From the MOCOSA President

FROM THE MOCOSA PRESIDENT

Peter Stephens

2022 has been a year of “returning to usual programming” with a full College, course tours to two different parts of the USA for both agribusiness cohorts and FM3, plus tours to NZ for EM and FM1. The lockdown period of 2020-21 now seems like a bizarre dream (nightmare!).

2022 also saw the level of engagement with the alumni resume, with the Principal and two Deputies between them, travelling to Dowerin in WA, Sheepvention in Vic, Agfest in Tassie and Henty in NSW to scout for new talent and catch up either formally at a Marcus hosted function or at the Marcus Marquee. In addition, the Council travelled to the south-east of SA to inspect farming operations and to meet with graduates and friends of the College in Naracoorte. As mentioned in the last issue of MOCOSA, getting out in the bush is the key to attracting new students and keeping engaged with past students, and to that end MOCOSA is starting the process of “regionalising” the Executive. We have the opportunity to recruit four new Members of the Executive with Mark Inglis DipFM’92 retiring earlier in the year after a contribution of 23 years and, at our last meeting, Kate Sharkey DipAA’96, retiring after 22 years, Vice President, Graeme Harvey DipFM’71 after 30 years and MOCOSA Executive Secretary Sam Inglis DipFM’66 Honorary BB(Ag)’18 after 36 years. That’s 111 years of combined service to the Association! On behalf of the greater Marcus community, I would like to thank them all for their dedicated contribution and I’m sure they will continue to network within the MOCOSA family. Travelling around various parts of the country, particularly the eastern seaboard, we've encountered very wet conditions, with the Murray-Darling Basin literally overflowing. I hope everybody in these affected areas stays safe and production levels are not affected too much. All the best. Peter Stephens DipFM'83 MOCOSA President