Australia Day Honours

Congratulations to the four members of our College community who were recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list. Francis Oswald Herd OAM (OGC 1969)

In the Australia Day Honours 2022, past student Frank Herd was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the meat processing industry and contribution to the community. The Managing Director of MC Herd, a Geelong based meat processing and export business, Frank is a leader in his industry and community minded. Founded in 1951 by Frank’s father and uncles, MC Herd has been a large part of Frank’s career and success. Frank is a founding member and former chairman of the Australian Meat Industry Council, as well as former director of the Australian Meat Processing Corporation, PrimeSafe Victoria and the Australian Red Meat Advisory Council. Outside of the workplace, Frank is a keen supporter of many community organisation, including being a Patron of Anglesea Life Saving Club, fundraiser and honorary member of St John of God Hospital and a life member of the Old Geelong Football Club. He is also a founding member of the Geelong College Foundation and led the Aquatics Centre Appeal as Key Gifts Chairman. Frank attended The Geelong College from 1961 to 1972. Frank was a Calvert House Prefect in 1972 and member of the athletics team for several years, including as Captain in 1972. He won the Nigel Boyes Trophy in 1972 and was named in the 1st XVIII football team in 1972.

James William Gough OAM (OGC 1953)

In the 2022 Australia Day Honours, James William Gough received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the livestock industry. Continuing in the footsteps of five generations of farming in Branxholme, Jim Gough is a pioneer in his industry. He has been working on the land for 55 years, and in that time has pioneered selective breeding practices in Australia for Corriedale sheep and Hereford cattle. In his early career, Jim invested in Corriedale sheep. He joined the Australian Corriedale Association and was keen to improve genetics in breeding, starting with his own meticulous record keeping. After the drought of 1967, Jim diversified his business by investing in Hereford cattle. He became a founding member of the National Beef Recording Scheme (now BREEDPLAN) and led the first selective breeding program of Herefords in Australia. Jim has invested much of his life to his industry and community. He is a long-serving Federal Councillor of Australian Corriedale Association and Herefords Australia and served as Vice President of the Beef Improvement Association of Australia. In 2012 he received the Howard Yelland Award for outstanding service to the Australian beef industry. Jim boarded at The Geelong College from 1954 to 1957. A member of Calvert House, he was involved in the rowing program, football and cadets.

Mark Wootton, and Eve Kantor AO

Past Boarding parents, Mark Wootton and Eve Kantor were recognised with Australia Day Honours becoming Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) for their work in philanthropy and support of the environment. Jigsaw Farms demonstrates Eve and Mark’s own commitment to the environment and sustainability. Designed with an eye on 2030 climate projections, the farm combines livestock production and agroforestry with environmental sustainability. In Jigsaw Farms the couple has challenged themselves to produce carbon neutral food and fibre, attracting researchers from the University of Melbourne. Alongside the grazing livestock, the couple have revegetated many hundreds of hectares for both permanent plantings and farm forestry. In doing so, researchers have been able to study the offsets required to reduce the carbon balance on the farm. With a profitable business and inheritance, Mark and Eve are also enthusiastic supporters of a range of philanthropic causes, from environmental to Indigenous rights. Together their philanthropic endeavours helped start Australia’s first climate think tank (Climate Institute), promote Indigenous rights and launch the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which received the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.