1952 with the formation of the AZCBB Committee. He served as Vice-President after

the name change to The Australian Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association in 1956, then he served over two decades with the Droughtmaster Society committee after it became autonomous, 1962 – 1984.

In 1981 he was awarded an Honorary Life Membership for his lifetime contribution to the breed and Society as committee member, Trustee and classifier – in the days he was actively engaged in classification, often weeks were spent on the road in an honorary capacity classifying

cattle into the appendix register ensuring a uniform quality base for the growing herd.

In 1954 – 1963 his Droughtmaster stud ran under the Walla prefix that altered to Delaney in 1963 when the stud was transferred into the family company – Delaney Pastoral Co.

Hugh’s presence was always a welcome addition at Society meetings where his calm and dignified diplomacy could be relied on to diffuse difficult situations.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

PROFESSOR JOHN FRANCIS

CBE, BSC., VET. SC, DSC LOND., FRCVS, FACVSC, FRSM LOND., FAVA, HON. DIPL. AMER. VET. EPID. SOC

Professor John Francis CBE, BSc Vet Sc., DSc Lond., FRCVS, FACVSc, FRSM Lond., FAVA, Hon. Dipl. Amer. Vet. Epid. Soc

JOHN FRANCIS was born in England in 1915 and migrated to Australia in 1952 to become the first Professor of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the University of Queensland. He devoted his life to the University of Queensland, the Queensland Veterinary School, the veterinary profession and the cattle industry.

Professor Francis contributed unbending loyalty to the Droughtmaster breed and the growth of the Society over a period of 45 years when he actively involved himself with the growth of the breed in Australia and overseas and established several research projects in third world countries where he believed the breed had a role to play.

All told Professor Francis served the Society 27 years on the Board from 1959, beginning with the Australian Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association continuing on from the time the Society became autonomous in 1962.

Joined Zebu-Cross Cattle Breeders’ Association 1956

Committee Member Australian Tropical Beef Breeders Association 1959 – 1962

Committee Member Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society 1962 – 1980

Vice-President Southern Zone

1978 – 1980

Trustee 1966 – 1980

Honorary Life Member 1981

Board Member Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society 1980 – 1987

He brought a new concept with his academic background into the arena in the early fifties when percipient graziers began to seriously accept the challenge for change and study the potential of Taurindicus cattle for tick resistance and general hardiness to perform under the harsh tropical conditions of north Queensland.

In delivering the Professor John Francis Oration in 1995, past (Society) President Noel Perry, referred to the appreciation of the Society to his knowledge and assistance that he contributed towards the establishment of the Droughtmaster breed. He cited that one of the stepping stones for the breed to be where it is today was commenced on the motion of John Francis who advocated the acceptance of the Appendix Register at a meeting of the Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association held at Townsville in July 1960. This was an historic moment in the history of

the breed when he submitted “that when the Droughtmaster stud book is closed, females approved by the classifier shall be accepted into the Appendix Register and marked with an ‘A’. The male and female progeny of the females by a Droughtmaster bull, if accepted by the classifier, will be entered into the stud book.” That motion provided the stepping stone towards gathering the genetic pool the breed contains including bloodlines. Professor Francis was very vocal on retention of the Appendix System over the years and its genetic benefits. The grading up system, finally approved as the ‘D’ Rating Classification System almost a decade later is recognised as an excellent method and has brought the industry the Droughtmaster breed.

Professor Francis was responsible for the establishment of the University of Queensland’s Vet School Stud – a Foundation Stud.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

JOHN STEWART-MOORE

TELEMON, FOUNDATION STUD.

BORN IN TASMANIA , educated in the UK at Dartmouth Naval College, an officer in the British Navy during WW2, moving back to Australia with his wife Joanna and young daughter in 1948 to take up the reins of the family wool growing operation at Telemon and Dunluce near Hughenden, John Stewart-Moore’s life was one of great diversity. Never afraid of a new challenge, John became interested in the cattle being exhibited at the Townsville show by Monty Atkinson in the early 1950’s, and so began a lifelong involvement in helping develop and nurture the Droughtmaster breed into the success it enjoys today.

John joined a Cherokee Brahman Stud bull to some red Shorthorn heifers and these became the foundation of the Charraboon and Telemon studs, with the family moving to Charraboon at Toogoolawah in 1958. There

was immediate success in the showring as Charraboon won a number of Grand Championships at the Brisbane RNA, but there was always a strong focus on performance, notably fertility, growth rates, and tick resistance.

Charraboon stud was sold to Gordon Ferguson in 1965 and Telemon continued to thrive and grow in the north at Dunluce where 3rd generation Jack and Kylie Stewart-Moore continue to breed an excellent herd. An agistment payment of some stud cows to John’s daughter Carol and husband Ed McCormack was the beginning of the successful Clonlara Stud, today operated by their son Gus and Jen McCormack. Carol and Ed’s daughter Clare and husband Pete Mailler have also developed the Coolibah Stud from these base genetics.

John was the DSBS’s second president from 1963 to 1966 and again from 1978 to 1981. He was awarded life membership in 1981 and was the Society’s patron from 1994 to 2001.

Never idle, as well as his dedication to the Droughtmaster Society, John was founder and managing director of South Seas Fishing Co, a joint venture with Japanese partners who were instrumental in pioneering the prawn fishing industry in the Gulf of Carpentaria, as well as overseeing the management of Dunluce’s 25,000 merino sheep and the Telemon Stud along with son Ninian and his wife Ann.

John once said a career in the navy was useful in becoming a grazier, but an agricultural degree would have been better!

Contribution by Ninian Stewart-Moore

THOMAS E. BOOTH

GLENRAY, FOUNDATION STUD.

ONE OF THE Droughtmaster society’s most colourful eccentrics, Thomas E. Booth produced a remarkable strain within the breed that had a profound impact on success for many commercial cattle operations in the Gulf of Carpentaria beginning in the 1950’s.

In 1960 Tom forecast that following the achievements by Droughtmaster cattle, it must be apparent to all thoughtful cattlemen that a new era had dawned for stud cattle breeding. Groups of cattlemen the world over would in future shape their cattle

to their particular environment as opposed to the idea of attempting to force cattle to like or otherwise lump environmental conditions totally unsuitable for them.

Tom was one of Australia’s likeable rascals with boundless energy who would expound his theories on genetics without taking breath nor listen to any alternative argument, but his dream to evolve a breed to suit his conditions in the wet tropics at Daintree was an unusual achievement that provided an alternative means to an end for his line of Droughtmaster.

Tom was an inveterate advocate for line-breeding and his closed herd of Droughtmaster cattle was an ultimate feature of the Glenray stud. He claimed 25 percent of his bull calves were used as sires for one year and the stud made steady progress. (This was as far back as 1962).

Tom passed on in 1987 and unfortunately a chapter in the history of Droughtmaster closed when the stud breeding program was closed in 1988.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

WALLY KING

KENGOON, FOUNDATION STUD.

A NAME INDELIBLY etched in Droughtmaster history is Kengoon that promoted the breed near and far during developmental and troubled times 1959 – 94.

Its founder and staunch Droughtmaster supporter WH (Wally) King took the breed to extended heights of acceptance because of his standing and respect by his peers within the beef cattle industry and his positive thinking and willingness to physically promote the breed at every opportunity.

Wally was born in Longreach but grew up at Walkege near Hughenden, from where he branched out into a successful pastoral career of his own when he acquired Pialah near Richmond in the 1930s. Kengoon the home property at Kalbar was bought in 1945. In 1949 he bought Torsdale, where he bred the renowned Torsdale Hereford bulls. It was about this time that King Ranch began selling imported stock at Risdon, Warwick, but neither Santa Gertrudis nor Brahman cattle interested Wally King. He instead bought the first Africander bulls made available from the CSIRO, Belmont Research Station in 1959 that were mated with Poll Shorthorn and Devon cows. Professor John Francis, Vet School stud, persuaded Mr King to nominate the progeny of the Africander mating for inclusion in the Droughtmaster Herd Book. This was the beginning of a new chapter in early breed history with the introduction of the Afro prefix to the Society membership (which was then changed to Kengoon in the 70s).

The name Kengoon enhanced the Droughtmaster image through during the Beef recession years of 1974 – 1978 and through the 1980s when the stud flew the flag continuously with large show and sale teams. The breed was promoted by Kengoon from the Sydney Royal Easter Show to Cairns in far north Queensland on a number of occasions and to all points west to Alice Springs, Katherine and Darwin shows, returning for the Brisbane Royal and RNA Exhibition. This mammoth energetic outward approach to breed promotion under the guidance of studmaster Mary Lewis should never be forgotten.

Mr King was recognised by the Society for this dedication and influence in breeding and promoting Droughtmaster cattle. His career came to an end at age 90 in September 1991 but his name lives on with a trophy formerly known as the Kengoon Stud Trophy now recognised as the W.H. King Memorial Trophy awarded at the Brisbane Royal Show for the grand champion Droughtmaster bull, donated by the King family.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

Rob Atkinson (right) presenting trophies to W. H. (Wally) King (left) Kengoon stud – most successful exhibitor at Gympie Feature Show 1983 – with John Boydell (centre).

Grand Champion bull Brisbane Royal 1991, Mimosa Julius (P) c November 1989, s. Sunny View Julian, d. Mimosa 1409-junior and grand champion bull – being presented with the Kengoon Trophy by Mr W. H. (Wally) King, Kengoon stud, Kalbar with the judge mary Lewis holding the sash. The Kengoon tropy is now the W. H. King Memorial trophy donated in his memory by his family.

NOEL PERRY

STRATHFIELD. FOUNDATION STUD. President 1981 - 1985

DECADES AGO when hundreds of cattle were dying from cattle tick infestation and crossbreeding was a dirty word in the beef industry, four Queensland cattlemen got together and set about breeding an animal to suit their harsh environment. The foresight and determination of these four cattlemen Noel Perry, Charles Wallace, Robert Rea & Monty Atkinson led to the development of the Droughtmaster breed.

Noel travelled many thousands of kilometres helping cattlemen with

their selection and classifying herds in the early years of establishing the Droughtmaster Breed. He travelled extensively overseas and was instrumental in opening up many export markets for the Droughtmaster Breed. His judging career spanned many decades judging at innumerable regional shows and he judged at the Royal Queensland Show a total of 7 times from 1972. The breeds he judged at the Royal Queensland Shows included Brahmans (twice), Droughtmasters (twice), Sahiwal,

Murray Greys, Limousins, Red Sindhi and Brangus. Extract from ‘Putting the D in AAA. Droughtmaster. Australian for Australians by Australians.’ John Boydell, 2001.

Noel was awarded a Life Membership to the Droughtmaster Society in 1990 and his original stud, Strathfield Droughtmaster Stud, continues to turn off quality cattle today under Noel’s son Shane, wife Wendy and their sons Josh and Brodie.

Noel Perry passed on in 2004.

RICHARD APEL

MIMOSA, FOUNDATION STUD.

IN THE BEGINNING . It was almost like preparing and sitting for an exam! The classifiers were coming. They were to inspect, hopefully pass our Droughtmasters, branding a D on their rumps. I felt the tension. The classifiers were experienced cattle breeders from “up North”.

I can’t say “in the beginning” as Richard, with his father in 1956, had already begun the process of upgrading their British Hereford herd (the smell of the plunge dip still lingers) with Bos Indicus genes. By the time I arrived as a new bride in 1961 – new to Qld, new to cattle, new to heat - they had purchased Brahman bulls and Santa Gertrudis Risdon bulls.

“We feel that this will minimise dipping as ticks are our biggest problem – 13 dippings per year.” Richard was excited, listening to older breeders who had begun evolving a new breed of cattle. He joined the Society although I don’t think they had decided on a name for their breed at that stage. They wanted Beefmasters but the Americans had that! Each meeting brought new enthusiasm. Mimosa Stud became well known.

In 1960 Rockhampton sale they sold their first Santa x Hereford bulls for an average of 235 guineas.

They continued selling Brahmans – Santa bulls under Mimosa Stud name. In 1963 they purchased a Brahman, Cherokee Burma. Mimosa Stud conducted its own sale in Rockhampton in 1964 as a Tropical Breed Sale, top price 440 guineas. Sales continued and then we were into showing, beginning with local shows. A sudden decision one day before the Gayndah show Richard decided to show one of our yarded bulls. By the end of the day, he was leading it up the front steps. It performed beautifully next day amongst the public.

In no time I became accustomed to climbing on the rails during auctions, sitting on hard forms at The Rocky sale ring, hay bales at field days. Planned our lives around the Droughtmaster events. With 3 small children we drove around local Shows with Richard attending sales and later Shows. It was promotion, promotion for Droughtmasters and our own cattle of course.

Zone meetings where ideas and other were thrashed out to send to the Committee, letters for promotion – no emails then, every possible opportunity to explain the virtues of Droughtmaster cattle. Mimosa hosted field days, a bus load of ag students from Gatton each year, local schools, a Solomon Island cattle manager,

numerous overseas representatives from agricultural departments.

When the promotional film was made, Richard and I took it around the islands in the Pacific. He had already sold cattle to New Guinea, Philippines, China and then the Solomon Islands. Years later he sent by plane, cattle to Samoa.

An exciting promotional trip we did with John Boydell and Eustie King to China for an Agricultural World Expo was listed under the name of Queensland, for the Australian Government didn’t join but Joh Bjelke-Petersen promoted Qld and it’s Ag produce. I was the only female in our contingency. Walking the Beijing streets, I stopped the locals in their tracks looking at my white hair amongst all their black heads and then my red tartan sneakers. There are many stories from that trip, train trip sitting in the wrong seats, not knowing where to get off but the whole carriage of people standing and nodding, clapping for us. No one to meet us so we found our own hotel only to be told in the middle of the night when our phone rang” YOU ARE IN THE WRONG HOTEL. WE WILL PICK YOU UP IN THE MORNING”

Mimosa separated their Brahmans to our cattle property Barlyne near Gayndah. Mimosa had become a solely Droughtmaster property. No longer needing to be classified Richard was a classifier. Having our own plane helped the Society when classifiers were able to be piloted by Richard to inspections for new breeders. That brought stories –quickly erecting a temporary race and crush to brand the cattle, overnight stays, talking, promoting, giving advice, receiving new ideas. I had returned to teaching so that our children could still be at home but have education in Gayndah. By the time I retired I estimated I had driven over our bush dirt road almost 3 times around the equator.

The biggest undertaking was the cattle droving trip west to our purchase of Nummery Station in NT east of Alice Springs where Richard had shown cattle at their yearly show competing against the established British breeders. About 800 head of cattle made the journey, first by train to Dejarra and then over land to Nummery. It is recorded in Hugh Lunn’s Book “Behind the Banana Curtain”. He, as a journalist with The Australian, travelled with the mob. Richard met the team at points where

they spelled bringing food, beers, cooking meals and cheer. We all spent school holidays at Nummery. Richard was asked to judge at Shows, proving his decision at one Show when accused of picking the wrong bull as the better one. He proved his point with a piece of string, measuring that his choice was a longer length!

Mimosa cattle went to all States in Australia except Tasmania. These were followed up with visits to the breeders. Sometimes the recording process was a mystery to them

On a trip to Indonesia again with John Boydell, a highlight was boating down a river from Buroo in a dugout canoe and seeing Droughtmaster cattle on the banks as we glided past. Richard had developed flu. Our Ag companion took him to the local village doctor before we set out. Giving antibiotics, the Doctor then produced what Richard described as a horse needle and pumped a whole syringe of eucalyptus into him. He reeked of eucalyptus for several days but it fixed him! Stranded on the Island for several days we had time to watch village life. Women swept their front porches with big straw brooms. The Army marched up the street once a day, our cook went to the market and brought home a scrawny hen. One evening meal Richard commented that one dish was dog by the texture, John just pushed his plate away and reached for the bananas. We eventually sailed from the island after waiting for a “suitable” boat. The beds were built for small Indonesian passengers. Great shouting in the middle of the night where we thought it must be pirates, but it was just a broken rudder. Early in the morning still out to sea roosters began to crow. The cargo was a mixture of goods for the market and barrels of pure eucalyptus oil. After roughing it for a week we lapped up the luxury of a Bali resort for a night before flying home.

Deciding to hold our own Bull and female sale at Mimosa a good strong sale ring was erected. It proved ideal also for inspections, field days and Max, our son’s horse breaking. It was a wrench to sell Mimosa and Barlyne but large areas of land in Queensland were too costly. Mallina in WA, although far away, gave us room to expand with our two sons who then learnt to fly,

take over from Richard. It was a busy and interesting life. Hot and hotter. Dry in areas but interesting Aboriginal areas from early times. We joined the Station Home Stay list, Grey Nomads, cyclists, townies weekends away. Some visitors liked to sit and listen to the men when they came in from mustering for the day to hear about punctures, runaway sheep, scrub bulls and the race in bull buggies to catch them, crab holes, busters and join in with a beer. Dinner at night was very enjoyable for them if we had a roast. They had no facility for cooking one. Some Nomads had their worldly possessions with them. An interesting mix of people.

Again, Richard organised a Mimosa Droughtmaster Bull sale on Mallina. It included the first auction by phone hook up in WA. More heavy promotion to have the Station cattle men/women change to Droughtmaster bulls instead of purchasing bulls fed on lush green paddocks down South of the State. He promoted and promoted with beef carcass days, taking bulls to Race days, Landor, before becoming a member of the Port Hedland Progress Association. That got him introducing the idea of sending cattle from Port Hedland instead of from Broome, less cost, less stress on the cattle and more control over their business. For his ideas and work including organising new cattle holding yards at Port Hedland and the Export market he was awarded Rural Achiever of the year.

When the Mabo ruling came the future for graziers in the north was uncertain. Richard decided to leave, set up a bull depot in the South. Moora was ideal, good rainfall, close to town, 2 hours from Perth and facilities established, Hospital, schools, medical centre. We took the best Mimosa Droughtmaster females he had bred, reaching the colour he wanted. Again, field day promotions, private sales and after a trip to Botswana with an Ag group he sent over some females and a bull to a private breeder in Botswana.

During the time in Moora we both became involved in the Art world, me with establishing a Gallery in Moora with workshops, Richard full time in the stained glass he had been doing up North – large murals in Newman’s Tourist Centre, Port Hedland Airport, private glass classes and private windows. Mimosa Stud continued with us until we retired back to Qld. Our lovely cattle were dispersed until his very favourite cow was left. Our family went on their own. We came back for grandchildren and family time. Even so Richard still found glass opportunities in Brisbane. I had asked him when he turned Fifty what he would do when he retired. He didn’t ever retire, just went in a different direction.

Contribution by Mrs Joan Apel

Richard Apel passed away in March 2022.

Honorary Life Membership was awarded to former presidents and foundation members Richard Apel and Noel Perry at the Townsville dinner on July 2, 1990 by president Eddie Rea (centre)

ife member and breed icon, John Boydell, Richard and Joan Apel and former Droughtmaster Australia CEO Neil Donaldson with the stained glass window designed and made by Richard Apel for the opening of the new Droughtmaster Australia Office building in 2012.

EDDIE REA

KIRKNIE. FOUNDATION STUD.

MY DAD BOB REA bought Kirknie in 1945. He brought with him 3 K Wagons of Hereford heifers. He and his brothers were Hereford breeders north of Rocky, Eden Garry, where his brother Adam Rea first bred the Australian Braford – he is the father of the Brafords here in Australia.

I was 10 years old when the 1946/47 drought came and all of Dad’s Herefords died, along with 1,100 Shorthorn/Devons. He said “Well, we need to breed cattle to suit the country”.

The Rea boys had seen crossbred Brahman bullocks and steers coming off Glen Prairie and agreed that was the way of the future. And so started the genetics of Bob Rea’s Droughtmasters.

A red half breed Brahman (Zebu) was sent to Kirknie by Adam Rea and this bull’s stock formed the foundation of our modern Droughtmaster – this bull’s females were mated to a pure Brahman bull, Viking.

Viking arrived at Home Hill in a rail wagon as a weaner. Dad and Hughie Rea scruffed him in the wagon, tied him up and rolled him into the ute for the trip to Kirknie. Viking’s job was to lift the Brahman content. His sons were used in the main herd, Viking’s heifers were mated to a pure Shorthorn bull (Prospect Cecil), who spent most of the day in the water of a dam with his head just clear of the water, whilst the Viking heifers were still out feeding - a bit of heat didn’t worry them. Cecil must have come good after dark, he got enough calves to earn his keep. His sons too were used in the herd. Selected females from all sires mated to selected sires and only the best were used.

Remember that during this time the hostility toward Zebu/Brahman cattle was hard to believe (as told to me by my dad - people who saw him in town would cross over the street rather than talk to him). Our early breeders stuck to their guns and meanwhile dad kept on with what he was doing and gaining a reputation at the meatworks for his cattle, so it became time to test against those around at the Townsville Show. Carcass competitions were the way to go so you have a chance to go up against the shorthorn bullocks in your area. Zebu prejudice was strong, so you

had to challenge. Droughtmasters won three from five in the first year, four from five in the second year and five from five in the third year, plus second in another class. The next competition was the K Wagon Competition. One K wagon of bullocks were first judged in Townsville on the hoof, then judged on the hook at Smithfield (England). This competition was won by our Droughtmasters five times from seven attempts. My dad did show Stud cattle with some success. He always said that Stud showing was pretty much a social outing because you can’t see what is under the hide “you must see them with their shirt off so you can see the muscle and fat colour”.

After this success came bull sales – 180 in one day. All of this success came from an undying belief in your own ability, and Droughtmasters.

Lisgar was purchased in 1961 – my wife Dorothy and I moved to manage the new property. Droughtmaster bulls were moved down to mate with the Hereford cows that were on the place. When they saw the cows they stuck their head in the air and took off – they had not seen such colours – we had to gather them together and bring them up-wind to the cows.

We have worked with the Lisgar Breeder Herd and DPI for many years. They are very fertile, tick resistant with some resistance to buffalo flies. No cattle at Lisgar have been dipped for forty years. Ticky cows and bulls were culled, as were empty cows.

Dad died in July 1994, and because he was such a supporter of carcass competitions, AMH in Townsville started the “Bob Rea Memorial Carcass Competition” that ran

for eight years. Droughtmasters won every year. James Berryman (grandson) won twice. Kirknie (son) won once, Lisgar (grandson) won five times… how is that for genetics on both sides… Bob’s genetics and his cattle!

We retired in 2005 to town and left Lisgar in the capable hands of our son Robert along with his wife and son Robert Jnr. After we retired Robert was offered a wonderful program that he can use for years to improve their Droughtmasters. In 2015 Robert was awarded the MLA Genetic Improvement Award for his work at Lisgar.

I am 84 years old and have worked all my life, since I was 15 with Droughtmasters, and watched them improve. I have seen the best and worst of them but never gave up.

Contributed by Eddie Rea

Edward (Eddie) Rea. Society President 1988 - 1993

JOHN BOYDELL

Secretary/Executive Secretary 1974 - 1995

JOHN BOYDELL JOINED the fledgling Droughtmaster Society as Secretary in 1974 after considerable practical experience with rural pursuits including being brought up on the family farm in the Hunter Valley District of NSW. He then joined the Scottish Australia Co, and worked on properties in North West Queensland as well as the Burnett River area and NSW.

Just prior to John’s retirement from the Droughtmaster Society in 1996, a bull sculpture was created by society life member and former president Richard Apel which became the centrepiece of the John S. Boydell Perpetual Trophy. John and Richard are pictured with former society president Bruce Campbell

Following these pursuits, he joined the Queensland Country Life as its North Queensland representative from 1964 – 1974 residing in Townsville, where he came in contact with several of the original pioneers of the Droughtmaster breed and watched its progress from the sidelines for 10 years.

Following a tour of Droughtmaster studs in the far north in 1969 organised by the Society Secretary, Mrs Grace Searl, in association with Monty Atkinson, he was invited to accompany the tour and report on it in QCL. He continued to watch the breed’s success and acceptance within the beef industry.

On the resignation of the Society’s Field Officer in 1973 John was invited to join as its Secretary but it wasn’t until 1974 that he accepted the dual role as Secretary and Field Officer under the title of Secretary where he remained until 1995.

In the Forward to John Boydell’s ‘” Putting the ‘D’ into AAA”, by Mr Richard Apel, President 1974 – 1798, remarked:

His journalist ability made John Boydell a formidable secretary indeed. His connections in the world of journalism were many. He wrote all Society editorials (as well as for members), saw to advertising, negotiated the best rates, wrote and did most of the photography for the Society’s Digest. He designed and produced excellent brochures. “Droughtmaster - The Efficient

Producer” is a masterpiece as is the Droughtmaster film (made before the days of video); its production instigated by the secretary.

Often, weekends (if he wasn’t attending one of his beloved Rugby Union matches), found him at the office, working hours far in excess of expectations. John Boydell’s greatest contribution to the Society was his dedication and work behind the scenes. He took farsighted action and responsibility, action that averted many a crisis, action that no one knew about, action that needed to be taken on the spur of the moment. Like all great generals he accepted responsibility for denting the rules irrespective of the consequences, to ensure the advancement of the breed, Droughtmaster.

In his time at the Society John served under seven presidents and three patrons, Monty Atkinson, Bob Rea and John StewartMoore. Secretary for 21 years, John travelled widely promoting the breed in PNG, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

He was a prolific writer and wrote a number of books on the Droughtmaster breed; “ Putting the ‘D’ in AAA – Droughtmaster. Australian for Australians by Australians ”, 2001 and “ Tsunami in the Bulldust ”

Mr John Boydell passed away 2017.

with the trophy.

JIM CROMBIE

WOODLYN, STUD NO. 83.

JIM AND DOROTHY CROMBIE established Woodlyn Stud, Esk, in 1970.

During his time Jim was a respected classifier who rose to considerable heights in the estimation of those who took him into their confidence and received unforgettable advice on purebred breeding to maintain a quality breed for future generations to enjoy with success in the

marketplace. On many occasions he accepted assignments others shunned, that included pre-sale inspections where irate vendors were often unable to accept that the animals they had selected were not up to standard.

He classified on behalf of the Society for over two decades and his generosity in travelling to inspections and promotion of the

breed in Queensland and northern NSW was exemplary. Jim was a member of the Society Board representing the Southern Zone for six years; Director 1987 – 91 and Vice-President 1991 – 93.

Jim Crombie wrote the publication A Pathway to Breeding Quality Droughtmasters ” in 2006.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

Jim Crombie, with his $3,500 top-priced heifer, Woodlyn Lisa, at the 1991 Gympie Society sponsored Female Sale. Lisa was bought by Wayne Vievers, Talgai stud, Oxenford.

BRUCE CAMPBELL AM MBE

BORN IN LONGREACH , Mr Campbell‘s working career was devoted to the rural industry. Mr Campbell was awarded Senior Australian of the Year in 2003, Chairman of the Livestock and Meat Authority of QLD, President of the QLD Royal Life Saving Society in the 1970s and was named Lifesaver of the Century in 2005.

He and his wife Beth, operated Coolalinga stud at Montville a highly successful project that was dispersed on March 28, 1998.

In 1988 he was responsible for organising the Primary Industry Pavilion in the Silo in the City at Expo 88, where the society had an impressive promotion.

On assuming the presidency of the society on August 6, 1993 one of his

aims was to bring a closer working relationship between directors of the board and the membership and with this in mind his first move was to institute a seminar at the University of Queensland , Vet Farm, Pinjarra Hills on January 23, 1994 to precede the regular board meeting the following two days in the Vet Farm board room. This seminar was the forerunner of an annual fixture in the society’s program.

It was Bruce Campbell who initiated the move for the society’s headquarters from Indooroopilly to the University of Queensland, Vet Farm on June 30, 1994.

Beef 94 held at Rockhampton highlighted the growth in Droughtmaster prestige with the best ever showing of the breed in the stud cattle arena with 139

exhibits paraded before charismatic judge Grame Hopf. It was the commercial and prime cattle section where Droughtmasters prospered in open competition to be represented by the grand champion pen , the champion pen of 10 grain fed Droughtmaster cross steers in a showing where the breed won numerous classes with males and females.

The National Droughtmaster Beef Week, Nanango April 4-8, 1995 was a decisive promotion for the decade sponsored by the society. The stud arena was spectacular where 119 quality exhibits paraded before judge Ashley Coleman, Glen Houghton, Pentland, ably assisted by his associate Sonya Hart, Hodgson River, Katherine NT. Numbers in this section had been surpassed only once at Beef 94. In recognition of the event the society received the Nanango Shire Council Australia Day Event of the Year Award for Droughtmaster Beef Week under the chairmanship of Alben Perrett, Elgin Vale, Nanango.

During Bruce Campbell’s era a proliferation of annual private stud on-property bull sales emerged with significant marketing achievements. This had a positive effect on society sponsored sales where values were maintained despite an increase in yard numbers, but the domino effect of more bulls more buyers was obvious because the promotion of the breed and image had escalated.

During the 1993-98 period he was president, the society increased its membership and during the last 12 months of his reign it was one of six out of 36 breed societies listed with the Australian Registered Cattle Breeders’ Association who had not decreased numbers.

Bruce Campbell held the presidency for five years but entering his sixth with failing health and family commitments he resigned in September 1998.

He was awarded an honorary Life Membership for his service to the breed and society at its seminar at the Vet Farm, Pinjarra Hills on January 24, 1999 by his successor John Gardner, Sunnyvale, Gidgegannup, WA.

Mr Bruce Campbell AM MBE passed away in 2021. Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by

FRANK HODGSON

WINGFIELD, STUD NO. 47.

FRANK AND VAL HODGSON had a sugar cane farm outside Innisfail, North Queensland. He was an accomplished horseman and sometimes went with a local butcher to muster cattle in the Daintree. On one of these trips he saw Louis Fischer’s and Bill Wallace’s early Droughtmaster herds and was impressed by their appearance and ability to thrive where other cattle couldn’t.

In 1960, the Hodgson family moved to South East Queensland purchasing the 532ha Wingfield property near Dalby. They brought with them 6 heifers and 2 bulls from Bill Wallace, Woondoo, the progeny of the Louis Fischer’s Daintree herd. Over the ensuing years Frank added to these, selected shorthorn cows and a Grampian Brahman bull to increase content. In September 1967, Frank and Val Hodgson’s Wingfield Stud was founded with registration of 21 cows and heifers and an Alma bred sire and later included a Kanbrae bull from Charlie Wallace at Mt Molloy and Kanbrae and Woondoo females. After that, no other female was purchased into the herd.

Frank operated under his personal motto, “breed away from faults”. Bulls were purchased from other studs or were Wingfield bred. Bulls of note included Alma Sunset, Kanbrae Lucky Brae, Burnside Darcy, Truvalle Colin, Jadma Duke 225, Valley Moses, Sersema Ptolemy, Greenacres Julien and Minlacowie Alberigo, Moses(AI) and Millionaire (AI), with Wingfield bulls Dandy, Pembroke, Nemo and Boris retained in the herd.

Frank began showing his Droughtmasters in 1970 with success on the Darling Downs leading to his first RNA Grand Champion, Wingfield Bettina, sired by Alma Sunset. His passion for showing to promote the Droughtmaster breed and his stud continued through the 1970’s and 80’s and during this time he notched up 5 other RNA Grand Champion Females, W. Heidi (1972), W. Unique, (1974 and 1975), W. Kate (1980) and W. Renee (1985). It was joked that Frank, father to 4 daughters, could breed females but had no luck with the males but this was soon proved wrong with RNA Grand Champions, W. Dandy (1973),

W. Pembroke (1981) and W. Justice (1988). Sprinkled heavily among these winners were numerous RNA Junior and Reserve Champions and Breeders’ Group wins and many broad ribbons won on the Darling Downs and at Feature Shows.

The annual trip to Brisbane for the Ekka was a looked-forward-to break from the farm even though it comprised of 2 weeks of little sleep and generally resulted in the ‘flu. Success in the show ring provided a good foundation for sale ring success, inspiring buyer confidence. During his time, Wingfield blood lines featured strongly in the pedigree of sale bulls with Frank and Val Hodgson’s bulls topping the Rockhampton sale 5 times beginning in 1979 with Kentigern, then Justice, Krypton, Gilligan and Noah, and achieving commendable sale averages. Many other Wingfield bulls went on to make a name for themselves as well, with Wingfield Eric, Babylon, Geronimo, Reverend, Rocket and Prentice coming to mind.

In 1994, Frank was tempted to go back into the show ring with Wingfield Boris (AI Minlacowie

Millionaire) to achieve his final RNA Grand Champion. In 1995, Frank and Val downsized the herd through a reduction sale and moved with W. Boris and 30 breeders to 154 ha at Back Plains on the southern Downs.

Frank was an astute cattle man and was sought after as a judge on the Downs and by other breeds. His purchase of Greenacres Julien at Rockhampton resulted in not only some strong bulls but a line of females that, when mated to Wingfield Boris produced for Frank the type of cattle he had aimed for, cattle with eye appeal, good length, depth and temperament, clean coated, sound breeders and good mothers, cattle that could walk across a lot of country if needed, tolerate adverse conditions and still produce. In 2000, 10 sons of W. Boris sold at Rockhampton to achieve what was then an outstanding average of $16,625 including sale top price of $34,000, W. Noah. Frank was quietly very proud of his Droughtmaster herd.

He was a regular supporter of Society sponsored sales both in Queensland and New South Wales. His sold unjoined heifers at Gympie and bulls in Rockhampton as well as Roma and Grafton and this presence helped to contribute to the rapid expansion of the breed in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Wingfield cattle and bloodlines were also exported to South East Asia, China and New Zealand.

In early 2001, Frank became seriously ill and his Wingfield herd was sold intact to Pam and Derrick Spann of Minlacowie stud. Frank died on 11 November, 2001. He was awarded his Life Membership into the Droughtmaster Society 2 months prior to his death and is remembered as an exceptional but unassuming cattleman, quietly spoken and a true gentleman.

His wife Val, who supported him and worked selflessly by his side, now lives in Coolum Beach with daughter Adele and son-in-law Stephen Jones.

Contributed by Suzanne Stacey (daughter) with information gathered from Droughtmaster Herd Books, Books by John Boydell, Mum and memories.

Frank Hodgson with Wingfield Boris in 1994, just after Boris was awarded the Blue ribbon in his class and before he went on that day to be RNS Grand Champion.

GRAEME IDSTEIN

COOLAMINE, STUD NO. 685.

GRAEME IDSTEIN was awarded an honorary Life Membership in 2003 by the Board of Directors, outlining the vital role Graeme had played in rescuing the Society from bankruptcy in 1995.

His influence over the Society’s finances continued with the formation of the Business Management Committee of which he was elected chairman – a role

he retained until 2003. The many unpaid hours he spent Society finances and the time he gave to other Society matters in his role as a director (1993 – 1999) were a selfless contribution well deserving of Life Membership.

Upon receiving his award and in a typically humble fashion, Graeme paid tribute to the other members of the Business Management

Committee and to the members who paid fees in advance to help the Society avoid bankruptcy.

During Graeme’s many absences from his property while on Society business, wife Diana held the fort, for which John Gardner thanked her for profusely and the audience acknowledged their thanks through acclamation.

Extract from Droughtmaster Digest, December 2003.

VAL AND NEIL EVANS

BALCARA STUD NO. 86.

Receiving Droughtmaster Society Life Membership, Val and Neil Evans, Balcara, Ma Ma Creek, with Mrs Carli McConnel, past Society Vice-President, 2006

NEIL AND HIS brother Douglas (both now deceased) were dairy farmers selling cream to the Grantham Butter Factory when it was announced that the factory was going to close as the upgrade to sell milk would be far too expensive. So, they bought a Hereford bull and sold weaners and vealers to the local butchers, but ticks were a big problem with hairy coated cattle. Neil had been reading about Droughtmaster cattle and was very impressed with all that he had heard, so they decided that they would become Stud Breeders and Balcara Stud No. 86 was registered in 1969. They went to the Charraboon dispersal and bought 1 bull, 1 cow in calf and

2 heifers – Vet School, Mimosa and Akeringa cattle later.

Neil and I were married 12/4/75. I grew up on a dairy farm and I soon learnt a lot about Droughtmasters – Neil was a good teacher. Besides reading books and newspaper clippings we went to shows. Neil and I showed cattle for many years, winning many Champions. Doug didn’t want the Stud after Neil’s passing in 2007 so I now have it and the property always will be known as Balcara.

After the Droughtmaster Shed was built at the Farmfest site, Neil and I started taking cattle to Farmfest. I always enjoyed showing the different stud cattle of other

studs in the shed to visitors, plus making cuppas for them as well as baking biscuits, slices and cake.

The Droughtmaster Futurity started in 1986. Since that time 36 Futurity shows have been held at the Gatton Showgrounds, which has provided a good learning experience for many young members. We were awarded Life Membership in 2006 at the Futurity - we were very honoured and proud.

I think Droughtmaster cattle are wonderful and I enjoy going to the Bull and Female Sales –and buying a bull when I have to replace an older one.

Contributed by Mrs Val Evans

RAY PHILLIPS

SUNNY

VIEW, STUD NO. 148.

THE SUNNY VIEW Droughtmaster Stud was established in 1973 by Stan and Ray Phillips following 65 years and four generations of family involvement in the Dairy industry and the breeding of stud AIS Cattle.

From commencement, I recognised the importance of the show ring and being involved in Society based activities and the support of new members.

I did not miss a Feature Show in the Southern Zone from 1974 to 1991.

The achievements of the Stud have been many, and I was keen to give back to the breed and soon became involved in the running of various workshops. My involvement in the long-lasting Futurity Show

at Gatton has been more than rewarding. The years served as a Director, Vice President and Classifier made me a part of the Droughtmaster Family through a period that saw major growth in the quality of Droughtmaster cattle, larger membership of Stud cattle being shown and the enormous growth and acceptance of the Droughtmaster in commercial herds. I would like to think that I am one of many that through the 70’s and 80’s built a platform for the breed to go to the level of success that it enjoys today.

With a need to take a different look at life, the herd was sold privately in 1991 to the Albert Downs, Valley View, Yenda and Saddle View Studs.

Since then, I have enjoyed semiretirement, developing a scrub property that we owned separate to the original place and spending time with my grandchildren and now a great grandson.

Each year I look forward to the Gatton Futurity Show and have enjoyed my involvement with it for all the years that it has been going. I sincerely hope and trust that I can be of use for more years, I believe that any encouragement and assistance that can be given to young people and new members is paramount to the future of any breed society.

Contributed by Ray Phillips

Ray Phillips with Sunny View Julian, grand champion bull Brisbane Royal 1984 being presented with the Kengoon Trophy by his mother Mrs Stan Phillips, Sunny View, Kingaroy

JACK AND ELAINE SWAN

SWAN, STUD NO. 30.

IN 2008 THE Board of Directors resolved unanimously to award much-deserved life memberships to Jack and Elaine Swan.

Jack and Elaine played a major role in the ongoing development of the Droughtmaster breed through the Swan genetics and the support given to breeders and their Society, so it was appropriate their contribution be recognised through life membership.

Unfortunately, Elaine passed away before the award could be bestowed upon her.

The following precis of the Swan’s family’s involvement with the breed highlights the length and depth of their contribution:

• The Swan herd (No. 30) was founded in 1961 on Brahman/ Shorthorn cows mated to Strathfield and Wallace Vale sires with selected cows bought in from Mungalla, Glen Ruth, Meadowbank and Avondale.

• Significant achievements included: Grand Champion Bull in Brisbane 1972 with Swan Wisdom, record price at Rockhampton in 1973 when Swan Prince sold to Professor Francis (Vet School Stud) for $15,500, Grand Champion at 1978 Rockhampton Feature Show with Swan Rabbi, Grand Champion at the 1991 Brisbane Ekka with Swan Classic and Grand Champion at Beef 1994 with Swan Swagger.

• First on-property sale in 1976 and the sale continued to 1995.

• Elaine was Central Zone Director and served on the Board from 1975 – 1980 and from 1986 to 1991.

• Jack and Elaine provided many cattle for shows and field days, especially during the beef depression in the mid-1970s when interest and willingness to promote the breed was at a low ebb.

• Elaine was a very competent and willing judge and judged many shows, feature shows,

the Brisbane Exhibition and Beef 2000.

• The Swan herd was vigorously and uncompromisingly selected for fertility and type over the years with the result that the strength and depth of breeding has made a major contribution to the pedigrees of many Droughtmaster herds.

In 1995 Jack and Elaine sold the Swan prefix/herd to Brett Nobbs, Cungelella who continued to make great impact on the breed under Cungelella Swan until the dispersal of the herd in 2000.

Jack and Elaine were always willing to assist the Society and new breeders with their time and expertise and broad knowledge, which have been a great resource for people genuinely interested in breeding. Jack passed on in 2011. Includes extracts from Droughtmaster Digest, August 2008.

JOHN GARDNER

SUNNYVALE, STUD NO. 111.

DURING A ROUND Australia trip with a mate in 1969 I coldcalled into Pioneer Sugar Mills Brahman stud to look at their cattle. Paddy Archer kindly took the time to show us around and then said let me show you these Droughtmasters - one day they will be bigger than Brahmans. Well, we are still trying, although the breed has made great inroads.

Upon returning home I was keen to seek out Droughtmasters in WA only to find no one had even heard of them. I spoke of the breed often and a couple of years later a neighbor arrived with a local rural paper containing a very small advertisement for a Droughtmaster study tour of central Queensland.

My parents offered me a choice of a 21st birthday party or the trip to Queensland.

After the trip I purchased my first stock from Noel Perry, Strathfield Stud and Jack Swan, Swan Stud and so Sunnyvale became stud number 111 established in 1971 at Kojonup in the South West of WA, a predominately merino sheep and British breed cattle area.

The same year John Solomon started Yandee Stud at Toodyay near Perth founded on Richard Apel’s Mimosa blood lines, John changed directions and I bought his stock to add to my stud.

It was a long hard road to get the breed accepted. We took them to the Royal Show for many years and Noel Perry and Richard Apel both travelled over to judge my small teams, offering me encouragement and assurances that the breed will be in demand very soon. I was not keen on showing cattle

President (1998 – 2002)

Western Zone Director (1991 – 1997)

Patron (2017 to current)

but in the early days it was the only place I could sell bulls. Once clients came to the farm I stopped showing and over the years we sold bulls and females from the Nullarbor Plains to the Kimberley.

The Society staff and members have always been extremely helpful to me, without them I don’t think I would have persevered.

My interest in the Society grew over time and I followed Richard Apel as Western Zone director joining the Board in 1997, acting Chairman 1999, followed by four two-year terms as President retiring in 2008.

I am now retired from breeding cattle but retain a strong interest in the breed and follow it closely.

Contributed by John Gardner

ALAN ATKINSON

VALLEY, FARNHAM, LAMONT AND MUNGALLA STUDS

ALAN LAMONT ATKINSON (1940-2022) in his own right made many and varied contributions to both the cattle and horse industries in his lifetime. He was passionate and dedicated to the vision his father Robert Lamont (Monty) Atkinson had for the Droughtmaster breed and spent his fruitful life contributing to and developing the breed.

His ability to retain and share knowledge was uncanny and he was an incredible storyteller, passionately reliving the tales of the development of the Droughtmaster breed through his eyes. He was by Monty’s side throughout the early years of the breed’s establishment and saw firsthand the adversities that were overcome, and major advancements made.

Alan grew up at Glen Ruth, Mt Garnet, then Mungalla, Ingham where he was schooled in the classroom but more importantly in the paddock with his father. Alan followed the tradition and was sent to Kings School in Sydney to finish his formal education before returning to the family properties.

Trips to USA, South America and New Guinea during the 1960’s and 70’s shaped the direction he pursued his breeding herd and business, using knowledge acquired from these and other trips. Alan never stopped learning and expanding his thirst for knowledge.

Alan was a talented horseman and amateur jockey, holding many race records on mostly home bred horses in the North, horses that were bred by his father then bred and trained by himself later on. His adventures took him to Ireland and Hong Kong as a jockey where he rode numerous winners. Equal to his contribution in the cattle industry, Alan has also left a lasting mark on the racing industry of Australia.

Alan spent most of his adult life at the Valley of Lagoons, a historically renowned, picturesque 130,000 acre property on the head waters of the Burdekin River, Far North Qld. He took over management at aged 22 for his father and ran a very streamlined operation for the next 38 years. The herd that was acquired with the purchase of Valley was a Hereford base and Alan methodically converted this into a renowned Droughtmaster herd. This was done with the help of astute cattlewoman and wife Alison. It was here that he raised his four daughters Kylie, Sherri, Gayle and Robyn and planted the seed of

passion for the Droughtmaster breed in each of them.

As a Stud master, Alan registered the Valley (Valley of Lagoons, Ingham) and Farnham (Farnham, Taroom) prefixes and, along with brother Rob and the Tableland Veterinary Clinic, the Lamont prefix. The involvement of the vets from TVC, was their expertise with artificial breeding, specifically Embryo Transplantation. He acquired the Foundation Stud, Mungalla when his father retired in the late 70’s and Mungalla became a major bull depot for the other studs along with regularly selling at NQ Droughtmaster sale, Charters Towers, and the National Sale in Rockhampton, topping on many occasions.

A notable achievement was the sale of Valley Cairo in 1984 for $26,500 which set a breed record price when he was offered at the Annual NQ Droughtmaster Sale in Charters Towers. Cairo was purchased by the Mellor family, Sersema Stud, Gayndah and went on to be an impact sire for the breed. From his unique viewpoint, Alan experienced the journey of the Droughtmasters from the early days where strong resistance by individuals and the establishment within the industry was eventually met with a ground swell of curiosity and then unprecedented demand. He would laugh as he recalls the eventual demand for bos indicus blood being so great that he witnessed at an early Brahman sale a black spearhorned, one-stoned bull jumping out of the ring while bidding continued as he cleared gate after gate down the lane, finally bringing a hefty price. He lived to see the demand for the Droughtmaster so great that record prices in the 100’s of thousands are made each year, cementing its place within the Australian cattle industry forever.

The cattle bred from these four Studs were polled, quiet, fertile, hardy, tick resistant animals, reared in country that regularly experienced grass protein droughts. Seedstock from the Valley, Mungalla, Farnham and Lamont studs were sold to all parts of Qld, NT, NSW and Western Australia under Alan’s watch.

2002 saw the establishment of MAGS (Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale) in Charters Towers, in honor of Alan’s late father, as the direct descendants represented by the Mungalla, Glen Ruth, Cashmere, Farnham, Valley, Lamont and Durack studs. Twenty-one years later MAGS is the premier Droughtmaster sale

in North Qld, showcasing bulls from Mungalla and Lamont Studs.

Alan’s three daughters and their children continue the legacy with the same amount of passion, running the three Droughtmaster studs to this present day. Kylie (Mungalla Stud at Taroom), Sherri (Valley Stud at Clermont) and Gayle (Lamont Stud at Moranbah), along with his former wife Alison, who registered the Durack Stud in 1988 based on cattle from the Valley Stud. Most recently his two grandchildren Ally and Tom have registered the Alrose and Monty Studs with great enthusiasm.

Alan’s devotion to the breed was limitless, serving 24 years on the DSBS Board including President for 3 years, 1985-1988. He judged at many shows during this time, including the Droughtmasters at the Ekka in 1981. Dad would often reminisce and laugh when at the Ekka, of which he was a life member also, that the stalwarts of the early days would turn in their grave to see the Showgrounds filled with Droughtmasters & Brahmans in dominating numbers, when only 50 years earlier they had to be housed off the grounds as they were only accepted to be shown on the day, then removed to trotting stables in disapproval.

Alan believed we should continue to improve the breed in all areas as there are many competitors to the breed now, but none more adapt to its fundamental purpose than the Droughtmaster.

Alan was so very proud to be awarded an honorary Life Membership of Droughtmaster Australia in 2012 and he saw this as a highlight of his life for his involvement with the breed he so loved and nurtured.

Alan will forever be remembered as a passionate advocate and contributor to the Australian National Treasure, the Droughtmaster.

Contribution from Kylie Graham, Mungalla

BRUCE AND VAL CHILDS

GLENLANDS, STUD NO. 95.

THE GLENLANDS PREFIX was founded by the late Edward Childs in 1968 as stud number 95. From around that time the daily running of the operation was undertaken by Bruce and Val Childs. Livestock production has been carried out by the Childs family at Glenlands, on the outskirts of Rockhampton, for the past 122 years.

Val gave us an insight into why she and Bruce chose to become involved with Droughtmasters, “We tried a number of breeds including Santa Gertrudis, as a result found that Droughtmasters were far better suited to our environment and conditions. They (the cattle) outweighed and outperformed all other competitors. It was our belief, even back then that the breed was suited to a wide range of environments and their

acceptance would continue to grow and develop. Droughtmasters were outstripping other Indicus breeds so the decision was an easy choice.”

“From the outset it was clear that the tick tolerance, the doing ability, overall capacity, versatility and sustainability of the breed was one of their many enduring features”, said Val. Adding. “Their docility, fertility, milking, mothering ability and longevity were excellent and made progress and advancement that much easier.”

Bruce and Val utilized technology in a bid to advance their herd and immediately started to identify the more elite end of the herd in a quest to multiply that area as fast as possible. As artificial methods of reproduction in beef cattle were advancing, they embraced both AI and embryo transfer programmes. This method of reproduction

and subsequent acquisitions of other cattle has seen the stud grow to a size where it is now the largest registered herd within the breed. As a result, Glenlands offered the first ET and later on IVF cattle within the breed.

Showing and exhibiting cattle has always been an integral part of Glenlands. One of the early accolades that came the way of the breed was the interbreed champion, Glenlands 763 (ET) taking out 28 interbreed titles. Another success story was Glenlands 593 (ET), taking out three consecutive Brisbane Royal Grand Champion titles as a junior and then as a senior female. Until recently a feat that had not been repeated. Possibly the greatest showring victory for the stud came Beef 2012 with Glenlands Prince taking the Interbreed Champion. Later that year at the stud’s inaugural on property sale, Prince sold for a breed record $180,000. Previous to that Glenlands established the breed record for a female for Kineesha and her calf at $42,500 at the 2007 Sale. Previous to staging their On Property Sale, Glenlands conducted their Annual Sales from 2000 to 2011 at CQLX, Gracemere. Other record holders were Glenlands Hilton at $95,000 in 2004 and the 2022 On Property Sale was the highest grossing seedstock sale of the year at $4.335 million. The stud has exported both genetic material and live cattle to South Africa, South East Asia, South America and Mexico.

Bruce sadly passed away in May 30th 2017. Val continues her active involvement in the breed, the stud and property with the assistance of her sons and their families.

Glenlands 129 with her 10 ET calves sired by Mungalla 718 in 1987.

2009 Brisbane Royal Champion, Glenlands Maxamillion with Val, Bruce, Jason and Darren Childs.

RAY AND MOYA HICKS

ALANRAY. FOUNDATION STUD.

RAY, ALONG WITH his father and brothers, began his journey with the Droughtmaster breed at ‘Alanray’ Moura, QLD. In the 50’s they began using Brahman cattle to cross over the Hereford/Shorthorns mainly to combat the ticks, heat and eye cancer that they lost cattle to way too often, being based in Central Queensland. When the Society was founded, Ray, his father Len, and his brothers started the Alanray Stud with the intention of maintaining more content in the cattle to adapt them to the climate. In 1954 Ray married Moya and in 1966 moved across the road to ‘Billabong’ with their 3 children, Shane, Madonna and John. Ray spent years travelling around to fellow Droughtmaster breeders’ properties classifying females to assist in improving quality and streamlining colour and pigment in the early herds. In 1977 with family taking different directions, Ray and Moya, with their son John, registered their

own stud, Calaanah, which soon after became Billabong Stud. Ray served on the Board as a Central Zone Director from 1977 for several years enjoying his time helping to shape the breed. Ray, Moya with their son and daughter-in-law, John and Catherine, travelled across Queensland selling bulls at up to 10 sales a year before deciding to start their own on-property sale with the Childs family, Glenlands stud, selling 200 bulls a year. They went solo in 2001 and continued to have their own sale until 2013. In 2014 Ray and Moya retired to Moura leaving John and Catherine running the Billabong stud and commercial operation still based at ‘Billabong’ Moura. After 67 years of marriage Ray and Moya’s family has grown with 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren and still enjoy inspecting the cattle and keeping up with the latest news in the breed.

Ray & Moya Hicks: Ray and Moya celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary in 2019

Swan Sale: Ray and Moya Hicks at the annual Swan Droughtmaster 1979 with agents Dave Watkins and Alan Ferguson, and Darryl Dent, Gayview Stud

HYRTLE AND MARIANNE POWLEY

ALLENSLEIGH DROUGHTMASTERS, FOUNDATION STUD.

HYRTLE AND MARIANNE

POWLEY first decided to go into Droughtmasters in the early 1960s. They lived at Allensleigh Station which is about 120km north of Charters Towers in the Basalt Country.

It was around 1962 when a group of cattleman decided to form the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society. Although the breeding program for these cattle had been in progress for around 10 years. Renowned cattleman, Monty Atkinson and Mr Alex Neilson helped Hyrtle start to produce the cattle that they thought would improve the Northern Cattle herd. A suitable breed to cross over the Shorthorn base with a motor that was suitable for the harder conditions of the north. They also bought a bull from Ian Robinson, Albinia Downs, Springsure. As the breeders became more distinctive,

the Australian Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society was formed. Other people he often spoke about were Mr Bob Rea (Senior), Noel Perry and Mr Fred Drew to name a few.

Hyrtle was enthusiastic to get the breed going to help Northern Queensland cattleman, so he spent many years on the Board of the Droughtmaster Society as he was passionate about the breed. One of his goals in life was to improve the quality of cattle for northern Australia.

Hyrtle and Marianne’s stud cows were quiet, red and polly, and that’s what they believed the Droughtmaster should be – very functional cattle. He worked to advertise the breed by taking bulls to different places to sell them and judging at shows.

One of the big adventures was when they took bulls (in 1994?)

to Port Hedland to sell – they enjoyed the friendships made along the way and also seeing how the cattle were performing in other parts of Australia.

Hyrtle also helped to get a Droughtmaster Sponsored Bull Sale going in Charters Towers in the 1980s, which was very successful for many years.

He retired in 2000 and just kept a few cows that he later sold to Roger and Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh & Wallace Vale. He loved to tell stories of his cattle, his horses, his friends and entertain everyone that came to visit him.

Hyrtle passed away 11 January 2022, leaving behind Marianne and a family with connections to the cattle industry.

Contributed by Hyrtle & Marianne’s daughter, Lizette McCamley

DERRICK AND PAM SPANN

MINLACOWIE, STUD NO. 49.

THE STORY OF “MINLACOWIE” began at Northbrook Creek, Dundas via Fernvale in the Brisbane Valley where Derrick and Pam’s Children were 4th generation on the property.

The name “Minlacowie” is Aboriginal for ‘sweet water’ and was chosen because of the beautiful, sweet water of Northbrook Creek that ran through the property descending from the beautiful Mt Glorious above it. The name was registered in 1967 as Stud no. 49 and so began a Stud which has been extremely successful in the Droughtmaster breed over this time.

Foundation females were sourced from Charraboon and Belview Studs. The first sires purchased were Charraboon Grand and Inimical.

Soon after, began a very long valued association and friendship with Frank and Val Hodgson, principles of the renowned Wingfield Stud. The Spann’s purchased many Wingfield females over the years and also a sire that made a huge impact on the Stud, Wingfield Giles. Giles went on to Sire Minlacowie Moses, arguably one of the most influential Sires within the breed.

Moses infused generations of great Droughtmaster genetics which included one of his best retained son’s Millionaire, who then went on to sire Wingfield Boris who then produced Droughtmaster National Top Priced Sire Wingfield Noah, who was purchased by the Minlacowie Stud. All of these sires were show Champions which also included Royal and Feature show champions. These genetics have all had a huge influence on the Stud with generations of outstanding producing female lines.

With the passing of longtime friend and Stud Master extraordinaire Frank Hodgson, Derrick and Pam were given the opportunity to purchase the entire Wingfield Stud herd along with the brand and the prefix. The Studs combined have been two of the most successful vendors at Society Sponsored Sales - topping the Gympie Female Sale on numerous occasions, the Roma Droughtmaster Sale and also topping the Droughtmaster National Sale for a record nine times including the Breed record price of $70,000 with Minlacowie Gian in 2003, and also sons to $100,000

Wingfield Cagney (Moses) 2007 and Minlacowie Lexington in 2008.

Derrick has made many contributions to the Breed over the years dedicating his time serving on the Board for many years. Derrick judged at many shows as well including Royal and Feature Shows. One of his most memorable of all was the honour of being asked to judge a prominent show in Bangkok in Thailand. Derrick and Pam were both treated like royalty during their visit to Thailand and made lifelong friends from the experience.

Derrick and Pam also had a very long association with the Beenleigh High School and the Adopt-a-School programme. They donated a cow and calf to the school with the calf, Minlacowie Karfy, going on to be very successful in the showring as well as a stud sire in his own right.

The studs are now situated in the Callide Valley of Central Queensland under the management of daughter, Nicole, and son Jason and his wife Samantha, and continue to make their mark on the Droughtmaster breed.

Contributed by Derrick & Pam Spann and Nicole Mills

Derrick Spann presenting General Prem, Prime Minister of 8 years, gifts from the Droughtmaster Society

JOHN AND CARLI McCONNEL

MT BRISBANE, STUD NO. 462.

By Carli McConnel

JOHN AND I WERE MARRIED in 1972 and before that I had been very much a sheep person born in Western Qld so coming to the Brisbane Valley with cattle only was a daunting experience both for me and my horses, hills and cattle were scary to downs bred horses.

After generations of fattening steers the McConnels had begun to breed using Hereford cows and Santa bulls with a couple of lighter coloured bulls they said were Vet School Droughtmasters. Much nicer to my eyes and without the huge horns Santas had in those days.

Peter Wilson and his father Joe had an on property sale at Truvalle soon afterwards and John and his father came back with about a dozen Droughtmaster bulls so the Santas who had had pizzle problems were sold and we started keeping the female progeny of the Droughtmaster X Hereford cross but still had to dip every three weeks. We stopped dipping completely when we got a lease block with no dip and relied on the natural resistance within the Droughtmaster breed.

Sir Alan Hulme’s Alcheringa stud held a dispersal sale and again John came back with about a dozen bulls. In those days Gympie had an annual bull sale so we used to go there to buy replacement bulls. Sometimes those bulls didn’t cope with the ticks and horse back mustering, I remember several times tailing errant bulls home on foot with a big stick in hand as all they would do was charge the horses. This led us to start selecting our best females and good bulls and breeding our own herd bulls and we expanded that by also buying stud cows at the Gympie sale with good type bull calves and back in calf again.

The stud officially began in 1985 and boosted by the dispersal of the King Family’s Kengoon stud in Rockhampton where we bought a double deck and cows and calves. This was the first time I had bought on my own and at the time the auctioneers wouldn’t take my bid…. females were not considered capable of buying stud cattle obviously!!

Luckily one of the King family saw me getting frustrated and after telling his wife to bid and it being ignored stopped the sale and disappeared into the selling box at the old Gracemere selling ring, when he came out and the sale recommenced, I wasn’t game

to scratch my nose they were watching me so closely. I know the agents thought I was odd buying bulls by myself for many years then with one or other of the kids but John hated sales and the travelling. We always showed fat cattle and carcase cattle with many good wins over the years so when the kids were young and keen we started showing stud cattle as well which ended as they left school then university. We helped Toogoolawah High School with the start of their stud and cut the stud down to about 40 head and concentrated on the commercial side. We had been selling Jap Ox at 3 1/2 years old, then MSA steers which were a year younger and at the moment the best money is selling into the feedlots so you have to be adaptable and your cattle suited to whatever market you are chasing. This has led to a change in the type of bulls we buy, early maturing flat back types as hump is penalized in both the feedlot grid and the MSA grid.

We always enjoyed the Droughtmaster Society and both of us served as directors at different times for quite a few years. I wrote and John collated the Newsletter starting at the Nanango Beef Week in 1995. John Boydell Society Manager told me I’d get sick of it and would stop within 12 months but I lasted 13 years until my resignation from the Board.

The Nanango Beef week in 1995 really showed the breed off magnificently, it was run by many members but locals John and Lyn Scott and Alben and Helen Perrett put many hours into the planning to showcase Droughtmasters. I remember the countless planning meetings but it all went off so well. There were feedlot and carcase competitions, stud cattle, led steers, a store cattle sale at Coolabunia and many social dinners and talks by well-known cattlemen

In those days the members were so well served with firstly a monthly then a 6 weekly mail out with all the sale nomination forms, any semen or sire sales, advertising flyers plus the Newsletter which was 4 to 6 pages. News sent to me from all areas of the country, I made many friends doing that Newsletter. Neil Donaldson and I also proof read and made any changes we thought necessary to the Droughtmaster Digest spending a couple of days at QCL 3 to 4 times a year before the completed Digest was sent to the printers.

All in all it’s been a good association, one our family has been happy to be involved with and I hope the breed will continue to be an asset to the beef breeding herd both here and overseas.

Contributed by Carli McConnel

McConnel Family, Mt Brisbane Droughtmasters

ROBERT L. ATKINSON SNR

(1937 - 2014)

GLEN RUTH, FOUNDATION STUD

ROB ATKINSON SNR spent most of his working life at Glen Ruth, a 50,000 hectare cattle property situated on the Herbert River watershed, 50 kms west of Tully in North Queensland. He left school at 16, and was given the management of Glen Ruth, running about 4,000 head of Droughtmaster cattle, together with Quarter Horses, Stock Horses and Thoroughbreds.

Glen Ruth was where the Atkinson’s had done much of the early Droughtmaster breed development. He, along with his wife, Regina, reared their three children, Robbie, Jim and Julie, at Glen Ruth.

Rob was a noted cattleman, with unbreakable patience, good horseman, bred thoroughbreds very successfully, and served as a Director of the Australian Quarter Horse Assoc. in the 1970’s.

Rob served on the Droughtmaster Board for 13 years and was VicePresident for several terms. He was also an active member of the Zebu Cross Breeders’ Association and a Board member of the Tropical Beef Breeders’ Association prior to the emergence of the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society. He judged at many shows and twice

judged the Droughtmaster line up at the Ekka, 1966 and 1974.

Together with his father Mont and brother Alan, Rob was responsible for the establishment of a Droughtmaster herd at Gusap, in the Markham Valley, 150 kms from Lae in PNG. In 1956, 750 heifers, bulls and 7 horses made the trip to Gusap on open topped barges, in several different trips. They were loaded in Cairns and swum ashore at Lae, a voyage of about 1250 kms, before walking to Gusap another 140 kms. The barges were not built for livestock, the pens were makeshift and feed and fresh water supplies were crucial. Gusap was sold in 1962.

Rob also conducted cattle schools in North Queensland during the 1980’s, focusing on adaptability and fertility. This followed his work and learnings from Professor Jan Bonsma, University of Pretoria, South Africa and Beefmaster breed creator, Tom Lasater, in the USA.

In 1970, the 31,000 hectare Hughenden district property ‘Katandra’ was purchased. 800 select commercial weaner heifers and a mob of Droughtmaster herd bulls were transported from Glen Ruth to establish a large scale herd bull breeding operation. In

1972 a breeder observation trial commenced at Katandra under the supervision of Queensland Dept of Primary Industries. The objective was to record the performance of a control mated herd, joined for 13 weeks, cow age recorded, pregnancy tested, lactation status and condition score, all recorded and analysed. The trial was held for 7 years, 1972-78. Over the trial period, an average pregnancy rate of 91% was achieved with a 92.2% calf survival rate between positive pregnancy test and weaning.

Results from the trial provided much needed objective information for the beef cattle industry which was seeking answers to management decisions and future planning.

Glen Ruth was sold in 1989 and Rob spent the remainder of his life at Furlong Thoroughbred Stud, Greenmount.

Robert L Atkinson Snr was presented with Life Membership of the Droughtmaster Breeders’ Society in 2012, at the opening of Droughtmaster House, Ipswich, Qld.

Compiled by Rob Atkinson. Sources included Droughtmaster. (John Boydell 2001)

droughtmaster.com.au

COL AND JOYCE BLANCKENSEE

PINE VALLEY, STUD NO. 51.

COL AND JOYCE BLANCKENSEE , Pine Valley joined Droughtmaster in the early 70’s. Col was a board member from 1974 – 1991 and a member of the Business Management Committee for seven years. The Blanckensee’s were regular supporters of the annual National Female Sale from its inception.

The 40th annual Droughtmaster National Female Sale was opened by Col Blanckensee, one of the original vendors of the National Female Sale.

Two National Female Sale stalwarts were given the honours of cutting the delicious 40th Anniversary cake at the Meet & Greet. Col Blanckensee (left) was one of the original vendors at the inaugural sale while Stan Tompkins (right) is the longest serving member on the sale committee having clocked up 35 years this year. National Female Sale 2021

ASHLEY AND CAROL COLEMAN

GLEN HOUGHTON, FOUNDATION STUD.

MR ASHLEY COLEMAN is the son of one of the founding members of the Droughtmaster Breed. Ashley has been involved in the cattle industry all his life. From the age of 12 Ashley had an active role in the Glen Houghton Stud firstly doing the recording of the stock and subsequently building the stud that had the largest number of registered stock in Queensland at

one time. Ashley & Carol Coleman for several years had their own sale in Charters Towers comprising 100 bulls, as well as selling 50-60 bulls privately each year. As well as having been senior Vice President of the Society and a Director for many years Ashley has had a distinguished career as a Stud Stock Judge. Some of the venues that Ashley has officiated at include

Townsville (4), Charters Towers (4), Emerald, Clermont, Rockhampton (2), Gatton, Ingham, Ayr as well as the National Droughtmaster Show in Nanango and the Brisbane Royal on two occasions. His judging included Tropical, British & European Breeds as well as small breeds and also steer & fat classes at numerous venues throughout Queensland and Interstate.

Extract from Droughtmaster, Putting the ‘D’ in AAA by John Boydell, 2001.

FRED GALLO AND MARIO GALLO

WYLANDRA, STUD NO. 254.

IN 1977 ALFRED (FRED) GALLO and his brother Mario founded Wylandra Holdings with just 22 cows from the Glenrae Stud.

Eight years later in 1985, as relative newcomers, they topped the national sales at Rockhampton with an average of $5600 a head for 10 bulls.

At the time $5600 was a significant amount of money for one bull let alone as an average price for 10. That average across that number of bulls in 1985 was unheard of.

Fred became passionate about the stud, and later the Wylandra Stud topped the Rockhampton national sales for females three years running and had the Rockhampton Beef Expo junior champion and Brisbane Ekka reserve champion at the same time.

Extract from Droughtmaster Digest August 2013.

MARGARET WILSON

Truvalle, Stud No. 22

their $10,000

The history of Truvalle begins in 1961 at the RNA Show Sale when, my future father-in-law, Joseph N Wilson, purchased Mungalla King followed by the purchase of Mungalla Duke at the 1962 RNA Show Sale. In June 1962, a large number of Brahman cross heifers in calf were purchased from Central Queensland. The progeny of the Brahman cross heifers were very impressive and in 1965 fourteen Bellevue registered Droughtmaster heifers were acquired. J N Wilson later joined the Society in August 1962.

In 1966 the Truvalle Droughtmaster Stud was registered. The Stud was just ‘outside’ of Foundation, being number 22. Later that year at the Rockhampton Droughtmaster Sale, Rainbow Texas 3rd was purchased and in 1967 at the RNA Show Sale, the top priced Droughtmaster bull, Valley Chief joined the Stud. The partnership was later changed to J N Wilson and Son when Joe and Florine’s son, Peter, joined the partnership.

In 1972 at the Droughtmaster Feature Show, Truvalle Dalkeith was awarded Grand Champion Bull,

breaking purchase in 1989

and the Grand Champion Female was awarded to Truvalle Fleur. The Breeders Group that year was also won by Truvalle. Truvalle Cain led the Droughtmaster breed in the National “Sire of the Year” contest in 1974, sponsored by the Queensland Country Life and Country Life (NSW) coming second to the winner, King Ranch K179.

Truvalle continued their successes in the Burnett and the Brisbane Valley show and sale rings, at Droughtmaster Feature Shows and at the RNA. Truvalle females have been the basis of many successful Droughtmaster Studs, including Ray and Desley Phillip’s Sunny View Stud. They purchased Truvalle Fancy - the beginning of their illustrious Sunny View Fancy line.

Peter was one of the pioneers and vendors of the Gympie Droughtmaster Female Sale, and also the Droughtmaster Futurity Show held at Gatton, plus one of the early on-property inspectors of the Droughtmaster breed. He was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Society and served on the Board from 1986 to 1991.

My history with Truvalle begins in 1980 when I married Peter. I soon became involved with this great breed of cattle and wanted to be a part of all aspects of the Stud and Commercial cattle industry. I attended schools for Show Preparation and Handling and also for Judging. I have enjoyed judging the different breeds of cattle at many Queensland Shows including the RNA and have been the Droughtmaster Breed Captain for many years representing and attending to the exhibitors at that venue.

From 2001 to 2005 I also enjoyed serving on the Board of Directors of the Droughtmaster Society, and in 2015 was made a Life Member of the Society. Sadly, the Truvalle herd was dispersed on the 28th November 2020.

I have always enjoyed my association with the Droughtmaster Breed and its members, attending the Sales and Shows, advising and helping newcomers to the Breed, and been interested in promoting all the benefits the breed has to offer in Australia and overseas.

By Mrs Margaret Wilson

droughtmaster.com.au

Admiring

record

of Truvalle Adelaide a daughter of Cribrum Andrew 2 from Minlacowie Fusan was PTIC to Valley Eden, were John and Jeanette Birch, Jaybees stud, Mt Larcom, with vendors Peter and Margaret Wilson, Truvalle Stud, The Valley, Blackbutt.

JOHN AND ANNETTE HENWOOD

Previously of FOSSIL DOWNS STATION, WEST KIMBERLEY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WE PURCHASED our first Droughtmaster bull in the mid 80’s, I was invited to attend the Rockhampton National Droughtmaster Sale by Dick Northcott of Moola Bulla Station. My wife, Annette, and my motherin-law gave me instructions…” don’t buy a bull”, I promised I wouldn’t. However, seeing a bull that I thought my mother-in-law would like I bid on him…I managed to secure the bull. When I arrived back to Fossil Downs, I got the biggest roasting from my wife

and mother-in-law until they saw the bull. After that I could do no wrong, buy more they said.

So, we sold every Shorthorn bull we could find, Annette and I purchased from almost every Queensland Stud…at Sales and in the paddock. We were initially given a great deal of help from Derrick Spann, with his rough sketches of what to look for in a Droughtmaster bull.

We were told by many that we paid too much for bulls we liked,

but in the early days we decided to always buy quality not quantity and continued with this policy.

Over the next ten to fifteen years, we improved our breeding program, developing the first commercial Droughtmaster Breeder herd in Western Australia and sold many chance-mated cows and heifers all over Western Australia and some into South Australia. Over a threeyear period, we sold 3000 females back into Queensland. This really gave us confidence in what we were buying and breeding with the Droughtmasters, as their yield was better than most pastoral cattle. We received positive feedback from growers and Abattoirs who purchased our cattle. When Fossil Downs was sold in late 2015 the station ran one of the best Commercial Droughtmaster female herds in the Kimberley.

Currently we have 500 acres 100ks north of Perth, Western Australia with 110 breeders, we are attempting to breed bulls for the pastoral areas. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all past and present Stud Breeders, Agents, and friends we have made during our trips to the Sales and we thank the Droughtmaster Society for their support over the many years.

We hope to see you all again in Sept-Oct.

Contributed by John & Annette Henwood

Fossil Downs Station, Fitzroy Crossing, WA. Photos courtesy of Castle Livestock Pty Ltd

John Henwood was honoured with a medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the cattle breeding industry in 2018.

JOHN AND PEG BOWLER

MARUK, STUD NO. 614.

I FIRST BECAME interested in the Bos indicus derived breeds when I was involved with the crossbreeding trial at Grafton Research Station in the 1970’s. The improved performance and ease of management convinced me of the need for some Bos indicus content in the Australian beef industry. The increased costs of managing British breed cattle with calving difficulties, eye cancer and bloat were significant problems before the technology was available to reduce their impact.

When I was looking around for the best fit, I visited some of the leading Santa, Brangus and Braford studs, but when I visited Jack and Elaine Swan and walked into a pen of 200 Droughtmasters heifers, I turned to them and said “these are my type of cattle”! The Maruk stud was started with Swan and Booralee bloodlines, and the breeding program has been focused on the Swan type with early maturing, well-muscled animals.

In NSW the breed owes a great debt to the Lloyd family “Heitiki” and Warne family “Cedardale”

studs for their promotion of the breed particularly at Agquip and Primex Field Days. It was pleasing to be involved in the building of a permanent site at Agquip which met all the health and safety requirements and enabled the Far Southern Zone to sell BBQs to generate funds. The ready support and cooperation of some of our NSW members was very much appreciated during my time as Director.

Maruk stud, although limited in size, was involved, particularly with local schools, providing cattle for handling and education programs. We also performed well in steer trials run by the Australian National Field Days at Orange. These trials involved backgrounding on grass and feedlot component prior to full carcass appraisal.

A memorable achievement for the Maruk cattle was a competition at the ANFD where pens of 3 heifers from leading local studs of various breeds were assessed by 3 Royal Show Judges – not one of them placed the Droughties pen, but when all the points

were combined the Droughties were the clear winners.

Running Droughtmaster cattle on the Central Tablelands was an interesting experience, in the middle of some of the leading Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn studs, and had some interesting and confronting discussions with breeders and especially stock agents. However, the adaptability, performance, and easy-care attributes of the breed were recognised, although one of the early lessons learnt was in the handling of the Bos indicus cattle compared to the British breeds.

I did enjoy my time on the Board and am grateful for the friendships and breadth of experience freely shared. In some ways, I guess I was a pain to some members, always conscious of the need for improvement in the wider beef industry beyond the stud focus, and for the adaption of technology to assist in developing our breed to perform in a very competitive and market driven broader meat industry.

Contributed by John Bowler

NEIL AND MARGARET WARNE

CEDARDALE, STUD NO. 307.

NEIL AND MARGARET WARNE were made Honorary Life Members in 2015. Prior to founding their stud in 1980 as Stud No. 307, the Warnes were running commercial cattle and over the years upgraded to stud breeding. Neil and Margaret were major players in the ongoing success of the breed in NSW, particularly in northern NSW.

The Warnes were always first to donate steers to local schools or colleges and made many donations

to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and other health institutions.

Neil sat on the Board of Directors during years when things were not always easy for the Society. They also were showing their cattle at several Country Shows winning a number of Championships including a grand champion female at a feature show. But it was with his steers that Neil shone, and it was to be his life’s passion.

Showing on the hoof and over the hook, Neil’s cattle shone with his greatest achievement being a steer whose saleable meat yield was 76.4 per cent. Never before in Australia had this been achieved by any breed. Neil and Margaret were justifiably proud. These amazing yields continued on, and his steers attracted extra attention at the saleyards with his clients quickly realising the value of their steers in feedlots and paddock fattening situations.

Extract from The Droughtmaster Digest, August 2015.

ALISON ATKINSON

DURACK, STUD NO. 575.

I GREW UP ON Werrington Station in far north Queensland with my father and mother King and Isabel Lethbridge and six beautiful siblings.

As a small child I spent my time with the milkers which were in a paddock beside the homestead, they were bred to provide milk and butter for our family. I used to pretend to be a calf, with two stick legs for my front legs, the cows were so accepting of me, even remember having a tiny suck from one dear old cow called Lucy, when she was lying down!!

My mother Isabel, was given a few Registered Droughtmaster cows and a Registered bull by my sister and her husband, Rob and Reg Atkinson who lived at Glen Ruth Station in the Mt Garnet district of North Queensland. I loved these cows of my mother’s. I do have a photo of one of the cows who was called Best Girl, standing on her hind legs to grab hold of the Mulberry Tree leaves during a bad drought.

I went to work at Glen Ruth and in 1965 I was given the opportunity to work with their Show Team of three head of Droughtmasters, two heifers and a bull. Glen Ruth Jewel, Gem and Major. My brother Bob helped me at several of the northern Shows, Cairns was the last, then I took the team by Goods Train to the Brisbane Exhibition which took three long days, this was quite an experience, getting

them watered along the way, had to talk to the train driver about stopping close to a water outlet, he was very co-operative. They did really well at all the Shows and at the Brisbane Exhibition, receiving ribbons and Major was judged Grand Champion Droughtmaster bull. They all sold for record prices at the Stud Cattle Sale which was also held on the Grounds. In 1967 I took another team comprising both Glen Ruth and Mungalla cattle to the Shows, about eight head and a calf.

Alan Atkinson and I married in November 1967 and lived at Valley of Lagoons west of Ingham on the beautiful Burdekin River. The Valley Droughtmaster Stud was the trademark there. Our four daughters, Kylie, Sherri, Gayle and Robyn, grew up at the Valley where there was so much wildlife with all the water about so close to the homestead.

During 1988 I moved on my own to a property called Durack near Gogango west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, and began my own Droughtmaster Stud based on Valley bloodlines, with the Prefix “Durack”. Three years later I sold Durack and bought Orana on the Dawson River outside Duaringa also west of Rockhampton. I really regret that I changed my Stud Prefix to “Orana”, however in 1999 I managed to top the National Droughtmaster Sale at Gracemere

with a bull I really loved, Orana Issac, his progeny still shows up in pedigrees in Southern Queensland. I later changed my Stud Prefix back to “Durack”.

I was invited to join the selling panel at the Capricorn Sale at Gracemere where I had lots of success over several years.

My family invited me to join their Sale, MAGS in Charters Towers where I manage to top the Sale several years ago with Durack Uranus.

I will never forget the wonderful announcement which was a massive surprise for me at the National Droughtmaster Sale at Gracemere in 2017 when I was presented with my Life Membership of the Droughtmaster Society. I am very honoured to have been nominated.

It was with great regret that I sold my property Orana in 2008, after an accident in the paddock on my quad bike, my daughter and her husband Mac and Gayle Shann offered to take my Stud cows to their property Cantaur Park, north of Moranbah. It was about four years ago that I decided to transfer the few remaining cows over to Mac and Gayle and I sold my last bull at MAGS Sale in 2020. I do miss my Droughtmaster cattle SO much, but love to help my daughters and their families whenever they are doing cattle work.

Alison Atkinson and daughters Sherri Philp, Gayle Shann and Kylie Graham, receiving her Life Membership at the National Droughtmaster Sale in 2017.

JOHN AND LYN SCOTT

JOHN AND LYN SCOTT, formerly of Rocky View Stud, Nanango, were presented with Honorary Life Membership in 2017. As reported in the Droughtmaster Digest 2017:

“John and Lyn have been very active members of the Droughtmaster breed and while their stud recorded many highlights including a long-standing record price at the Roma Sale, it was their service to the breed and its members that saw them awarded the Life Membership.

John and Lyn worked tirelessly for the breed as a whole but particularly in the South Burnett. They were integral to the success of the 1995 Nanango Droughtmaster Beef Week that was repeated in 2005.

With Garnet Kahler, they instigated the Nanango Bull Sale and two female sales that now continue under the Bunya Bull Sale and Cream of the Crop banners.

John helped establish the Biggenden Store Sale that continued for many years. He worked on the Roma and Gympie Sale committees. The Coolabunia Saleyards may well have closed for good if it wasn’t for the work John undertook communicating with the council to keep the yards open.

He hosted many assessment schools at Nanango that were a vital source of information to many new and existing stud members. John also served two terms as a Director for the Society, first as the Southern Zone Director and then returning after a break for a term as National Director.

Doug Miles (right), past National Director of the Droughtmaster Society, presenting John and Lyn Scott with the Honorary Life Membership on behalf of the Board and the Members of the Droughtmaster Society in 2017.

PAT FLYNN

AS RECORDED in the Droughtmaster Digest 2008:

For more than four decades Pat has been involved with the Droughtmaster breed and during that time has been dedicated to helping youth learn about the cattle industry, which prompted his nomination for Life Membership of the Droughtmaster Society.

Many breeders would be familiar with the Droughtmaster stud prefix, Boystown, which was established in 1984 as Stud No. 495.

Pat was working with Boystown in the 1980s and he recommended the establishment of a Droughtmaster stud because he believed a stud operation would instil responsibility and accountability in the boys of Boystown, while creating a rewarding hobby that would generate life-changing opportunities for them.

Through Pat’s experience of showing cattle with his three sons he knew the temperament of the Droughtmaster breed would be perfect for Boystowns’s youth.

Boystown cattle eventually became highly sought after, and in the show ring celebrated a remarkable list of successes.

When Pat was asked about his contribution to the Boystown Droughtmaster Stud, he simply replied “My passion was using the Droughtmaster breed to change the lives of disadvantaged and disengaged children.”

“Droughtmaster cattle provided many kids with a sense of accomplishment and improved their attitude and outlook on life,” he said.

Pat’s association and involvement with Boystown came to an end when the home was shut down in 1992.

In 2000 he commenced employment with the Warwick State High School and on Pat’s recommendation the school started showing Droughtmasters, thanks to the generosity of the Rowe family (Greenacres and Southern Cross Studs).

Fred Rowe sent 14 head of Droughtmaster cattle to Warwick State High School, which cemented a long association between the two men.

Pat has assisted and guided many people in establishing their own Droughtmaster studs, he has also provided free semen, show equipment and transportation to many of those studs.

Pat Flynn dedicated over half his life to working with you and the Droughtmaster breed, and is a very worthy recipient of Life Membership.

ED AND CAROL McCORMACK

CLONLARA, STUD NO. 71.

ALTHOUGH THE Clonlara Stud started in 1969, the McCormacks’ association with Droughtmasters started much earlier – Carol remembers typing up some of the notes for the inaugural meeting of the Droughtmaster Society in 1962. Her father John Stewart-Moore was instrumental in forming the Society and was a foundation member, twice President and later, Patron.

1968 - marriage brought Ed into the Droughtmaster breed, with 12 cows and a bull from the Stewart-Moores’ Telemon Stud, some with Charraboon prefixes.

Early 1970s – Clonlara first offered bulls at Rockhampton DM sale –only 90-100 bulls in those days (with buyers, agents and yardmen retiring to the Gracemere pub

for lunch and refreshments, resuming in due course)

Early 1980s - Clonlara presented 2 year old bulls at Rockhampton DM sale with very successful results. This proved a turning point for other vendors as previously mostly 3-4 year old bulls had been offered. 1980s – success at various commercial cattle competitions throughout Queensland.

Mid 1980s - sold bulls at early DM sales in Roma

1989 – first Clonlara on property bull sale, 25 bulls selling extremely well

1990 – Champion pen 6 steers at RNA Ekka Brisbane

1991 – Beef ‘91 Champion pen 10 steers. 2 year old grass fed steers were presented in the

heavyweight class. This proved a turning point as previously the competition had comprised principally 3 year old cattle.

2010 – Grand Champion bull, RNA Ekka Brisbane.

2010 – Gus and Jen McCormack take over Clonlara Stud.

2021 – Reserve Champion pen 10 grain fed steers Beef 2021.

2022 – Annual on property sales continue uninterrupted, this year marking the 35th sale at Dilga, Glenmorgan on September 21.

We have enjoyed our Droughtmaster journey over the years, and it’s great to see the breed is in good hands.

Contributed by Ed & Carol McCormack

NEIL DONALDSON

FROM LATE 1997 until early 2019, Neil served the Society as the National Operations Manager/CEO which included a period as Company Secretary at the same time. During those two decades, Neil dedicated his time to raising the profile of the breed to such an extent that his name became synonymous with Droughtmaster. Neil Donaldson was well-respected within the livestock industry, other breed societies, key industry players and other organisations including the media.

During Neil Donaldson’s tenure as CEO, Droughtmasters worked alongside the Australian Association of Cattle Veterinarians to lead the way in developing soundness evaluation guidelines in the seedstock industry. Accepted as an integral part of bull sales these days, Droughtmaster were the first to introduce Bull Breeding Soundness Examination standards at Society Sponsored Sales.

Neil played an important role as a member of the Executive

Committee of ARCBA for 11 years, including 3 as Vice President. His broad industry knowledge and deep understanding of the seedstock industry made a valuable contribution to ARCBA’s work as the peak industry body for the seed stock sector.

Neil Donaldson dedicated his working life to Droughtmaster and the beef cattle industry. His influence upon the breed and its members will be long remembered. Neil passed away in March 2022.

droughtmaster.com.au

LIFE MEMBERSHIP AWARDED TO TIM LLOYD, HEITIKI DROUGHTMASTERS

By Todd Heyman Droughtmaster Society President

TIM LLOYD, Heitiki Droughtmasters, Delungra NSW, was presented with Life Membership at the recent Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale.

Tim was nominated by a number of life members, with the nomination supported by none other than our long term patron, John Gardner.

Tim and his family have made a great contribution, and many sacrifices, to the Droughtmaster breed particularly in NSW. Heitiki has been showing cattle at Agricultural Shows, particularly in the north of the state and in the Royal Show circuits, and participating in Field Days, particularly AgQuip for at least the last 35 years. They have often been the only Droughtie exhibitor promoting the breed and

extolling the benefits in a generally traditional British Breed area.

Tim has been involved on many committees and organisations, including Cattlemen’s Union, NSW Farmers Assoc Cattle committee, Local Beef Promotion Committees and has been most generous with his time and cattle, supporting local activities and charities, always using the opportunity to promote the breed. He has been an integral part of the AgQuip committee which is the major promotional activity for the Far Southern Zone, in providing display cattle and his time.

The Lloyd family’s Heitiki cattle have been the basis of many NSW studs with the Lloyds supplying suitable cattle but most importantly giving ongoing support and advice. Tim has also been generous in training young leaders/grooms and judges for both our breed and the industry and introducing many

young and aspiring cattle people to the showing and stud industry. He is well recognised as a role model in mentoring our younger and new breeders. He has been a sought after judge at many beef events, displaying valuable comments and advice in his assessments.

Tim has served the Society as the Far Southern Director and is always committed to representing the Breed and the Far Southern Zone. Heitiki is always one of the first breeders to supply suitable cattle for promotional activities in all areas including Victoria and the Sydney beef industry activities. Tim’s cattle are always well handled. Finally, Tim, let me say that there is a quiet dignity about you that has shone at difficult times, that I greatly respect. It is a strength that I am sure you and your family are extremely proud of. Congratulations.

Tim Lloyd and family. Mrs Emma Freebairn, Simon, Tim and John Lloyd, Heitiki Droughtmasters, at the Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale.

Photo courtesy of Clare Adcock, Queensland Country Life.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP

STAN AND LYNN TOMPKINS

SINCE THE INCEPTION of the DSBS, there have been many people who have selflessly given of their time, knowledge, and skill to promote the Droughtmaster breed, and to support and mentor fellow members. Stan and Lynn Tompkins’ commitment to the Breed and its members has transcended several decades.

Stan and Lynn Tompkins joined the DSBS in 1982 and operated their highly successful stud, Cedar View Droughtmasters at Gympie for 40 years. They were, and remain, passionate about the Breed and would promote Droughtmaster at every opportunity.

Stan and Lynn devoted their lives to helping others, including fellow Droughtmaster members and particularly, young people. For almost four decades, they acted as teachers and mentors to so many members and spoke at countless field days, zone meetings, workshops and handling schools, covering a range of topics, most notably the Droughtmaster Standards of Excellence, selecting animals for show and sale and the preparation of cattle for shows, grooming, and exhibiting.

In 1985, a group of Droughtmaster members were instrumental in establishing a Droughtmaster ‘workshop’ with the Droughtmaster Futurity commencing the following

year. The ‘workshop’ evolved to be formally recognised as the Gympie Handling School. Stan and Lynn were keen participants in these events and ultimately became actively involved with the Handling School and were facilitators of the sessions relating to the preparation of cattle for the showring, parading, judging and showring etiquette.

Their support of fellow members, particularly junior members, extended beyond field days and handling schools. Stan and Lynn provided hands-on assistance to members attending their first Futurity, agricultural show, feature show and expo, and would help them at the event by reinforcing what was learnt during formal sessions and providing much needed encouragement to build their confidence.

Stan possessed a comprehensive understanding of the Standards of Excellence and fiercely defended it. He was committed to educating other members about the standards and the importance of compliance. His words, delivered during countless educational sessions and informal discussions, continue to resonate among the members that were fortunate to hear him speak.

Stan was a classifier with the DSBS, a role that he executed with great pride and commitment. Stan assisted many new members to grow their stud herds by classifying and upgrading their commercial Droughtmaster herds.

Stan was member of the Droughtmaster National Female Sale (NFS) Committee, a role that he held for 36 years.

Stan and Lynn Tompkins have served the Droughtmaster Society and its members for almost four decades and have done so with distinction. They have actively promoted the Droughtmaster Breed and contributed to its growth in Southern Queensland. They have done this through service on formal committees and in formal roles, and informally through their commitment to the education, support, mentoring and development of countless Droughtmaster members during this time. Their enduring contribution to the breed and its members is now recognised through them being awarded Life Membership of the DSBS.

Congratulations.

Stan and Lynn Tompkins, Cedar View Stud, were awarded Life Membership in recognition of their decades of dedication to the Droughtmaster breed and in particular the annual National Female Sale.

L-R Todd Heyman (President), Brian Heck (Chairman, Female Sale Committee), Stan and Lynn Tompkins.