Leadership Qualities

JERSEY Australia president Lisa

Broad has gained a better understanding of her leadership capabilities and hopes that other members can experience similar benefits. Lisa was recently supported by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation to undertake the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program and she is encouraging other farmers to undertake the program or to support those with leadership aspirations. “I’d like to thank the Gardiner Foundation for their support and while Gardiner can sponsor others to do this course, I think it’s something Jersey Australia members could also consider,” Lisa said. “Ideally, I’d love to see Jersey Australia develop a member training program that is supported by members to develop capacity in our next generation of potential leaders. “It could be as simple as a wellestablished farmer donating a chopper cow or a calf to raise funds to cover the course costs so another aspiring leader can benefit, like I have done.” The Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program, supported by NAB Agribusiness, is an intensive five-day workshop conducted on the college campus at Geelong. The program, which started in 1992, is recognised as one of the longest running rural leadership programs in the nation. A number of graduates are now representing their industries or rural communities at the decision-making level in the boardrooms of both community and industry groups. The program will develop the skills and knowledge of participants to enable them to undertake a leadership role and competently represent their industry or community in decision-making forums and understand and address the issues facing rural industries and rural communities. Lisa said the program, conducted the week before the annual conference, was enlightening. “I thought it would be out of my comfort zone but it was probably something I needed to do. We go through life as farmers and don’t get acknowledged for the things we know and do, but leadership training is something that can benefit everyone.” Lisa took on the course to help her in her role with Jersey Australia, but it soon developed into something more. “At the start when I was asked what I wanted to get out of the course, all my answers were to do with Jersey Australia, but as I progressed through the week, I found myself gaining things I could implement in my own business as well,” she said. Lisa’s new skills centre mostly on people management. “You think everyone has the same goals, but do they?” Lisa asks. “We assume people have the same goals and values but that’s not necessarily the case and to consider other perspectives was one of my key messages.” While she never left her focus shift too far from Jersey Australia, Lisa also appreciated how this deeper understanding of people management and leadership could benefit her farm business. “It had benefits for both,” she said. Lisa has had Jersey club-level and sporting club roles but her position with Jersey Australia is her first at a national board level. “Being Jersey president is definitely something that I’ve learnt from,” she said. “Every day is challenging because something different presents itself all the time. I progressed during the year but I still keep learning and the leadership course certainly helped that. “It doesn’t change you; it just makes you understand yourself better to take people on the journey with you.” One statement that inspired Lisa was that in her role as a leader, she should aim to make her position redundant. “It means that you do your job so well that someone else can easily take over for you and continue the journey,” she said. Lisa recommends other farmers consider the course. “I couldn’t put a value on it,” she said. “Even if you’re remotely thinking about being involved with any sort of committee, or if you have workers in your own business, it’s invaluable. “They push you outside your comfort zone so you can see things from a different perspective, plus you meet significant people from other parts of the industry. Doing the course has definitely opened other doors.”

THELeonieFAMILY

The LEONIE FAMILY is our longest established cow family that is still an integral part of todays herd. Established with the purchase of HEARTLANDS MERRY TEX from Xavier College in 1934, two years after the establishment of Jugiong.

Pictured above JUGIONG LEONIE (Top left in frame) Sire: Lauris Vale Roderick 2nd

JUGIONG LEONIE 36 Member of Melbourne Royal team 1967 & many Country Championships Sire: Francliff Intangible

JUGIONG LEONIE 51 EX93 2nd in-milk South Australian Fair & many Country Championships Sire: Francliff Mainline

JUGIONG LEONIE 281 EX90 48m 8383 5.0 422 3.8 322 305 PI 127 6 Excellent daughters | Sire: Brook

JUGIONG LEONIE 301 VG 88 97m 8960 5.0 445 3.6 324 305 PI 124 | Sire: Lester

SAVE THE DATE For our 90th ANNIVERSARY of JUGIONG JERSEYS Celebrations

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19TH Herd inspection, dinner and live entertainment. We are going all out to make it a day to remember in the history of Jugiong. You may even walk away with a live piece of Jugiong. Stay tuned for more details!

is our longest established cow family that is still an integral part of todays herd. Established with the purchase of from Xavier College in 1934, two years after the establishment of Jugiong.

JUGIONG LEONIE 6223 EX92 52m 8054 4.9 396 3.7 301 305 PI 114 Great Southern Champion Supreme Champion Great Australian Challenge Sire: Galaxies Celebrity