The Muster l THE TWO OF US
New blue horizons Natalie Bell and Paul Lloyd own Tallogum Berries in Lindendale near Lismore, Northern NSW. Their different personalities and skillsets are what make this partnership tick. Words MICHELLE HESPE Photography ANTHONY ONG
B
y marrying Ridley Bell’s daughter Nat, Paul married into blueberry royalty. Having introduced the first blueberry into Australia in 1976, Ridley Bell is considered the grandfather of Australia’s blueberry industry. His thriving business – Mountain Blue Farms – has partners across five continents with an estimated 22 million plants being grown globally. It also produces 1000 tonnes of blueberries for the domestic and international market. “I am the typical farmer, and I also generally do a lot of the dreaming,” says Paul with a bit of a laugh. “Nat is a realist – making sure that we take the right steps and not get too far ahead of ourselves. It’s hard to not dream when you see Ridley growing all these new types of blueberries! “We always joke that dad sees the world in blueberries only. Sometimes he says that he has a slight interest in blackberries,” Nat adds. “And even though I left the farm and went off to Brisbane to study business, you could say that I have blueberries in my veins.” Nat gained a degree in business at University of Queensland and then a Master of Professional Accounting from Southern Cross University. “Sales, marketing and business, that’s Nat’s skillset,” Paul says. “I’m always out there on the land doing this or that, finding new things to do. But we both understand that for a business to work, it has to be based in realism. That’s where Nat comes into play. She pulls me up and gets me to see the bigger picture, questioning things such as – ‘is it the right time to invest? Or should we see how something else pans out right now?’ That’s why we work so well together.” Paul grew up and went to school in Geelong, and his first hands-on farming experience was row cropping of vegetables. He studied at Burnley College in Melbourne and was interested in vegetable seeds and genetic companies, later working with a company releasing new varieties of vegetables. He then moved into an agronomy role – consulting to all farmers on all levels.”
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THE FARMER
JULY - AUG 2020
“I am the typical farmer, and I also generally do a lot of the dreaming. Nat is a realist – making sure that we take the right steps and not get too far ahead of ourselves.” – PAUL LLOYD
