Jersey History On Display

THE COVID-curtailment of Jersey Australia’s annual general meeting denied members an opportunity to see more than a century of Jersey history.

But Winsome Anderson’s archive and museum at Nar Nar Goon is open by appointment, giving interested farmers and others an opportunity to delve into the past.

Born into a Jersey family 85 years ago, Winsome has always been interested in history and her archives paint a picture of a family’s love for Jerseys and success in dairying.

The display goes beyond that to include dairy equipment dating back to the early 20th century plus signs and other items that will attract wide interest.

“There’s something for everyone, including children,” Winsome said.

The archives reflect more than a century of Anderson family Jerseys, and Winsome’s own Jersey history stemming from her father Norrie De la rue who created his own Jersey stud Lucerne Vale in 1925 at Weering and then a second stud Glenwyn at Irrewillipe in 1946.

Winsome’s husband Bert was a Jersey Society committee member for 13 years before his death in 1987. Her son Rob, of Kings Ville Jerseys is now on the Jersey Australia Board, while Winsome has been a member of Central Gippsland and South Gippsland Jersey clubs for 60 years.

Winsome established Kayvee Jerseys at Clyde in 1991. Her cattle domiciled at King’s View, Ian Anderson’s stud. Her cow families include Heather Belle, Graceful Design, Martha’s Joy and Viola, from Glenwyn. She also bred beef at Clyde for 23 years.

Some of the displays focus on her attendance at 14 consecutive World Jersey Cattle Bureau conferences from 1972 to 2018, including being a co-opted member to the organising committee for the Melbourne conference in 1999. She was also the official Australian delegate to the conference in the United Kingdom in 1992 and South Africa in 1997, and attended 11 World Jersey Cattle Bureau council meetings in different parts of the world.

“I have an album from every tour, including Australia 1976, 1999 and 2013,” she said.

The history of the Anderson family is well represented reaching back to 1886 when Kings Vale Jerseys was originated by Joseph and Christina Anderson at Lyndhurst, and continuing through various family members over the generations. Following the division of the Kings Vale stud between brothers in 1961, Bert established Kings View Jerseys.

The display includes articles relating to the family’s involvement in local shows, International Dairy Week and the Royal Melbourne Show. The Anderson family celebrated a centenary of exhibiting Jerseys in 1996. The family has continued the tradition of exhibiting until 2014 and at the 2019 Dairy Show

The Kings View herd was divided in 1989; Ian carries on Kings View, Lindsay established Kings Vista and Robert established Kings Ville.

The archive is housed in a garage that is fully insulated and lined and has carpet, and it’s a full display of memorabilia. “It’s covered floor to ceiling,” Winsome said.

There are paper clippings dating back to 1912, photos as old as 1895, original herd books from 1901 to 1969, every Jersey Journal, Melbourne Show and International Dairy Week catalogues and reports and show ribbons as old as 1918. The display includes the first Jersey Journal, with Winsome’s son and daughter Ian and Christine on the front cover, and the diamond edition produced 50 years later.

Equipment is housed in a separate shed and includes an antique two-bale wooden dairy complete with old milking machines from New Zealand, an antique finger mower, old baling press, an antique drill and a sweep.

Also on display are medals special in Winsome’s life; the President’s Medal from the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria presented in 1996 and the Centenary Medal distributed by the Australian Government in 2001.

The museum and archives are at Nar Nar Goonand people can visit by appointment on 0419 346429 or kayveewin@icloud.com.